I spotted our third ever specimen of santanaite go under the virtual gavel the other day and in my tiny brain the name resolved to "santanaite, named for Carlos Santana legendary Mexican guitarist"!
Of course santanaite is named for its type and only locality Santa Ana Mine, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Region, Chile.
Santanaite - Santa Ana Mine, Chile
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The mineral is a chromate of lead found as a secondary formation on galena with other chromium-bearing minerals in the oxidized hydrothermal lead deposit that created Santa Ana Mine.
The colour is straw yellow and the crystals where visible are hexagonal. The formula is Pb11(CrO4)O12, and although according to sources this might need further investigation the mineral retains its IMA approved status.
It is amusing that this mineral was discovered 1972, (IMA1971-035) 3 years after the Santana band came to public attention via their performance at Woodstock in 1969. Also 2 years after their chart topping second album "Abraxus".
The Santana band continues to make music today through various changes and iterations, perhaps there is another parallel if the santanaite structure is redefined...........
If ever someone comes up with an idea to have second honourary names for minerals, I reckon there is a good case to bestow this honour on Carlos!!
Any other doppelgänger mineral names? - though not a mineral per se, I do remember the school chemistry lesson when we discussed plutonium!
