Piromorfita
Piromorfita is a mineral with formula Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl, in the Fosfatos group. This specimen comes from Mina San Andrés, Espiel, Córdoba, Andalucía, España.
Description
Small, well-formed green pyromorphite crystals with vitreous lustre forming a coating on limonitic matrix. Among them are thin colourless cerussite laminae.
About Piromorfita
Pyromorphite is a lead phosphate of the mimetite–vanadinite group, common in the oxidised zones of lead deposits. Specimens from the San Andrés mine are known for their intense green colour and for having produced some of the best crystals of the species in Spain.
About the locality
San Andrés mine, Espiel (Córdoba), is one of the most emblematic localities of the Sierra Albarrana district. In the 1980s–1990s its workings yielded exceptional pyromorphite, especially from the geode known as "El Tarta".
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0476
- Composition
- Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
- Name
- Piromorfita
- Group
- Fosfatos
- Category
- Cupidium
- Matrix
- Limonítica
- Associations
- Cerusita
- Mine
- Mina San Andrés
- District / Municipality
- Espiel
- Province
- Córdoba
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 2.8 x 2.5 x 1.5
- Weight
- 12 g
- Ex-collection
- Carlos Pareja
- Etymology
- From the Greek "pyros" (fire) and "morphé" (form), alluding to its change of colour when heated.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Aragonito (Blanco (Bulboso)) — España
- Barita — España
- Calcita (Dorada) — España
- Jacinto de Compostela — España
- Magnetita — España
- Magnetita — España
- Malaquita (Microbotrioidal) — España
- Piromorfita — China