Provenite

Bor Pit (Dal'negorsk B deposit)

MineUnknownDraft data

44.5500° N, 135.5800° E · ± 10 km

Amethyst and Siderite from Primorsky Krai, Russia, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AmethystSiderite

Amethyst at Bor Pit (Dal'negorsk B deposit)

Amethyst is unexpected at a locality known for borosilicate skarn minerals; the crystals are pale and clean

Pale lavender amethyst crystals with glassy luster from the Bor pit at Dalnegorsk (specimen from Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia).
Pale lavender amethyst crystals with glassy luster from the Bor pit at Dalnegorsk (specimen from Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia).
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Small amethyst crystal specimen from the Bor Pit at Dalnegorsk, Russia, found in 2006.
Small amethyst crystal specimen from the Bor Pit at Dalnegorsk, Russia, found in 2006.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pale amethyst crystal group, about 7.5 cm wide, from the Bor Pit at Dalnegorsk, Russia.
Pale amethyst crystal group, about 7.5 cm wide, from the Bor Pit at Dalnegorsk, Russia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Small groups of a few transparent prismatic crystals
Typical size
Small cabinet pieces of about 8-10 cm
Color / luster
Pale lavender with glassy luster and good transparency
Availability
Scarce
History
A very small find in 2006 produced only a handful of specimens (dealer statements)

Sources: SRC-163 SRC-164 SRC-165 SRC-166 SRC-167

About Amethyst →

Siderite at Bor Pit (Dal'negorsk B deposit)

Large ilvaite crystals replaced by tan siderite from the Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk.
Large ilvaite crystals replaced by tan siderite from the Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeCO₃
Morphology
Pseudomorphs after large ilvaite crystals
Typical size
Clusters about 10 cm
Color / luster
Tan
Associated minerals
Ilvaite
Availability
Scarce
History
Rare specimens of ilvaite completely replaced by siderite.

Sources: SRC-619

About Siderite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Open pit in the Dal'negorsk borosilicate deposit, a calcic skarn boron deposit in skarnized Upper Triassic limestone of the Tetyukha Formation; quartz is a late-stage mineral there.
Type
Skarn
Host rock
Skarnized limestone
Region
Primorsky Krai
Country
Russia

Coordinates are the town-level values of Dalnegorsk already in the workbook; no page I opened gives the pit's own position. Also called Boron Pit or Bor Quarry on the photo page.

Sources: SRC-163 SRC-166 SRC-167

Sources

  1. SRC-163 · Website
    File:Quartz-170076.jpg (Wikimedia Commons; amethyst, Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk)Robert M. Lavinsky · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  2. SRC-166 · Article
    Composition of ore-bearing fluids in the Dal'negorsk borosilicate deposit, Russia (abstract)Prokof'ev, V.Yu. et al. · 2003 · Doklady Earth Sciences 391(5)
  3. SRC-167 · Database
    Bor Pit, Dal'negorsk B deposit, Dalnegorsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia (Mindat locality entry 14072)Mindat.org contributors · Mindat.org
  4. SRC-164 · Website
    Amethyst, Bor Pit, Dalnegorsk, Russia (specimen RUSS-22)iRocks.com (seller) · 2010 · iRocks.com
  5. SRC-165 · Website
    Amethyst (2006 find)Mineral Auctions (seller) · 2010 · mineralauctions.com
  6. SRC-619 · Website
    File:Siderite-Ilvaite-209847.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.