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Rio Tinto Mines, Minas de Riotinto, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain

StandardDetailedBy ChemistryMineral Photos (41)Site Photos (3)Other Photos (1)Search GoogleMineral Report for Region

(Minas de Rio Tinto, Nerva, Huelva, Andalucia, España)

A massive sulphide (VMS) deposit located on the Rio Tinto river. In the past, it was mainly worked for pyrite; presently the gossan is worked for gold. Mining seems to have begun during the Phoenician period. Thus, this mine is perhaps the oldest major mine in the world.

NOTES:
- Before the township Minas de Riotinto was formed in 1841, the Rio Tinto mines belonged to Nerva township.
- Some pyrites sold as coming from here actually come from the Ambasaguas or Navajun mines in La Rioja, Spain.



References:
- Mineralogical Record 27(4), 275-285.
- Leistel, J.M., Marcoux, E., Thiéblemont, D., Quesada, C., Sánchez, A., Almodóvar, G.R., Pascual, E., and Sáez, R. (1998): The volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Mineralium Deposita 33, 2-30.
- Nehlig, P., Cassard, D., and Marcoux, E. (1998): Geometry and genesis of feeder zones of massive sulphide deposits: constraints from the Rio Tinto ore deposit (Spain). Mineralium Deposita 33, 137-149.
- Calvo, M., Gómez, F., and y Viñals, J. (1999): Mineralogía de la Faja Pirítica Ibérica. Bocamina 4, 50-86.




Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Group 1 - Elements
  		• Bismuth1.CA.05
    Bi
  		• Copper1.AA.05
    Cu
  		• Gold1.AA.05
    Au
  		• Sulphur1.CC.05
    S
     
    8
    Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
  		• Alloclasite2.EB.10b
    (Co
     
    0.65
    		Fe
     
    0.35
    		)AsS - CoAsS
  		• Arsenopyrite2.EB.20
    FeAsS - (Fe
     
    0.90
    		Co
     
    0.10
    		)AsS
  		• Bismuthinite2.DB.05
    Bi
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Bornite2.BA.15
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
  		• Bournonite2.GA.50
    PbCuSbS
     
    3
  		• Chalcocite2.BA.05
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
  		• Chalcopyrite2.CB.10a
    CuFeS
     
    2
  		• Cinnabar2.CD.15a
    HgS
  		• Cobaltite2.EB.25
    CoAsS
  		• Covellite2.CA.05a
    CuS
  		• Cubanite2.CB.55a
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Freibergite2.GB.05
    (Ag
     
    4+2x
    		Cu
     
    2-2x
    		)[(Cu, Ag)
     
    4
    		(Fe, Zn)
     
    2
    		]Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    12
    		S
     
    1-x
    		 (0 < x < 1)
  		• Galena2.CD.10
    PbS
  		• Gratonite2.JB.55
    Pb
     
    9
    		As
     
    4
    		S
     
    15
  		• Meneghinite2.HB.05b
    Pb
     
    13
    		CuSb
     
    7
    		S
     
    24
  		• Nuffieldite2.JB.25g
    Pb
     
    2
    		Cu(Pb,Bi)Bi
     
    2
    		S
     
    7
  		• Perroudite2.FC.20c
    Hg
     
    5
    		Ag
     
    4
    		S
     
    5
    		I
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    2
  		• Pyrite2.EB.05a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Pyrrhotite2.CC.10
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
  		• Skutterudite2.EC.05
    (Co,Fe,Ni)As
     
    2-3
  		• Sphalerite2.CB.05a
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
  		• Stannite2.CB.15a
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
  		• Tennantite2.GB.05
    (Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
     
    12
    		As
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
  		• Tetrahedrite2.GB.05
    (Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
     
    12
    		Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    Group 3 - Halides
  		• Chlorargyrite3.AA.15
    AgCl
    Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
  		• Cassiterite4.DB.05
    SnO
     
    2
  		• Cuprite4.AA.10
    Cu
     
    2
    		O
  		• Goethite4.FD.10
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Hematite4.CB.05
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Lepidocrocite4.FE.15
    γ-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Magnetite4.BB.05
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Manganite4.FD.15
    Mn
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Pyrolusite4.DB.05
    MnO
     
    2
  		• Quartz4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
  		• Tenorite4.AB.10
    CuO
    Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
  		• Azurite5.BA.05
    Cu
     
    3
    		[OH|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
  		• Calcite5.AB.05
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Cerussite5.AB.15
    PbCO
     
    3
  		• Dolomite5.AB.10
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
  		• Malachite5.BA.10
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
  		• Rhodochrosite5.AB.05
    MnCO
     
    3
  		• Siderite5.AB.05
    FeCO
     
    3
    Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  		• Alunogen7.CB.45
    Al
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·17H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Anglesite7.AD.35
    PbSO
     
    4
  		• Argentojarosite7.BC.10
    AgFe
    3+
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
  		• Baryte7.AD.35
    BaSO
     
    4
  		• Botryogen7.DC.25
    MgFe
    3+
     
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Brochantite7.BB.25
    Cu
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Chalcanthite7.CB.20
    CuSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Copiapite7.DB.35
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 20H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Coquimbite7.CB.55
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·9H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Epsomite7.CB.40
    MgSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Ferricopiapite7.DB.35
    Fe
     
    5
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		O(OH)·20H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Goslarite7.CB.40
    ZnSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Gypsum7.CD.40
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Halotrichite7.CB.85
    FeAl
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·22H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Hexahydrite7.CB.25
    MgSO
     
    4
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Jarosite7.BC.10
    KFe
    3+
     
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
  		• Kornelite7.CB.60
    Fe
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Mallardite7.CB.35
    MnSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Melanterite7.CB.35
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Metavoltine7.DF.35
    Na
     
    6
    		K
     
    2
    		FeFe
     
    6
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    12
    		O
     
    2
    		·18H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Parabutlerite7.DC.10
    Fe
    3+
     
    		[OH|SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Plumbojarosite7.BC.10
    PbFe
    3+
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4
  		• Rhomboclase7.CB.55
    (H
     
    5
    		O
     
    2
    		)Fe
    3+
     
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Rozenite7.CB.15
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Römerite7.CB.75
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·14H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Siderotil7.CB.20
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Szomolnokite7.CB.05
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Voltaite7.CC.25
    K
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
    5
    		Fe
    3+
    3
    		Al[SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    12
    		 · 18H
     
    2
    		O
    Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
  		• Beudantite8.BL.05
    PbFe
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|SO
     
    4
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Cornetite8.BE.15
    Cu
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Pyromorphite8.BN.05
    Pb
     
    5
    		[Cl|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Group 9 - Silicates
  		• Braunite9.AG.05
    Mn
    2+
     
    		Mn
    3+
    6
    		[O
     
    8
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Chamosite9.EC.55
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Muscovite9.EC.15
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Rhodonite9.DK.05
    MnSiO
     
    3
  		• Tephroite9.AC.05
    Mn
    2+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Unclassified Minerals
  		• 'Chlorite Group'-
  		• Limonite-
    FeO(OH)·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• 'Psilomelane'-
  		• Turgite-


    86 entries listed. 82 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Huelva
        • Minas de Riotinto
          • Rio Tinto Mines

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 26th Nov 2009 18:31:52