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Drawings of an interpretation of the Alme calcite habit. Top, standard crystallographic orientation. Bottom, view corresponding to Tobias’ photos. (Author: Pete Richards)
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dreislar.jpg (Author: Tobi)
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Drill workings in an area where blasting will be done in a few days. David Soler photo, September 2005. (Author: Joan Rosell)
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Drillers, San José La Rica mine, Real del Monte, Hidalgo, México (1983)
Fotografía: David Maawad, publicada en "Una visión de la Minería" núm 86 (Author: Luis Domínguez)
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Drillers. San Juan Pachuca Mine, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico (1988)
Author: Marco Antonio Hernández Badillo from the book "Entre la tierra y el aire". Edition: Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería, A.C.
www.distritominero.com (Author: Jordi Fabre)
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DRILLING UNDERGROUND
In underground mines like Milpillas, specialized long-hole drill equipment was paramount for preparing rock for blasting. These powerful drills created deep, precise boreholes into which explosives were loaded. This allowed for controlled detonation, breaking up the ore body into manageable sizes for extraction, a crucial step in the mine’s production cycle.
On a daily basis, miners navigated a subterranean world where the primary target was high-grade Chalcocite, a crucial Copper sulfide ore found within the mine’s extensive enriched blankets. However, earlier operations, before the sulphide zone was reached, brought them face-to-face with a stunning array of secondary Copper minerals, particularly prevalent in the shallower, oxidized zones of the deposit. These encounters routinely included the visually striking blue Azurite and its verdant counterpart, Malachite, which often display intricate intergrowths or even pseudomorphic transformations. Furthermore, the miners commonly observed the lustrous red Cuprite and deposits of glimmering native Copper. While less frequent, other notable green Copper minerals such as Brochantite and the distinctive blue-green Chrysocolla might also be present, alongside occasional rare silicates, painting a vivid picture of the mine’s diverse mineral composition. The mine was well-known for producing exceptionally well-crystallized Volborthite, a rare Copper poly-vanadate, sometimes found on a matrix of Dickite or associated with Azurite and Malachite.
The photographs also highlight the relative scarcity of significant ‘collector-quality’ mineralized pockets conducive to specimen collecting. The Milpillas Mine, despite its economic prowess as a Copper producer, wasn’t uniformly “mineralogically rich” in the way some mineral collectors often dream. While extensive zones yielded abundant Copper ore, the frequent discovery of collector-quality Azurite and Malachite vugs, brimming with “splendent” crystals, was not an everyday occurrence. Like many commercial mining operations, Milpillas had its hot spots; certain areas provided significant quantities of high-grade Copper ore for the electrolytic plant, while others, some distinct from the primary ore body, provided treasure troves for exceptional mineral specimens. This dichotomy is a common reality in the world of mineral collecting, where the pursuit of stunning crystals often means sifting through vast amounts of economically viable yet aesthetically uninteresting ore.
When routine mining operations intersected mineralized veins and vugs, some large, containing exceptional Azurite and Malachite crystals, these occurrences were opportunistically exploited by ‘some workers’ as a means of illicit income supplementation. Penoles, the owners and operators of the mine, actively discouraged such unauthorized extraction, enforcing a strict policy of dismissal and potential criminal prosecution for apprehended individuals. Furthermore, any worker implicated in such illicit activities faced industry-wide blacklisting, effectively precluding future employment within the mining sector.
Initially, the value of these surreptitiously acquired specimens was nominal, commanding only a few pesos. However, the Internet facilitated a rapid increase in market awareness among the miners, who quickly discerned the substantial value placed on these “colored rocks” by International, particularly North American, dealers and collectors.
A NOTE ON “THIS-OR-THAT POCKET” NOMENCLATURE
The use of the term “pocket” to describe certain Milpillas mineral specimens, particularly in reference to their extraction point, transcends simple geographical identification. These labels, rather than being intrinsic descriptors understood by those who extracted the specimens, were often marketing tools designed to imbue the minerals with a specific allure. Those intimately familiar with the mine’s day-to-day operations understood that such terms were colloquialisms, not reflections of actual geological structures or mining methodology.
