Piromorfita
Piromorfita is a mineral with formula Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl. This specimen comes from Resuperferolítica, Santa Eufemia, Córdoba, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
About Piromorfita
Lead chlorophosphate, isomorphous with vanadinite (V) chlorovanadate and mimetite (As) chloroarsenate. All belong to the chlorapatite group, which crystallizes in hexagonal prisms.
About the locality
In April 1995, before the famous San Andrés (Espiel) find, a small group of amateurs revisited Roman lead workings in the Resuperferolítica concession (Solana de la Canaleja, Santa Eufemia) and opened a very localized zone where cavities lined with pyromorphite appeared, with well-defined hexagonal prismatic crystals in characteristic yellowish-brown and honey-yellow tones, sometimes with a muted greenish tint; the species was already known in the district, but not with that aesthetic, and within a few weeks numerous pieces came out, many still labeled "04/1995," which quickly dispersed through fairs and collections, establishing that brief episode as the starting point of the modern Spanish classic.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0354
- Composition
- Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
- Name
- Piromorfita
- Category
- Lucimera
- Mine
- Resuperferolítica
- District / Municipality
- Santa Eufemia
- Province
- Córdoba
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 4 x 3 x 3
- Weight
- 95.6 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From the Greek «pyr» and «morphé», “fire” and “form”, referring to the appearance it takes on heating.
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Ágatha — Brasil
- Analcima — España