Piromorfita
Piromorfita is a mineral with formula Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl. This specimen comes from Mina San Andrés / Geoda del Tarta, Espiel, Córdoba, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 1984.
Description
Compact aggregate of pyromorphite crystals, with growth in all directions. Forms a dense, tight knot with no bare patches. The intense green typical of the better San Andrés pyromorphites.
History of this specimen
A small piece collected by Juan Manuel "El Tarta" himself at the San Andrés mine, soon after an episode he often told. I recount it as he did: working underground he was dazed by carbide-lamp fumes and had to be pulled out by Carlos Pareja and Paquito "El Malagueño". Afterwards he said that, in that state, he had spoken with a snake urging him to keep picking further ahead. He returned, kept in that direction and ended up finding the large pocket that would bear his name. From there came some of the first outstanding San Andrés pyromorphites, already valued in the early 1980s. That cavity, known among the miners as the "Bolsada de El Tarta", continued to yield fine pieces until it collapsed in 1989. This story belongs to the deposit’s first great phase and precedes that of the celebrated "túnel metálico" of Carlos Pareja and the Peña brothers.
About Piromorfita
Lead chlorophosphate. The early San Andrés phases produced more rugged pieces, with very rich greens and strong character. Although generally somewhat less perfect than the later finds by Carlos Pareja and others, that untamed crystal habit became an asset in classic Iberian collecting.
About the locality
San Andrés, in Villaviciosa de Córdoba, is one of the classic pyromorphite localities worldwide. It was mined principally for lead and baryte, and the best pyromorphite geodes were recognised early for their exceptional quality; the first to notice was the mine director, who kept them for himself (as at that time there was little national interest in collecting). Then came the two golden periods, pre-1989 and post "túnel telescópico".
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0382
- Composition
- Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
- Name
- Piromorfita
- Category
- Cupidium
- Mine
- Mina San Andrés / Geoda del Tarta
- District / Municipality
- Espiel
- Province
- Córdoba
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 2.5 x 2.5 x 2
- Weight
- 23.6 g
- Acquired
- 1984
- Ex-collection
- Juan Manuel «El Tarta» > Diego Navarro
- Etymology
- Its name derives from "Vanadis", one of the names of Freyja, the goddess of beauty in Scandinavian mythology. It was named thus for the beautiful and varied colours of the element vanadium it contains.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
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