Quartz from Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, La Libertad, Peru - image 1
Quartz from Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, La Libertad, Peru - image 2

Quartz from Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, La Libertad, Peru

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Sharp metallic lustrous crystals of tetrahedrite to 0.6 cm in size on a grouping of crystallized sphalerite, this set beautifully at the top of a quartz crystal matrix. Minor pyrite is present. In good condition.The Quiruvilca Mine, located in the La Libertad department of north-central Peru, is situated within the layered volcanic rocks of the Miocene Calipuy Formation, which consists primarily of andesite and minor basalt flows. The geology is characterized by a complex system of mineralized veins formed by hydrothermal activity linked to intrusive andesite stocks and dikes. Mineralization was first reported in 1789, and corporate-scale mining began in 1907, making it one of the oldest continuously operated polymetallic mines in the region. Over its long operational history, the mine transitioned from producing copper and silver to a primary focus on lead, zinc, and copper. It is also widely recognized among mineral collectors for producing diverse sulfide and sulfosalt specimens, including enargite, tennantite, and sphalerite.

Product details

SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions9.0 x 9.0 x 4.0 cm
Added on07/26/2026

Current owner

Unknown Owner
Acquired
Jul 2026

Previous owners

DateCollectorAcquisition price
—Weinrich MineralsNot disclosed

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Quartz from Quiruvilca Mine
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Locality guide
Quiruvilca Mine
Quiruvilca Mine, Peru - a high, cold Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au vein locality famed for orange orpiment on barite, black hutchinsonite needles, and sulfide associations.