While official company documents certainly highlighted and celebrated areas with significant mineralization — often featuring stunning, perfectly formed crystals of Azurite, Malachite, and other Copper minerals — they deliberately avoided calling these spots “pockets.” Instead, they used more formal geological terms. Their descriptions focused on the geological structures controlling the mineralization, the types of rocks surrounding the minerals, and their exact mineral makeup. This intentional choice of language pointed to a clear difference between the casual, on-the-ground language used by some of the mine workers who opportunistically and illegally exploited the mineralized zones for personal profit and the precise, scientific terminology preferred in corporate and geological reports. It was likely an effort to keep all official communications consistent and scientifically accurate, ensuring a formal narrative throughout.
Original photos courtesy of Gonzáléz Sánchez (Author: silvia)
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Drusy Calcite with Marcasite,
from Rayas mine, Guanajuato, Gto.
88 x 70 x 25 mm (Author: Carlos M.)
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Drusy pale Amethyst xls on Epidote carpet
Cerro De La Concordia, Piedra Parada, Mun. de Tatatila, Veracruz, Mexico
90x55x72mm
One of my favorites (Author: Carlos M.)
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Druzy quartz, the other part of the pocket. (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSC01321.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01326.JPG (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01329.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01335.JPG (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01338.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01362.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01377.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01388.JPG (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01389.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01399.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01407.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC01413.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC02227.JPG (Author: olelukoe)
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DSC03181.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03184.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03200.JPG (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03203.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03204.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03206.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03210.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03221.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03222.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03228.JPG (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03241.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03249.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03253.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03272.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03274.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03300.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03311.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03314.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03326.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03331.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03340.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03367.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03375.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03403.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC03407.jpg (Author: Anton Potgieter)
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DSC04437.JPG (Author: Namfluro)
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DSC04438.JPG (Author: Namfluro)
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DSC04439.JPG (Author: Namfluro)
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DSC04479.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSC04483.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSC04745.jpg (Author: javmex2)
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DSC04749.jpg (Author: javmex2)
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DSC04756.jpg (Author: javmex2)
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DSC04782.jpg (Author: javmex2)
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DSC06328.JPG (Author: Namfluro)
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DSC08546.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSC08883.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSC08885.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSC08886.JPG (Author: javmex2)
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DSCF1036.jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1038 (1).jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1699.jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1761.jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1766.jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1770 (1).jpg (Author: vic rzonca)
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DSCF1911.JPG (Author: Bob Harman)
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DSCF4403.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF4582.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF6384.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF7628.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF8580.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF8581.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF8585.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF8586.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCF8587.JPG (Author: nurbo)
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DSCN0950.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN0979.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN0985.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN0995.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1003.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1013.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1136.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1230.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1234.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1237.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1238.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1262.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN1419.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN2437.JPG (Author: John S. White)
