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Cerro de Potosí (Cerro Rico), Potosí City, Potosí Department, Bolivia

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Probably the world's single most well-known mining district. A mountain of highly altered, silicified, pyritized or chloritized volcanic rock, mined for silver for almost 500 years and, in the 20th century, also for Sn, W, Pb, Zn, Cu... Dumps and underground workings are a common tourist destination and still accessible to collectors. Still an important producer of Zn, Sn and Ag. Elevation of peak approx 4,748 meters.



References:
- Sillitoe, R.H., Steele, G.B., Thompson, J.F.H., and Lang, J.R. (1998): Advanced argillic lithocaps in the Bolivian tin-silver belt. Mineralium Deposita 33, 539-546.
- Wilson, W.E., and Petrov, A. (1999): Famous mineral localities: Cerro Rico de Potosi (Bolivia). Mineralogical Record 30(1), 9-36.





 Map Reference: 19°37'6"S , 65°44'59"W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.


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

Group 1 - Elements
  		• Arsenic1.CA.05
    As
  		• Silver1.AA.05
    Ag
    Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
  		• Acanthite2.BA.35
    Ag
     
    2
    		S
  		• Argyrodite ?2.BA.70
    Ag
     
    8
    		GeS
     
    6
  		• Arsenopyrite2.EB.20
    FeAsS - (Fe
     
    0.90
    		Co
     
    0.10
    		)AsS
  		• Berndtite (TL)2.EA.20
    SnS
     
    2
  		• Bismuthinite2.DB.05
    Bi
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Bournonite2.GA.50
    PbCuSbS
     
    3
  		• Chalcopyrite2.CB.10a
    CuFeS
     
    2
  		• Diaphorite2.JB.05
    Ag
     
    3
    		Pb
     
    2
    		Sb
     
    3
    		S
     
    8
  		• Franckeite2.HF.25b
    Fe
    2+
     
    		(Pb,Sn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    6
    		Sn
    4+
    2
    		Sb
     
    2
    		S
     
    14
  		• 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
  		• Greenockite2.CB.45
    CdS
  		• Jamesonite2.HB.15
    Pb
     
    4
    		FeSb
     
    6
    		S
     
    14
  		• Matildite2.JA.20
    AgBiS
     
    2
  		• Miargyrite2.HA.10
    AgSbS
     
    2
  		• Ottemannite (TL)2.DB.10
    beta Sn
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Pyrargyrite2.GA.05
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
  		• Pyrite2.EB.05a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Pyrostilpnite2.GA.10
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
  		• Pyrrhotite2.CC.10
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
  		• Sphalerite2.CB.05a
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
  		• Stannite2.CB.15a
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
  		• Stephanite2.GB.10
    Ag
     
    5
    		SbS
     
    4
  		• Stibnite2.DB.05
    Sb
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Tetrahedrite2.GB.05
    (Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
     
    12
    		Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
  		• Wurtzite2.CB.45
    (Zn,Fe)S
    Group 3 - Halides
  		• Chlorargyrite3.AA.15
    AgCl
    Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
  		• Cassiterite4.DB.05
    SnO
     
    2
  		• Doyleite4.FE.10
    Al(OH)
     
    3
  		• Goethite4.FD.10
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Hematite4.CB.05
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Quartz4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
  		• Valentinite4.CB.55
    Sb
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Varlamoffite4.DB.05
    (Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
     
    2
    Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
  		• Calcite5.AB.05
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Siderite5.AB.05
    FeCO
     
    3
  		• Smithsonite5.AB.05
    ZnCO
     
    3
    Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  		• Alunite7.BC.10
    KAl
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
  		• Baryte7.AD.35
    BaSO
     
    4
  		• Goslarite7.CB.40
    ZnSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Halotrichite7.CB.85
    FeAl
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·22H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Jarosite7.BC.10
    KFe
    3+
     
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
  		• Melanterite7.CB.35
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Pickeringite7.CB.85
    MgAl
     
    2
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·22H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Sideronatrite7.DF.20
    Na
     
    2
    		Fe(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		OH·3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Siderotil7.CB.20
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    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
  		• Faustite8.DD.15
    (Zn,Cu)Al
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Phosphophyllite8.CA.40
    Zn
     
    2
    		Fe(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Svanbergite8.BL.05
    SrAl
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|SO
     
    4
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Wavellite8.DC.50
    Al
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    3
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    Group 9 - Silicates
  		• Dickite9.ED.05
    Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    4
  		• Nacrite9.ED.05
    Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    4
  		• Pyrophyllite9.EC.10
    Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Unclassified Minerals
  		• Andorite-
    PbAgSb
     
    3
    		S
     
    6
  		• 'Apatite'-
  		• Arsenosulvanite-
    Cu
     
    3
    		(As,V)S
     
    4
  		• 'Chalcedony'-
  		• 'Sericite'-
  		• Turgite-
  		• Wolframite-
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		)WO
     
    4
     
     
    		to (Mn
    2+
     
    		)WO
     
    4


    63 entries listed. 55 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Potosí City
        • Cerro de Potosí (Cerro Rico)

    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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