Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Field CollectingInformation wanted on mineral dealers in Lima, Peru

1st Oct 2009 00:11 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

Late this month I will be spending 5 days in Lima Peru and would appreciate any information on buying mineral specimens from local "pyriteros" or dealers. I am not interested in large, heavy specimens but mainly micros, thumbnails, and specimens no larger than 5 by 5 cms of a variety of species other that pyrite. Information on flea markets and names and addresses of dealers with a variety of specimens would be appreciated as would be advice on bartering with the locals since I do not want to pay the "gringo" price but the local "peruvian" price. Thanks for any information you can provide. John S.

1st Oct 2009 02:41 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

There was a place in the downtown I saw. Actually it was centro comercial de santo domingo. There are a bunch of different vendors in there. Some are mineral dealers but I never really talked to them or checkout out prices they may know someone though. There was another place right across from Convento de San Francisco that had some minerals. They are not dealers but the had some selenite and I bought a nice japan law there for seriously 5 soles or about $1.60 depending on the exchange rate. To get the cheapest stuff perhaps it might be best to go to the mining cities such as cerro de pasco or which ever city depending on what you are looking for.

Good Luck

2nd Oct 2009 09:14 UTCRock Currier Expert

The dealers in Lima don't have any idea of what micromounts are. Take out a magnifying glass and start examining their specimens, the may think you are nuts and for sure the price will double or triple. TN specimens are seldom saved by the miners and you won't see many in Lima. If you do, you can usually throw them in with other larger specimens with little additional price. Most of the runners will be happy to run you around town to the homes and places of business of the various guys who sell specimen, but you can expect that they will demand a hefty kick back from the various dealers they take you to. If you do this rout cut a deal with a taxi man for transport by the hour and they will run you all around Lima and wait for you at the various places while you look at the specimens. Some places in Lima you definitely do not want to be caught without ready transport and the Taxi guy will also help you keep out of trouble.

2nd Oct 2009 09:32 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

Obviously you might want to get an actually taxi company. These are the most safe taxis as in Lima unlicensed taxis are more common, less safe and more likely to take advantage of a gringo. As far as any parts of town that might be dangerous, the downtown can be bad at night, Callao is know for gangs (churros), and well pretty much any part in northern Lima is kinda shanty town. Staying in San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco, San borja, La Molina and Jesus Maria should be okay. Anything after dark obvious is a little less safe.

I've been to some of the less safe areas, looked like an out of place gringo, dressed in business attire etc. I am not at all intimidating standing at 5'6" and I never ran into 'real' problems (knock on wood). Sorry I couldn't help much about dealers. I posted here in 2007 and didn't receive much info and really didn't find any more in my two trips to Lima. I know that Ibrahim Jameel posted an article about his recent trip to Perú. His mindat article can be found in the following link.

http://www.mindat.org/article.php/677/Peru+2009

4th Oct 2009 21:36 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

Thank you, Matt and Rock for the information and advice. I will report on what I find out. John S.

5th Oct 2009 08:33 UTCSteve Sorrell Expert

Hi John

Good luck with your trip. Although it specifically doesn't help with your request, this article is a good read → http://www.webmineralshop.com/articoli/andec/ande_peru.htm

Regards

Steve

24th Nov 2009 20:52 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

After spending several days in Lima with some time for chasing minerals, here is what I have found:

1. I took a taxi to visit two well known Peruvian dealers who regularly attend the Tucson Mineral

Show. They had some nice specimens but their prices were the same as they had earlier this year

in Tucson or even slightly higher. One of the dealers has a wholesale room in Tucson where earlier

this year I could get flats at much better prices than the ones he offered in Lima. Consequently there

was no reason to buy from them and lug the specimens to the USA.

2. The Bolivar Hotel is on the Plaza San Martin. Across the back of the Hotel on Moquegua Street

there is a relatively big mineral shop but it never seemed to be open. At 10 o'clock I was told it

would open at 11. At 11, I was told it would open in half an hour. At 3 pm, I was told it would open

tomorrow so I gave up.

3. Near the Plaza de Armas on Conde de Superunda Street is the Santo Domingo Church, opposite

which is a large market with Peruvian made goods, including lots of bead shops with polished rocks

some of which have minerals. One of these had reasonable Pyrite specimens at about $18US (50

soles) per Kilo. Other shops had Quartz crystals, pink Opal, Orpiment and various specimens from

Cerro de Pasco at quite reasonable prices. That is where I bought most of my specimens, and

especially at shop number 239.

4. There is a museum with about 1,500 minerals from various Peruvian mining districts on Ocona

Street about 1 or 2 blocks from the Paza San Martin. They have s small mineral shop (you have

to ask to see it) with some reasonable specimens for $7US (20 soles) each and collections of 8

specimens for $35US. Unfortunately, like in the vast majority of Peruvian Museums, you cannot

take pictures.

5. Other markets, especially the one at the railway terminus to Machu Pichu, had mineral

specimens, primarily Pyrite, but the first price offered was expensive and I did not even bother to

bargain.

Another thing I found is that some professional Peruvian minerals dealers from whom I got business

cards in Tucson do not answer their e-mails unless they are in Spanish because they do do speak

English. Also, some of their web sites listed on their business cards do not seem to be reachable.

Overall, it was an interestingI experience and I hope that some of you find this information useful.

John S.

10th Dec 2014 05:11 UTCtymara cooney

Hello,

I am going to peru to find crystals for making jewelry? Does anyone have any info on where i should go? Is it better to visit the mines or talk to locals? please let me know :) It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Tymara

16th Dec 2014 01:03 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

The places John mentioned should help. I've found decent cut slabs of dumortierite just on ebay.

16th Dec 2014 02:40 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Tymara, Going to mines to buy specimens in Peru can be a risky business. Many miners collect specimens and sell them discreetly to dealers, but most mining companies frown on the practice and could consider the crystals to be their stolen property, or fire the miner for wasting time on the job. Many miners will be afraid to tell you they have specimens for sale because unless you have been personally introduced by someone they know they don't know whether you are a serious buyer or just a spy for company security. If you do get specimens, you risk getting them confiscated by the police at roadside checkpoints (That's happened to a friend of mine in Peru).

So my advice is either buy the stones at shops or in the market in Lima, or travel to the mining towns together with someone who already knows the place well. Or contact mine owners in advance and ask permission to visit - Charm might get you in.

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 25, 2024 09:37:49

Go to top of page