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Galena & Chalcopyrite

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RSL544934

Galena & Chalcopyrite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Bou Nahas Mine, Oumjrane, Alnif, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Cabinet (10-18 cm)
Size: 
10 × 5.2 × 3.3 cm
Largest Crystal: 
2.60cm
Description

Group of cubic galena crystals with an exceptional size for the locality, brilliant and very sharp. They are disposed on an matrix partially covered of small quartz crystals. We can observe small disphenoidal crystals of chalcopyrite with a false appearance of the tetrahedron. It is accompanied by pyrite and chalcopyrite in the matrix.
These mines are located approximately 50 km south of Alnif, near the border with Algeria. This area was already mined in medieval age for the extraction of copper. In the 60s of the last century, French companies expanded shafts and mineral extraction.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Galena

Formula: 
PbS
Strunz: 
2.CD.10
Crystal System: 
Isometric
Hardness: 
2.5
Colour: 
Lead-grey
Streak: 
Lead-grey

Chalcopyrite

Formula: 
CuFeS2
Strunz: 
2.CB.10a
Crystal System: 
Tetragonal
Hardness: 
3.5 - 4.0