Calcantita
The English version of this entry is not ready yet — text shown in Spanish.
Calcantita is a mineral with formula CuSO₄·5H₂O, in the Sulfatos group. This specimen comes from Mina de San Diego, Rodalquilar, Almería, Andalucía, España.
Description
Triangular and tabular crystals of intense blue color, very fragile, with vitreous luster and great transparency. They are grouped on an earthy-toned matrix in a chaotic formation, forming a very aesthetic whole.
History of this specimen
Piece collected by Meli after extremely delicate extraction in a clayey environment, cleaned with a brush, slowly dried, and with the base modeled by hand to preserve the crystallizations. Very sensitive to humidity.
About Calcantita
calcantita significa flor de cobre. En la antigüedad, los mineros y botánicos llamaban flores a los cristales que brotaban o eflorescían en las paredes de las minas y rocas, agrupándose en formaciones que recordaban a pétalos o vegetación.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0417
- Composition
- CuSO₄·5H₂O
- Name
- Calcantita
- Group
- Sulfatos
- Mine
- Mina de San Diego
- District / Municipality
- Rodalquilar
- Province
- Almería
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 5 x 3.5 x 2
- Weight
- 45 g
- Ex-collection
- Amelia Molina
- Etymology
- From the Greek «chalkós» and «ánthos», “copper” and “flower”, alluding to its blue efflorescences.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Aragonito (Blanco (Bulboso)) — España
- Barita — España
- Barita — Italia
- Barita (Amarilla) — Italia
- Calcita (Dorada) — España
- Celestina — Madagascar
- Jacinto de Compostela — España
- Magnetita — España