Limonita
Limonita is a mineral with formula FeO(OH)·nH₂O, in the Óxidos group. This specimen comes from Mina Trinidad, Villanueva del Rosario, Málaga, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2008.
Description
Nearly organic in appearance. A mountainous cluster like miniature Brazilian sugarloaves. Sculptural stalactites and columns in hues from intense yellow to dark brown. Fibrous texture and matte surface, with well-defined domes. Exceptional.
History of this specimen
A coquera (geode) piece not torn from the walls. Diego Navarro found these limonites more than fifteen years ago in the very dangerous Trinidad mine, in a gallery so narrow he had to crawl. He was gently tapping the rock when, near the end, he opened a small hole in the roof; some dust fell, and on enlarging the opening he could put his head through. He was astonished by what he had uncovered: a geode lined with exquisite botryoidal limonite. He liked it so much he named it "Coquera El Susto". He had gone with a companion who stayed at the adit. When Diego returned, the friend showed him his pieces and Diego, laughing, kicked what the friend had collected: "Bah, that's crap, look". Although he took him to the gallery to help collect pieces, the friend never put his head into the geode. He never wanted to look at what was inside. He only saw the pieces of such quality and what they meant. This piece, from that coquera, is part of one of the most memorable and exciting finds in all of Diego Navarro's field work, and it left his personal collection for mine. Grateful, as always.
About Limonita
Limonite is an amorphous iron oxide, commonly with an earthy habit, and a routine product of the alteration of iron-bearing minerals. It is characterised by yellow, ochre and brown colours, and by forming coatings, crusts and stalactites as in this specimen.
About the locality
The Trinidad mine in Málaga, originally worked for iron, is noted both for the quality of its sculptural limonites and for the extreme danger of its galleries. A setting of difficult extraction and constant risk that adds historical value to hand-collected specimens.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0157
- Composition
- FeO(OH)·nH₂O
- Name
- Limonita
- Group
- Óxidos
- Category
- Cresta Montis
- Matrix
- Matriz limonítica
- Mine
- Mina Trinidad
- District / Municipality
- Villanueva del Rosario
- Province
- Málaga
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 4.2 x 3.5 x 2
- Weight
- 48.8 g
- Acquired
- 2008
- Ex-collection
- Diego Navarro
- Etymology
- The name derives from the Greek "leimōn" ('wet meadow'), referring to iron oxide deposits in marshy areas.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España