Epidote

Unknown Owner

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A grouping of lustrous green prismatic epidote crystals, these measuring to 3.5 cm in length. In very good condition.The Canta district, located in the Lima Department of Peru, is a significant mineralogical region situated within the rugged Western Cordillera of the Andes. Geologically, the area features skarn and hydrothermal replacement deposits formed where Cretaceous limestone units were intruded by late Paleogene to Neogene granitic rocks of the Coastal Batholith. The locality is highly regarded for its exceptional epidote specimens, which occur as elongated, prismatic crystals with a deep pistachio-green to nearly black color, often exhibiting high luster and complex terminations. Historically, mining and quarrying in the Canta region have focused on base metals such as lead, zinc, and silver, with various small to medium-scale operations active periodically throughout the 20th century. While industrial output has fluctuated based on global metal prices, the area has remained a consistent source of mineral specimens for the international market since the late 1990s. As of 2026, Canta continues to be recognized by collectors for producing some of the finest crystallized epidote groups in South America, frequently found in association with quartz and actinolite.