Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
In
2005, miners at the Siglo XX Mine working the
Contacto vein discovered a rich occurrence of paravauxite. The resulting
specimens were
some of the best examples of the species ever found, and represent the first
major find of the species in decades.
These specimens contain both paravauxite and sigloite, which differ chemically by
the presence of a single water molecule. The Siglo XX Mine is the only
place in the world where sigloite has been discovered.
The specimens on this page were part of a miner's stash, and represent the last
remnants of the 2005 discovery. He only had two flats, and I purchased
everything he had.
For more information on the locality, see Mineralogical Record vol. 37 no.2
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BV1
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo
XX Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
17.6x
13.7x 2.4 cm
$1500
One of my favorite pieces from the lot, and the
largest. This cabinet specimen has hundreds of tan sigloite and
light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the matrix.
This piece is exceptionally rich, and is amongst the
best specimens from the find--and that includes the pieces offered by
other dealers shortly after their discovery in 2006.
What is more, the gray rock on which all the
sigloite/ paravauxite rests appears to be coated with thousands of
micro wavellite crystals.
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BV2
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo
XX Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
14.9x
5.1x 3.2 cm
$495
Another large paravauxite specimen, this one containing
many light green paravuaixute crystals on matrix.
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BVX1
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
13.5x 9.9x 4.7 cm
$650
A large cabinet specimen with hundreds of tan sigloite
and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the matrix.
This piece is exceptionally rich, and matrix specimens
of this size are exceptionally rare.
What is more, the gray rock on which all the sigloite/
paravauxite rests appears to be coated with thousands of micro wavellite
crystals.
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BVX5
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
12.0x 10.6x 1.5 cm
$385
A cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan sigloite
and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the matrix in a
rather 2D manner.
This piece is unusual in that the sigloite pseudomorphs
are scattered somewhat more sparsely across the matrix, rather than being
jumbled up.
What is more, the gray rock on which all the sigloite/
paravauxite rests appears to be coated with thousands of micro wavellite
crystals.
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BVX2
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
9.9x
6.4x 4.2 cm
$335
A cabinet specimen continaing hundreds of tan sigloite
and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the matrix.
What is more, the gray rock on which all the sigloite/
paravauxite rests appears to be coated with thousands of micro wavellite
crystals.
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BVX14
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
3.7x
3.2x .8 cm
$350
This piece is smaller than most of the others on this
page, but it is by far my favorite.
It combines numerous complete, double terminated
sigloite crystals with light green paravauxites, and accentuates the
contrast between the two.
This is a killer miniature...and I may just add it to my
own collection.
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BVX26 Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
7.0x
4.0x 1.0 cm
$175
A rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX7
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
8.5x
4.8x 1.5 cm
$285
A very rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX10
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
9.2x
8.0x 3.7 cm
$285
A cabinet specimen continaing hundreds of tan sigloite
and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the matrix.
A bit rougher than some of the above specimens, but a rich example from
the find.
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BVX3
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
9.1x
4.4x 4.7 cm
$170
A very rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX4
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
9.4x
7.8x 4.5 cm
$200
A very rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX6
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
9.5x
4.2x 4.0 cm
$175
A very rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX8
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
10.5x 7.7x 3.8 cm
$225
A very rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX9 Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
7.0x
4.0x 1.0 cm
$95
A rich cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan
sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX11
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
7.0x
3.7x 1.0 cm
$88
A rich, and very thin cabinet specimen containing hundreds of tan sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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BVX12
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
5.5x
4.8x 0.5 cm
$70
A very rich miniature specimen containing hundreds of
tan sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
This is essentially a flat crust composed almost
entirely of sigloite and paravauxite.
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BVX13
Sigloite ps. Paravauxite
Siglo XX
Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
4.5x
2.7x 1.1 cm
$78
A very rich miniature specimen containing hundreds of
tan sigloite and light green paravauxite crystals sprinkled all over the
matrix.
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