Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Rio Grande do Sul, South Region, Brazil

StandardDetailedBy ChemistryMineral Photos (454)Site Photos (17)Other Photos (2)Search GoogleMineral Report for Region

(Rio Grande do Sul, Sul, Brasil)

Rio Grande to Sul is best known to collectors, mineralogists and museum curators for the wonderful specimens of agate and amethyst that come from the amygdaloidal cavities in the huge basalt formation know as the Parana basalts. The mining of amethyst crystals are currently centered mostly around the little town of Ametista do Sul although much amethyst and agate is and has been mined from localities up to and further than 100 km away. Each year two to four thousand tons of agate and amethyst is exported from this region to all parts of the world. In most cases it is not possible to look at a cluster of amethyst crystals or a particular agate slab and know with certainty which of these localities it came from because they often produce similar material. However, some amethyst and agate specimens are distinctive enough that it is possible to place them as being from a particular area like the Umbu agates from the area around Salto do Jaquai or the amethyst "flowers" and calcite crystal specimen from the area around Frederico Westphalen. Rock Currier (2009)



References:
- Balzer, R. (2003): Rio Grande do Sul, Brasilien - Landschaften - Menschen - edle Steine. Wenzel Verlag, Marburg, 235 pp. (in German)




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

Group 1 - Elements
  		• Copper1.AA.05
    Cu
    Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
  		• Bornite2.BA.15
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
  		• Chalcocite2.BA.05
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
  		• Chalcopyrite2.CB.10a
    CuFeS
     
    2
  		• Galena2.CD.10
    PbS
  		• Pyrite2.EB.05a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Sphalerite2.CB.05a
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
  		• Goethite4.FD.10
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Hematite4.CB.05
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Lepidocrocite ?4.FE.15
    γ-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Magnetite4.BB.05
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Opal
    var: Fire Opal    		4.DA.10
    SiO
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Quartz4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
      var: Amethyst4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
      var: Citrine4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
    Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
  		• Calcite5.AB.05
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Malachite5.BA.10
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
  		• Siderite ?5.AB.05
    FeCO
     
    3
    Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  		• Anhydrite7.AD.30
    CaSO
     
    4
  		• Gypsum7.CD.40
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
      var: Selenite7.CD.40
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Group 9 - Silicates
  		• Analcime9.GB.05
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Cavansite9.EA.50
    Ca(VO)Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Celadonite9.EC.15
    K(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Chabazite-Ca9.GD.10
    (Ca,K
     
    2
    		,Na
     
    2
    		)
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 12H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Epistilbite9.GD.45
    CaAl
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    16
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Laumontite9.GB.10
    CaAl
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Nekoite9.EA.45
    Ca
     
    3
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Scolecite9.GA.05
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Stellerite9.GE.15
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    7
    		O
     
    18
    		] · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    Unclassified Minerals
  		• 'Apophyllite'-
  		• 'Chabazite'-
      'var: Phacolite'-
  		• 'Chalcedony'-
      'var: Agate'-
    SiO
     
    2
      'var: Onyx'-
    SiO
     
    2
  		• 'Heulandite'-
  		• 'Lévyne'-
  		• 'Stilbite'-


    39 entries listed. 30 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Brazil
     
    • South Region
      • Rio Grande do Sul
        • Caçapava do Sul
        • Cambará do Sul
          • Tainhas
        • Carlos Barbosa
        • Estância Velha
        • Fountoura Xavier
          • Três Pinheiros
        • Morro Reuter
        • Novo Hamburgo
        • Passo Fundo
        • Santa Cruz do Sul

    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!
    This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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 08:45:23