One of the few alkaline provinces in the Andes. The interesting minerals are from a large dike, 2km long, 1 - 5m wide, of pegmatitic ankerite-sodalite-barite carbonatite, which cuts a nepheline syenite intrusion and the surrounding hornfels and slate. Source of all the sodalite beads found in Inca and pre-Inca ruins ranging from Quito (Ecuador) to Tucuman (Argentina).
References
Jaroslav Hyrsl and Alfredo Petrov (1999) Sodalite from Bolivia. Canadian Gemmologist, 20, #2, 54-56.
Alfredo Petrov (2009) The Cerro Sapo Sodalite Deposit: A Pre-Columbian Gem Mine. (in: Bolivia - the Height of Mineral Collecting. pp 80-84. Lithographie, LLC, Denver, Colorado)
Mineral List
51 entries listed. 43 valid minerals.
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