Provenite

Naica

AreaDraft data

27.8508° N, 105.4964° W · ± 10 km

Amethyst, Galena and Sphalerite from Chihuahua, Mexico, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AmethystGalenaSphalerite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Amethyst growing on Galena

A Naica specimen shows gemmy purple amethyst crystals to about 3 cm rising from a bed of bright metallic galena crystals.

Deep purple amethyst on a shiny lead-grey base is a striking and unusual colour pairing.

Sources: SRC-158 SRC-159

Amethyst at Naica

Formula
SiO₂

Sources: SRC-158 SRC-159

About Amethyst →

Galena at Naica

Large Naica galena specimen of many sharp, shiny crystals from the older mining, sparingly attached to matrix.
Large Naica galena specimen of many sharp, shiny crystals from the older mining, sparingly attached to matrix.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Dense cluster of octahedral and cuboctahedral galena crystals with high metallic luster, from older Naica mining.
Dense cluster of octahedral and cuboctahedral galena crystals with high metallic luster, from older Naica mining.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Mirror-bright galena octahedra isolated in patches on matrix.
Mirror-bright galena octahedra isolated in patches on matrix.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
PbS

Sources: SRC-158 SRC-159

About Galena →

Sphalerite at Naica

Complete, jet-black, twinned and finely striated sphalerite crystal perched on smaller sphalerites from Naica.
Complete, jet-black, twinned and finely striated sphalerite crystal perched on smaller sphalerites from Naica.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Floater sphalerite crystal with complex striated faces, sprinkled with small tan calcite crystals, from Naica.
Floater sphalerite crystal with complex striated faces, sprinkled with small tan calcite crystals, from Naica.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Group of densely intergrown, twinned sphalerite crystals with growth patterns on the faces, from Naica.
Group of densely intergrown, twinned sphalerite crystals with growth patterns on the faces, from Naica.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Morphology
Single crystals and groups of intergrown crystals
Color / luster
Jet black, lustrous
Associated minerals
Calcitefluorite
Surface features
Fine striations and growth patterns on faces
Twins
Twinned crystals
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-370 SRC-371 SRC-383

About Sphalerite →

Geology of the locality

Region
Chihuahua
Country
Mexico

Coordinates are those of the town of Naica given in a Wikipedia article (decimal form of 27 deg 51 min 3 s N, 105 deg 29 min 47 s W); the mine lies in Saucillo municipality.

Sources: SRC-159

Sources

  1. SRC-159 · Website
    Naica, ChihuahuaWikipedia
  2. SRC-158 · Website
    Quartz var. Amethyst on Galena (Naica)Weinrich Minerals
  3. SRC-370 · Database
    Naica Mine, Naica, Saucillo Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico (locality entry)Mindat.org · Mindat.org
  4. SRC-371 · Article
    Geology and geochemistry of Naica, Chihuahua, MexicoRuiz, J.; Barton, M.D. · 1985 · Conference paper (University of Arizona record)
  5. SRC-383 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file page Sphalerite-176370.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.