Provenite

Uchucchacua Mine

MineDraft data

10.6300° S, 76.6800° W · ± 10 km

Rhodochrosite from Lima, Peru, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite at Uchucchacua Mine

Two complete deep pink rhodochrosite crystals in a shallow pocket on the edge of a large matrix piece, labelled Uchucchacua.
Two complete deep pink rhodochrosite crystals in a shallow pocket on the edge of a large matrix piece, labelled Uchucchacua.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Gemmy pink rhodochrosite crystals to about 1.5 cm on a 6 cm specimen from Uchucchacua.
Gemmy pink rhodochrosite crystals to about 1.5 cm on a 6 cm specimen from Uchucchacua.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Rhodochrosite specimen from Uchucchacua with an 8 cm field of view.
Rhodochrosite specimen from Uchucchacua with an 8 cm field of view.
Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A doubly terminated cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedron about 2 cm long in a vug lined with black manganite, Uchucchacua Mine.
A doubly terminated cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedron about 2 cm long in a vug lined with black manganite, Uchucchacua Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A large lustrous red rhodochrosite crystal on matrix from the Uchucchacua Mine, Peru.
A large lustrous red rhodochrosite crystal on matrix from the Uchucchacua Mine, Peru.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Gemmy individual crystals and crystal groups in pockets on matrix
Typical size
Crystals commonly about 1 cm; photographed specimens carry crystals to 1.5 cm
Color / luster
Red to deep pink, transparent to translucent
Associated minerals
RhodonitealabanditeproustitetennantitepyriteMn-rich calcite
Availability
Scarce
History
Native silver inclusions are reported in some crystals

Sources: SRC-395 SRC-394 SRC-398

About Rhodochrosite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn vein, replacement and skarn district in the central Andes of Peru.
Type
Skarn, Hydrothermal
Host rock
Jumasha Formation limestone (Turonian)
Region
Lima
Country
Peru

Coordinates are the rounded values (10 deg 38 min S, 76 deg 41 min W) from the Wikipedia article, hence +/- 10 km. Mine status not confirmed in an opened source.

Sources: SRC-393 SRC-394

Sources

  1. SRC-393 · Website
    UchucchacuaWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  2. SRC-394 · Database
    Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru (rhodochrosite occurrence entry)Mindat.org contributors · Mindat.org / Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
  3. SRC-395 · Database
    Uchucchacua Mine, Uchucchacua area, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima, PeruGemDat contributors · GemDat.org
  4. SRC-398 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons: Rhodochrosite-137570.jpg (Uchucchacua)Lavinsky, R.M. · 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.