Description
Huanuni Mine, Huanuni, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
A great spray of navy blue and forest green vivianite rests amid tiny siderite crystals dotted with tiny pyrite crystals. Once a prolific producer of gemmy, richly colored vivianite, the Huanuni Mine was taken over by the Bolivian government to mine tin. Mining for specimens is now prohibited, the government floods the areas of vivianite to further discourage would be miners. This piece is likely from the 1990s. The crystals are gemmy with intact terminations. There is a contact on the body of one of the crystals. The matrix looks almost like furry rounded masses, but under the microscope, these are all tiny perfect scalenohedrons of tan and gem siderites dotted with itty bitty pyrites. Larger pyrites can be seen on the back of the piece.
6.80 x 6.00 x 4.80 cm
