Alabandite, Manganoquadratite

A cluster of alabandite crystals, the largest of which is about 2.5 cm. The specimen is 7.5 x 3.8 cm. The small black crystals growing on the larger ones are manganoquadratite. The specimen is in the collection of Bill Pinch, of Tucson Arizona. The specimen was purchased in Lima Peru by Jaroslav Hyrsl from an old collection. It was by far the best specimen of the species in the collection. It is not known how many specimens of alabandite that Uchucchacua has produced but if it has produced many alabandite specimens, few of them have survived. The miners know to look for and save rhodochrosite and silver speckmens from the mine, but black minerals like alabandite are most likely to just be run through the crushers or thrown out on the dump.

This Photo was Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 17th Nov 2009

This photo has been shown 1362 times

Photo added: 20th Feb 2009