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Identity HelpSphalerite from Huanzala?

21st Mar 2009 14:12 UTCPhilip Bluemner Expert

Hello,

I once bought a sphalerite specimen labeled as "sphalerite, galena - Huanzala, Peru". The specimen was the last few years in a cardboard box and disappeared from my attention. In a session of mineral photographing I found the specimen and wondered. I have never seen such a specimen from Huanzala or elsewhere.

The specimen is 90 x 50 mm big, consists of some kind of rather soft carbonate. There are crystals of sphalerite on all sides and some galena. If you would etch the carbonate completely you would have many sphalerite crystal floaters. The sides of the specimen seem to be the broken parts of the rock. There you can see elongated tan-colored crystals. But I think the mineral rather filled out the fissures of the matrix. The tan-colored xls must also be sphalerite, they have the same crystal structure like the other sphalerites when evolving from the fissures. Just check the photos.

Where could this be from?

Cheers Philip

21st Mar 2009 18:01 UTCsteven garza

Dear Paul;

This isn't that atypical of a specimen; it just didn't sell as much, so, they didn't set as many aside, for specimen sales. No demand; no need to supply! I believe calcite & other carbonates were the main center fills to the veins.

Your friend, Steve

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