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DSCN5307.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSCN5310.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSCN5368.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0050.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0053.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0074.JPG (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0133.jpg (Author: Tomasz Praszkier)
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DSC_0149.jpg (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0150.jpg (Author: Gail)
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DSC_0499.jpg (Author: Gail)
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DT quartz crystal with attached quartz points, Honghe, yunnan Province, China. 10.5 x 5 x 5 cm (Author: Tracy)
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DT Rutile Mogok Burms 6mm tall (Author: nurbo)
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Dufrenoysite, Realgar
Cantera Lengenbach, Fäld, Valle Binn (Binntal), Wallis (Valais), Suiza
6 x 4 mm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Dufrenoysite
Cantera Lengenbach, Fäld, Valle Binn (Binntal), Wallis (Valais), Suiza
4 x 2.5 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Duftite
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto, Namibia
fov 1.4 mm (Author: Rewitzer Christian)
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Duftite (Author: Gail)
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Duftite -Benahadux, Almería, Spain (Author: Rewitzer Christian)
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Duftite -Benahadux, Almería, Spain (Author: Rewitzer Christian)
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Duftite and Calcite on a Limonite Matrix
Mina Ojuela, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
12 cm x 9.5 cm x 2.5 cm (Author: Mark Ost)
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Duftite and Calcite on a Limonite Matrix
Mina Ojuela, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
12 cm x 9.5 cm x 2.5 cm (Author: Mark Ost)
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Duftite and Calcite on a Limonite Matrix
Mina Ojuela, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
12 cm x 9.5 cm x 2.5 cm (Author: Mark Ost)
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Duftite on calcite with second generation calcite crystals
Tsumeb, Namibia
12 cm (Author: Herman van Dennebroek)
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Duftite on Calcite
Mina Km-3, Lavrion, Distrito minero Lavrion, Prefectura Attikí (Attica), Grecia
fov 1.8 mm (Autor: ploum) -
Duftite on Calcite
Mina Tsumeb, Tsumeb, Región Otjikoto, Namibia
43mm x 30mm x 34mm (Autor: Heimo Hellwig) -
Duftite on Calcite
Mina Tsumeb, Tsumeb, Región Otjikoto, Namibia
43mm x 30mm x 34mm (Autor: Heimo Hellwig) -
Duftite with Rosasite & Smithsonite - Tsumeb, Namibia. 3 mm. (Author: Rewitzer Christian)
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Duftite, galena, fluorite, baryte
Mulda, Freiberg, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany.
8 x 6,5 cm
The only existing duftite sample from Mulda. (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Duftite-conichalcite series
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5 x 6.5 cm.
Light green botryoidal and micro-crystals associated with colorless calcite crystals on the typical gossan matrix. I acquired this piece from Jordi, and he indicated that the 3 pieces that he had tested each turned out to be duftite. (Author: crosstimber)
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Duftite
Mina Km-3, Lavrion, Distrito minero Lavrion, Prefectura Attikí (Attica), Grecia
fov 1.5 mm (Autor: ploum) -
Duftite
Mina Clara, Valle Rankach, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Selva Negra, Baden-Württemberg, Alemania
FOV = 2.7 mm (Autor: Doug) -
Duftite
Mina Moon Anchor, Hummingbird Spring, Distrito Osborn, Montes Bighorn, Condado Maricopa, Arizona, USA
FOV = 0.9 mm (Autor: Doug) -
Dugganite
Mina Cogolla Alta, Belalcázar, Comarca Los Pedroches, Córdoba, Andalucía, España
fov 0.7 mm (Autor: Rewitzer Christian) -
Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Hopefully the zoom function will allow a closer look at the Basking Shark - can you see it near the edge of the rocks?
Photo taken from the cliff-top about 180m high. Only had a 3x zoom on that camera at that time.. (Author: Mike Wood)
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Duke of Cornwall Mine Cornish Engine House (Author: crocoite)
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Duke of Cornwall Mine dumps (Author: crocoite)
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Dumortierita, Cuarzo
Cantera Vaca Morta, Sierra da Vereda, Boquira, Bahia, Región Nordeste, Brasil
28 x 20 x 15 mm. (Autor: arturo) -
Dumortierite in Quartz
Cantera Vaca Morta, Sierra da Vereda, Boquira, Bahia, Región Nordeste, Brasil
35 mm. x 18 mm. x 10 mm. (Autor: Val) -
Dumortierite, Quartz
São João da Chapada, Diamantina, Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil
6.9 x 2.5 cm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Dumortierite, Quartz
São João da Chapada, Diamantina, Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil
6.9 x 2.5 cm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Dumortierite, Quartz
São João da Chapada, Diamantina, Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil
2.4 x 1.0 cm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Dumortierite, Quartz
Cantera Vaca Morta, Sierra da Vereda, Boquira, Bahia, Región Nordeste, Brasil
87 mm x 44 mm x 29 mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Dumortierite
Colina Tsodilo, Distrito North-West (Ngamiland), Botsuana
2 x 1,5 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Mina Old Sandbed (Old Sandbeds), Caldbeck Fells, Allerdale, (antes Cumberland), Cumbria, Inglaterra / Reino Unido
(Autor: Forrestblyth) -
Dundasite
Adelaids Mine, Dundas, Tasmania.
