| Phosphophyllite is one of the rarest and most beautiful of the mineral
phosphates. Splendid crystals were found in the early 1950's in the Unificada
de Potosi mine at Potosi, Bolivia. The crystal deposit was located well
back on the 535-meter level. The area has long been abandoned, and is extremely
hot at the working face, which is almost 14,000 feet above sea level. Humidity
is always above 90%, making for terrible working conditions. Phosphophyllite
crystals occur there in a solid wall of chalcopyrite, a most difficult situation
to mine without high explosives. The world's finest crystals, up to twelve
centimeters long, were found there. |
