Christelite

specimen number:
2354135

location:
San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta, Chile

description:
Sky-blue prismatic crystals of christelite measuring to 0.2 cm in size quite rich across the front of this matrix with quartz. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Eric Laskowski.

Situated in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, the San Francisco Mine within the Caracoles district of Sierra Gorda cuts through complex hydrothermal vein systems hosted in Jurassic-age volcanic and intrusive rocks. Historical operations in Caracoles began during the 19th-century silver rush, though late 20th-century exploration turned toward deep secondary oxidation zones rich in secondary zinc and copper minerals. Near-surface supergene processes acting on sulfide ore veins under extreme desert conditions yielded a diverse suite of hydrated rare secondary minerals. Among these notable species is christelite, a rare hydrous copper zinc sulfate molybdate mineral that forms tiny, brilliant sky-blue to dark-blue crystals within oxidation cavities. The mine became renowned among advanced mineral collectors and researchers for producing fine crystalline type-locality specimens of rare secondary species until modern mining operations and dump re-processing significantly limited field collecting access.

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