12 mm across (approx) (Author: nurbo)
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Dundasite
Mas Dieu, Gard, France
fov 4.5 mm (Author: ploum)
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Dundasite
Mas Dieu, Gard, France
fov 5 mm (Author: ploum)
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Dundasite
Mas Dieu, Gard, France
fov 8 mm (Author: ploum)
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Dundasite and siderite
Mas Dieu, Gard, France
fov 5 mm (Author: ploum)
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Dundasite
Mina Adelaide, Campo minero Dundas, Distrito Zeehan, Consejo Costa Oeste, Tasmania, Australia
2.2 x 2.8 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Dundasite
Mina Adelaide, Campo minero Dundas, Distrito Zeehan, Consejo Costa Oeste, Tasmania, Australia
5.7 x 7.1 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Dundasite
Mina Adelaide, Campo minero Dundas, Distrito Zeehan, Consejo Costa Oeste, Tasmania, Australia
5.7 x 7.1 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Duplex and big Calcite.JPG (Author: h.abbasi)
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DURANGO MEXICO
MAP DISCUSSION
This map of Durango charts the geography of the state, prominently featuring its capital, Victoria de Durango. The city’s name is a lasting tribute to Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of Mexico. The map also pinpoints the locations of some other towns and the historic Ojuela mine. Notably absent is the town of Mapimí; it lies in such close proximity to the mine that the map’s scale cannot distinguish it as a separate location. Surrounding Durango are the other Mexican states of Sinaloa, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Nayarit and Chihuahua.
A Brief Review
In the rugged heartland of Mexico lies Durango, a land of stark and beautiful contradictions. It’s a place defined by immense scale, a vast territory sprawling across the nation’s northwest where the sky feels larger and the horizons more distant. Carved by the great spine of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango serves as a crucial geographic crossroads, physically separating Mexico’s other great provinces. To the east, its mountains give way to the arid Chihuahuan Desert and the industrial Laguna Region, while to the west; they descend into the humid Pacific coastal lowlands. Though its landmass ranks fourth in the nation, its soul is found not in its size, but in these wild, sparsely populated spaces that make it a core state of “El Norte” (The North) and the Mexico of the imagination.
A Land of Two Faces
Here, the geography is destiny. The Sierra Madre Occidental rises in a dramatic sweep of pine and oak forests, a cool, humid world where mountain air carries the scent of resin and rain. These peaks shelter an astonishing biodiversity — the shadow of a puma slips through the trees, black bears forage in the undergrowth, and the golden eagle soars on mountain thermals. But cross this formidable barrier to the east, and the landscape transforms. The mountains’ rain shadow gives way to the sun-scorched plains and the breathless heat of the Chihuahuan Desert, a resilient ecosystem of cacti and coyote that stretches into the famed Laguna Region.
The Veins of Silver
Etched into this dramatic landscape is a story of treasure and toil. Durango’s history was forged in the fire of smelters, its destiny shaped by the glittering veins of Silver that lured conquistadors into its deepest canyons. From the 16th century onward, mining became the state’s lifeblood, funding empires across the sea and building the magnificent colonial cities that stand today. The echo of the pickaxe still resonates; today, a modern industry extracts not only Silver but also vast quantities of Gold, Lead and Zinc, making mining a continued cornerstone of the Durango’s economy — a powerful legacy of riches and hardship written in the very rock of the mountains.
Anchors of Civilization and History
Anchoring this immense territory are its cities. The capital, Victoria de Durango, is the state’s historic soul, its colonial heart of carved stone and quiet courtyards beating with a modern rhythm. Far to the northeast, in the state’s industrial engine room, the cities of Gómez Palacio and Lerdo form a vital metropolitan hub, their industrious pulse driving the agriculture and commerce of the Laguna Region.
