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MD-47359
Paravauxite, Sigloite
Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia
Thumbnail, 7.0 x 5.8 x 2.3 cm
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Here we have a great "blending" of light water-green color Paravauxite crystals and tan color Silgoite crystals sitting atop spherical micro crystallized iron-stained Wavellite needles on matrix. It's more unique than most because there is no definitive line where the Paravauxite stops and the Sigloite begins, but rather seems to alternate between the two throughout the specimen. The largest Paravauxite crystal measures up to 1.1 cm. The Siglo XX mine (Twentieth Century mine) in Llallagua, Bolivia is one of the most prolific localities, and one of the greatest tin mines in all of Bolivia and the world. This is an unusual ore deposit because of the fact that high temperature metallization took place at such a shallow depth. This mine is truly one of the most unique localities in the world from the standpoint of mineralization. This mine is the type locality for five species, three of them are "Vauxites." The most abundant and best crystallized of the Vauxite group species (meta-, para-, and vauxite itself) from Llallagua is Paravauxite. During the World War II, some of the world's finest Paravauxite specimens were found along the Contacto vein as described by the great engineer, Mark Chance Bandy. Last year, after a long period of inactivity and lack of new finds, exploration along the same famous Contacto vein yielded some superb matrix specimens of this highly sought after phosphate, associated with euhedral crystals of Sigloite. Chemically, these species are only separated by one water molecule but they differ greatly I nappearance, obviously. The Siglo XX mine is the type locality for both of Paravauxite and Sigloite. This locality has produced undoubtedly the finest Paravauxite specimens ever found, and it is the only locality in the world where these two species are found together. It is also the only known locality for Sigloite on the planet. These new specimens are unquestionably some of the very finest (and in some cases largest) combination pieces of these two species ever found. For rare species collectors, these Bolivian specimens are a must have considering they are some of the most attractive, unique and amazingly good quality pieces of a rare phosphate combination in existence. 7.0 x 5.8 x 2.3 cm