Sphalerite

specimen number:
8911197

location:
Las Manforas Mine, Cantabria, Spain

description:
Excellent thumbnail for the Spanish classic. Highly translucent lustrous orange red crystal grouping of sphalerite without matrix. In great condition. Gorgeous when backlit. The specimen comes with a previous label from the Alton collection.

Situated within the rugged Picos de Europa mountains of Cantabria, Spain, the Las Manforas Mine, historically known as La Almanzora or the Aliva Mine, is carved into high-altitude limestone strata where hydrothermal mineralization filled open cavities and fractures. Commercial mining operations historically targeted the massive deposits for zinc extraction, utilizing difficult alpine routes to transport the ore. Beyond its industrial production, the mine gained legendary status among mineral collectors worldwide for producing some of the most exceptional, highly transparent, gem-quality sphalerite specimens known, often displaying brilliant reddish-brown and honey-yellow hues alongside saddle-shaped dolomite crystals within carbonate gangue.

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