Atacamite

specimen number:
2354254

location:
La Farola Mine, Tierra Amarilla, Atacama, Chile

description:
Classic locality for the species, the top of this matrix is scattered with brilliant emerald green acicular crystals of atacamite averaging 0.3 cm in size. In good condition.

The La Farola Mine, located near Tierra Amarilla in the Atacama Region of Chile, is situated within a geologically rich copper-gold porphyry and iron oxide copper-gold system hosted by Cretaceous volcanic and intrusive rocks. Historical mining operations at the site primarily targeted copper ores, where oxidation of primary copper sulfides in an extremely arid desert environment led to the formation of outstanding secondary copper minerals. Among these, atacamite is particularly famous, occurring as dark emerald-green, highly lustrous, prismatic crystals and aggregates within oxidized veins and cavities. Specimen collecting at La Farola Mine has produced some of the finest represented atacamite specimens in world collections, highly prized for their deep color, crystal clarity, and classic Chilean provenance.

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