The story of Durango is written in layers, reaching back to the Tepehuanes and Acaxees, its first custodians. Their world was irrevocably changed by the arrival of Francisco de Ibarra in 1563, ushering in an era of colonial ambition. Centuries later, these same mountains and plains became the crucible of revolution, giving rise to the state’s most famous son, Pancho Villa, whose cry for justice once echoed through the canyons. Durango remains a land of profound contrasts, a testament to resilience, forever defined by its untamed mountains and the indelible history they hold. (Author: silvia)
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Durango MX2.jpg (Author: d_hawtho)
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Dyscrasite
Příbram, Central Bohemia Region, Czech Republic
4.1 x 5.0 cm
Metallic dyscrasite crystals with an iridescent tarnish on stibarsen matrix. Collected in 1982. (Author: crosstimber)
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Dyscrasite
Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany
2,5x2x1,5 cm
Very interesting old sample, with twinned, pale gray crystals and a bit of matrix. From old collection (ex Maucher). (Author: Simone Citon)
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Dyscrasite after Allargentum and with Silver
Mina Bouismas, Agdz, distrito minero Bou Azzer, Provincia Zagora, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
2.5 x 5.9 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Dyscrasite after Allargentum on Calcite
Mina Bouismas, Agdz, distrito minero Bou Azzer, Provincia Zagora, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
61 x 42 mm (Autor: Manuel Mesa) -
Dyscrasite after Allargentum on Calcite
Mina Bouismas, Agdz, distrito minero Bou Azzer, Provincia Zagora, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
87mm x 78mm x 45mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
dyscrasite on arsenic, first view (Author: Tracy)
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dyscrasite on arsenic, second view (Author: Tracy)
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Dyscrasite with Löllingite
Mina Bouismas, Agdz, distrito minero Bou Azzer, Provincia Zagora, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
6.3x4.4x6.5 cm''s (Autor: Joseph DOliveira) -
Dyscrasite, pyrargyrite
Samson mine, St. Andreasberg, Harz mtn., Lower Saxony, Germany.
7 x 5,5 cm (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Dyscrasite
Mina Uranium número 21 (pozo número 21), Háje, Příbram, Región Bohemia Central, Bohemia, República Checa
2.6 x 2.9 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Dyscrasite
Distrito minero Bou Azzer, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
50x30x20 mm (Autor: Dany Mabillard) -
Dyscrasite
Mina Bouismas, Agdz, distrito minero Bou Azzer, Provincia Zagora, Región Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos
6.0 x 5.0 x 3.0 cm (Autor: Michael Shaw) -
E0910008海蓝5.JPG (Author: Walker)
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E0910009海蓝3.JPG (Author: Walker)
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E0910009海蓝4.JPG (Author: Walker)
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E0910012海蓝石榴电气长石水晶4.JPG (Author: Walker)
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E0910016海蓝黄玉电气长石板钛1.JPG (Author: Walker)
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Eastonite
C. K. Williams Quarry, Easton, Northhampton County, Pennsylvania, USA
9.5 x 11.0 cm
Yellowish-green eastonite embedded in a light colored matrix from the type locality. (Author: crosstimber)
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Eastonite
Cantera C. K. Williams & Co., Chestnut Hill, Easton, Condado Northampton, Pennsylvania, USA
9.5 x 11.0 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Edingtonita na Natrolita.
Mina Jacupiranga, Cajati, São Paulo, Brasil
9,5 cm X 6,0 cm X 6,8 cm (Author: silvio steinhaus)
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Edingtonite
Complejo alcalino Ice River, División Golden Mining, Columbia Británica, Canadá
FOV 15 mm (Autor: Adrian Pripoae) -
Edingtonite
Complejo alcalino Ice River, División Golden Mining, Columbia Británica, Canadá
FOV - 3.6 mm (Autor: Doug) -
EDS of arsenopyrite/Sphalerite combo; 8 x 5 x 2cm and comes from Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, (Author: Samuel)
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egerin.jpg (Author: farmukanx)
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Eglestonite with Calomel and Mercury
Grupo minero Mariquita, Cerro de las Minas, Usagre, Comarca Campiña Sur, Badajoz, Extremadura, España
main crystal size: 0.2 × 0.1 cm (Autor: Jordi Fabre) -
EHR3.JPG (Author: Tobi)
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Eirikite
Vesle Aroya, Langesundfjord, Tvedalen, Larvik, Vestfold, Noruega
2,5 x 2 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Eirikite
Vesle Aroya, Langesundfjord, Tvedalen, Larvik, Vestfold, Noruega
2,5 x 2 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Eirikite
Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canadá
5 x 4 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Eirikite
Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canadá
5 x 4 cm (Autor: Volkmar Stingl) -
Eisenkiesel (Zobes).JPG (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Eisenkiesel on Hematite
Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumbria.
