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Piritas De Navajun
Tucson Showplace, Space B2 |
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Pyrite is a common mineral (FeS2) mined all
over the world. It is collected by all kinds of rock enthusiasts,
crystal and mineral collectors. Pyrite from the Navajun Mine in
Spain is unique. It is the only known place in the world where
pyrite forms in perfect cubic crystal shapes. |
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| Navajun is a village located in the La
Rioja Province, from where the name of the mine comes from. The
Navajun Mine, that produces exclusively pyrite crystals, was
discovered in 1960 by miner Pedro Ansorena Garret. Currently the
mining property belongs to the Company Piritas de Navajún S.L.,
which is formed by Pedro Ansorena Conde, José Chaver Atanasio and
Néstor López Ogalde. |
| These rocks are
approximately 125-130 million years old and were formed under the
same geological environment of the Jurassic sediments present in the
La Rioja region. Fossil Dinosaur tracks are commonly found in the
rocks of the region. |
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Pyrite in Matrix |
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The Mine utilizes loading equipment to remove
barren rock between the pyrite mineralized horizons. No explosives
are used for the extraction of the samples as this would destroy the
fragile structure of the crystals. |
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Outside the Pyrite Mine |
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Due
to the delicate nature of the Pyrite (this mineral is hard but
fragile), the extraction work is conducted by hand and each sample
is prepared as an individual sculpture. |
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Inside the underground mine |
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| Piritas de
Navajun offer a variety of products for sale. Pyrite is sold
in matrix, cubes, groups, in flats, and as collector specimens. |
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Pyrite in Matrix |
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Pyrite Cubes |
Beautiful Pyrite Sculpture |
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