Piromorfita
Piromorfita is a mineral with formula Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl, in the Fosfatos group. This specimen comes from Mina San Andrés, Villaviciosa de Córdoba, Córdoba, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 1988.
Description
Thumbnail, almost micro, in the form of a small bridge.
About Piromorfita
Pyromorphite is a lead chlorophosphate that crystallises in the hexagonal system and forms in the oxidised zone of galena deposits. Its colours range from green to brown, depending on impurities and formation conditions. Specimens from San Andrés are among the world's most celebrated for their intense colour, vitreous lustre and well-developed crystals.
About the locality
A world classic. Although the mine was worked mainly for lead and barite, the exceptional quality of its pyromorphite geodes was recognised very early; in fact, the first to notice was the mine director himself, who kept them for himself at a time when national collecting barely existed. Later, the mine saw two golden periods of finds: before 1989, and after the opening of the telescopic tunnel.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0385
- Composition
- Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
- Name
- Piromorfita
- Group
- Fosfatos
- Category
- Cupidium
- Mine
- Mina San Andrés
- District / Municipality
- Villaviciosa de Córdoba
- Province
- Córdoba
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 2 x 1.5 x 1.5
- Weight
- 5 g
- Acquired
- 1988
- Ex-collection
- Carlos Pareja
- Etymology
- From the Greek "pyro" (fire) and "morphé" (form), for changing colour when heated.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España