FOV approx 35 mm (Author: nurbo)
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Eisenkiesel quartz covered with hematite crystals, calcite, dolomite and siderite. Classic find (1920s) from Abraham shaft, Himmelfahrt mine, Freiberg, Saxony. Sample width: 7 cm. Although being "simple" gangue minerals good samples from Himmelfahrt mine (central Freiberg district) are as hard to find as good silver minerals from Freiberg. Especially in the case of district rarities as hematite xls. (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Ekatite xls
Tsumeb, Namibia
Specimen size: 15 mm.
Specimen: William Pinch Collection
Photo: Jeff Scovil & The RRUFF Project (Author: Pinch Bill)
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El Portalet Pass, 1800 metres high. (Author: Benj)
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El Sherana Mine Photo showing Adit
An old adit set into a hill at El Sherana, note tracks leading into an adit (perhaps the 195 metre level) and the visible water pipes and machinery, El Sherana, NT late 1950’s. (Photo courtesy of R. Fisher) (Author: silvia)
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El Sherana Photo
Part of the El Sherana open cut ca. 1988. (Photo courtesy of BHP) (Author: silvia)
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El Sherana Processing Plant
Photo showing part of the derelict remains of the El Sherana mine’s Gravity Separation Plant. The plant was constructed in 1956 to process the rich Uranium ore extracted from the nearby mines. Gimbat Road is in the background. (Photo courtesy of S. Kerber) (Author: silvia)
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El Sherana Uraninite at the Australian Museum
Between 1961 and 1983 the Sydney based ‘Australian Museum’ proudly exhibited a huge specimen of El Sherana Uraninite. At the time it was the largest specimen of Uraninite ever recovered, and weighed approximately 850 kilograms. It measured 48 cm high and 46 cm wide. The specimen was recovered at El Sherana in May 1956. The potential radiation threat from this superbly wonderful and scientifically priceless specimen was thoroughly assessed by Health and Safety experts from the New South Wales Health Department. These experts stated and I quote “after measuring the amount of radiation from this big specimen, to obtain the maximum permissible dosage a member of the public would have to stand on the spot from where the specimen can be viewed for half an hour every day for the rest of his life. Therefore, the amount of radiation received by any member of the public from casual viewing is quite negligible.” – End of quote. As an additional precaution an exhaust fan was installed in the outside wall behind the specimen to remove the small amount of Radon emitted from the outer most surface (ca. 1-2 mm) of the specimen.
Sometime in the early 1980’s The Australian Museum gave the specimen to ANSTO for safe keeping at their Lucas Heights facility. According to ANSTO and its regulatory partner ARPANSA, the current location of the specimen is unknown.
Another similar, but smaller, specimen of Uraninite from El Sherana was displayed in the British Museum in London, but its current whereabouts is also unknown.
El Sherana Uraninite was dated at about 1800 Ma.
Before the El Sherana specimen was recovered, the previous weight record for a single specimen of Uraninite was held by the Shinkolobwe Mine in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Shinkolobwe specimen weighed 750 kilograms. (Original Photo courtesy of R. Chalmers) (Author: silvia)
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El Sherana West Photo
El Sherana West Open cut ca. 1963. The small open cut was set in some very steep terrain. Clearly visible in the background is the adit leading to the incline shaft which accessed the lower levels from which the bulk of the high grade Uraninite ore was extracted. In the foreground is a jeep bearing the logo of the United Uranium N.L. Company. (Photo courtesy of N. Murphy) (Author: silvia)
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Elbait (Wolkenburg).JPG (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Elbaite
Arqueana Mine, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2.3 x 3.2 cm.
