Szenicsite

specimen number:
2063530

location:
Jardinera pit, Delirio mine, San Pedro de Cachiyuyo, Diego de Almagro, Chanaral, Atacama, Chile

description:
Lustrous green rich micaceous szenicsite in a thin vein across this matrix. Good rich reference quality example for the species. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Located in the San Pedro de Cachiyuyo mining district of Atacama, Chile, the Jardinera pit at the Delirio mine is a historic small-scale copper operation situated within hydrothermal diorite host rocks. Weathering and oxidation of primary copper and molybdenum sulfides in fractured underground zones produced a distinctive secondary suite of molybdate minerals. The locality gained international fame in 1993 when American mineral collectors Terry and Marissa Szenics discovered dark green, bladed crystals of a previously unknown copper molybdate mineral residing in clay-filled cavities. Formally described in 1997 and named szenicsite in honor of its discoverers, this rare species occurs as striking radial aggregates and bladed crystals, making this small Chilean pit the world type locality and a renowned site for fine collector specimens.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.