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Chalcanthite & Voltaite

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SCH48051

Chalcanthite & Voltaite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Rio Tinto Mines, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain
Size Range: 
Small miniature (3-4.5 cm)
Size: 
3.6 × 2.7 × 3.1 cm
Description

Superb neon blue chalcanthite crystals, that glow when backlit, are set on a matrix with voltaite crystals. The very rich paragenesis, include excellent groups of rhomboclase, groups of transparent coquimbite, white hairy halotrichite crystals, yellow copiapite microballs and scattered szomolnokite crystals plus a minor group of römerite.

Chalcanthite from Riotinto is very rare, as most of the labeled as such, are in fact, melanterit, and even it is extremely rare in good crystals. Exceptional specimen from this classic locality, no more available. More photos avalaible upon request. 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Chalcanthite

Formula: 
CuSO4·5H2O
Strunz: 
7.CB.20
Crystal System: 
Triclinic - Pinacoidal
Hardness: 
2.5
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Chuquicamata Mine, Chuquicamata District, Calama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

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
schani