Terminal portion of a watermelon tourmaline with a partially dissolved reddish core and a green pinacoid termination. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Barra de Salinas district, Coronel Murta, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
5.2 x 1.7 cm
Back Light (Author: am mizunaka)
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Elbaite
Barra de Salinas district, Coronel Murta, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
5.2 x 1.7 cm (Author: am mizunaka)
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Elbaite
Barra de Salinas district, Barra de Salinas, Coronel Murta, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
22 mm tall (Author: xdxucn)
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Elbaite
Danburitovaya pegmatite vein, Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Chitinskaya Oblast’, Transbaikalia, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
1.8 x 4.2 cm
Cranberry-red, elbaite crystal with internal orange highlights, striated prism faces, and pyramidal termination. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Dusso, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
1.3 x 6.5 cm.
Pale green striated elbaite crystals with parallel growth and pinacoid terminations. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Golconda Mine, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2.0 x 7.7 cm.
Parallel growth of acicular indicolite crystals each with a trigonal termination. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Grotta d’Oggi Quarry, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
19.10 mm Elbaite with " Moor’s head " termination (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Grotta d’Oggi Quarry, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
11 mm pink-light Elbaite show pink-dark " ghosts " into (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Grotta d’Oggi Quarry, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Historical specimen with green-oil dark/light, transparent and purple-blue dark termination Elbaite crystals. Area of 27.57 mm (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Jonas Mine, Conselheiro Pena, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
4.1 cm x 5.2 cm x 2 cm (Author: am mizunaka)
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Elbaite
Mica mine, Pamir, Tajikistan
3,0x0,7x0,7 cm (Author: barbie90)
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Elbaite
Mica mine, Pamir, Tajikistan
3,0x0,7x0,7 cm (Author: barbie90)
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Elbaite
Mica mine, Pamir, Tajikistan
3,0x0,7x0,7 cm (Author: barbie90)
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Elbaite
Mica mine, Pamir, Tajikistan
2,1x0,7x0,7 cm (Author: barbie90)
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Elbaite
Mica mine, Pamir, Tajikistan
2,1x0,7x0,7 cm (Author: barbie90)
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Elbaite
Minas Gerais, Brazil
5.4cm x1.8cm x1.8cm (Author: Mark Ost)
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Elbaite
Paprok, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
7.3 x 3.5 cm (Author: am mizunaka)
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Elbaite
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
57 x 28 mm² (Author: Carles Millan)
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Elbaite
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
57 x 28 mm²
Photo published in "Infomíner" (newsletter of the "Grup Mineralògic Català", Barcelona), #51, 2/2011, page 11 (Author: Carles Millan)
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Elbaite
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
69 mm x 51 mm (Author: Carles Millan)
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Elbaite
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
69 mm x 51 mm (Author: Carles Millan)
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Elbaite
Pederneira claim, São José da Safira, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
5.9 x 1.9 cm (Author: am mizunaka)
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Elbaite
Pederneira Mine, Santa Maria do Suassui, Minas Gerais, Brazil
4.0 x 10.0 cm.
Two intersecting crystals with pink cores, bluish-green mid-sections, and terminated with a cranberry-red, low angle pyramid. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Penig, Granulitgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Largest crystal: 1,2 x 0,4 cm
Partly gemmy, with ancient Krantz label (ca. 1890) (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Elbaite
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
12.32 mm Elbaite crystal with purple termination (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
14 mm green with purple termination Elbaite (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
8.9 mm particular on two Elbaite crystal with Albite on termination (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
4.42 mm yellow-brown Elbaite with Albite on termination (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Rosina vein, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell’Elba, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
12.74 mm pink-light, transparent Elbaite with blue-dark termination (Author: Matteo_Chinellato)
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Elbaite
Sabsar, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
2.0 x 2.5 cm.
Blue-zoned elbaites with albite. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
San Piero, Isola Elba, Italy
9.5 x 7.7 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite
San Piero, Isola Elba, Italy
9.5 x 7.7 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite
Santa Rosa Mine, Malacacheta, Minas Gerais, Brazil
1.0 x 7.5 cm.
