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Voltaite With Copiapite

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QRI675816

Voltaite With Copiapite

Former coll. Christian Mavris
Rare Mineral

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Alfredo Pit, Rio Tinto Mines, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
2.5 × 4.5 × 2.5 cm
Largest Crystal: 
0.40cm
Description

Jet black, lustrous voltaite crystals proudly standing on top of pale green-yellow copiapite crystalline masses. The isolated voltaite is perched on top of a copiapite stalactite. Another group of dark, very lustrous voltaite crystals is also present, displaying beautifully on the specimen while surrounded by pale copiatite. The specimen is typical for the strongly acidic pH conditions occurring at Riotinto mining district.
I have acquired the specimen in September 2014 from a local miner while there for my last post doc project, where we did use Riotinto minerals as analogs for Martian geochemical processes. From what I was told, Pozo Alfredo (Alfredo pit) is a defunct locality, as that part of the mine is currently flooded, and voltaite specimens were really uncommon in the first place.
It will come in a small plastic box. I would advice the lucky buyer to keep it air tight to avoid dehydration of the minerals.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Voltaite

Formula: 
K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12·18H2O
Strunz: 
7.CC.25
Hardness: 
3.0 - 3.5
Type Locality: 
Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Phlegrean Fields, Naples Province, Phlegrean Volcanic Complex, Campania, Italy

Copiapite

Formula: 
Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2·20H2O
Strunz: 
7.DB.35
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.0
Type Locality: 
Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile

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