Conicalcita
Conicalcita is a mineral with formula CaCu(AsO₄)(OH), in the Arseniatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Previsión, Fiñana, Almería, Andalucía, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2026.
Description
Dense, continuous, grass-green conichalcite coating, homogeneous and botryoidal, covering the entire upper surface of the matrix. No windows, cuts or bare patches. Exceptional for the locality. The collector has not located images or documented references to a specimen comparable in size and continuity of the coating.
History of this specimen
First piece I bought in Deifontes. I walked in, saw it and did not hesitate. It had a previous owner, someone from the area, but I have not yet managed to learn their identity.
About Conicalcita
A copper-calcium hydroxyarsenate. At Fiñana it occurs as globular coatings of highly saturated green with a dull lustre. Typical pieces are small, often c. 2×2 cm or less, with broken coatings, bare patches or chipping. Therefore, for the locality, a specimen of this size with a continuous, unbroken coating is exceptional.
About the locality
Conichalcite developed on the entrance arch of the mine and for a time collectors and mineralogists could gather specimens there. Later someone knocked down that arch and the material was scattered on the ground, with signs of deliberate damage. Today there is no accessible production; what remains are historical remnants—finite, not recoverable.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0395
- Composition
- CaCu(AsO₄)(OH)
- Name
- Conicalcita
- Group
- Arseniatos
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Matrix
- Ferruginosa (Limonita/Goethita)
- Mine
- Mina Previsión
- District / Municipality
- Fiñana
- Province
- Almería
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 7.5 x 6 x 4.5
- Weight
- 195 g
- Acquired
- 2026
- Etymology
- From the Greek roots κονία ('konis', dust) and χαλκος ('chalkos', copper), chosen by Breithaupt and Fritzsche to reflect its physical appearance and metallic content.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Estable
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