A dark green zoned elbaite with a pyramidal termination. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Sapo Mine, Goiabeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
1.5 x 4.3 cm.
Collected in 1998. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Shengus, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
4.2 x 7.4 cm.
A doubly terminated elbaite crystal with a colorless basal section, dark green center, and light green termination partly surrounded by cream to colorless quartz. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
4.4 x 5.0 x 6.3 cm.
Dark green elbaite crystals with light green terminations surrounded by platy white albite var. cleavelandite. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite
Toca da Onca Mine, Barra de Salinas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2.8 x 8.5 cm.
Fasciculated group of doubly terminated, olive green crystals with pink tinges. (Author: crosstimber)
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Elbaite (Author: Craig Mercer)
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Elbaite ( var. Indicolite ) on Albite
Cryo-Genie Mine
Warner Springs
San Diego County, California
United States of America
9.2 x 5.3 x 3.5 cm overall
5.0 x 4.0 x 3.5 cm crystal (Author: GneissWare)
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Elbaite (indicolite)
Penig, Granulitgebirge, Saxony, Germany.
1,2 x 1 cm. (Author: Andreas Gerstenberg)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline)
Pakistan
20x20x20 mm (Author: Walker)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline) with Spodumene (variety kunzite)
Pakistan
55x20x20 mm (Author: Walker)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.4 x 6.5 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.4 x 6.5 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.4 x 6.5 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.4 x 6.5 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.4 x 6.5 cm (Author: Don Lum)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group) (variety rubellite)
Concesión Pederneira, São José da Safira, Governador Valadares, Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, Brasil
144 mm x 34 mm x 11 mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group) on Quartz (variety smoky)
Provincia Laghman, Afganistán
fov 10 cm (Autor: ploum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group) variety rubellite
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nuristan, Afganistán
108 x 60 mm (Autor: Manuel Mesa)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group) variety rubellite
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nurist -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Provincia Badakhshan, Afganistán
92 mm x 52 mm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Prov -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nuristan, Afganistán
115 mm x 67 mm x 55 mm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Pr -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nuristan, Afganistán
115 mm x 67 mm x 55 mm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Pr -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite, Quartz
Provincia Badakhshan, Afganistán
12 cm x 11.5 cm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite, Quartz
Provincia Badakhshan -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite, Quartz
Provincia Badakhshan, Afganistán
12 cm x 11.5 cm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite, Quartz
Provincia Badakhshan -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Albite
Mokhovaya pegmatita, Malkhan (Malchan), Krasnyi Chikoy, Zabaykalsky Krai, Rusia
68 mm x 48 mm x 45 mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Lepidolite, Albite (var. cleavelandite), Orthoclase
Mina Himalaya, Gem Hill, Distrito Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California, USA
9.2 x 4.0 cm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Quartz (variety smoky quartz), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nuristan, Afganistán
22.5 cm x 22.2 cm x 17.2 cm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Quartz (variety smoky quartz), Albite (variety cleavelandite)
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Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Quartz (variety smoky quartz), Albite
Paprok, Distrito Kamdesh, Provincia Nuristan, Afganistán
165 mm x 145 mm x 95 mm (Autor: Don Lum)Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Quartz (variety smoky quartz), Albite
Paprok, Distrito Kamd -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group), Quartz, Albite (var cleavelandite)
Stak Nala, Montes Haramosh, Distrito Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan (Áreas del Norte), Paquistán
55 mm x 38 mm x 29 mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Pegmatita Serra Branca, Pedra Lavrada, Borborema, Paraíba, Brasil
22 mm x 17 mm x 12 mm (Autor: Don Lum) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Mina Stewart, Montaña Tourmaline Queen, Pala, Distrito Pala, Condado San Diego, California, USA
1.2 x 2.2 cm (Autor: crosstimber) -
Elbaite (Tourmaline Group)
Mina Himalaya, Gem Hill, Distrito Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California, USA
6.8 x 2.5 cm (Autor: Don Lum)
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