| Die Viloco Mine liegt hoch über der Ortschaft Viloco auf bis zu über 4900m. Die Mine zieht sich dabei über mehrere hundert Meter entlang des Berges in die Höhe. Sie befindet sich im "Cordillera Quimsa Cruz" (Aymara-Sprache) oder "Kimsa Krus" (Quechua-Sprache) oder auch "Tres Cruces" (deutsch "drei K ... moreDie Viloco Mine liegt hoch über der Ortschaft Viloco auf bis zu über 4900m. Die Mine zieht sich dabei über mehrere hundert Meter entlang des Berges in die Höhe. Sie befindet sich im "Cordillera Quimsa Cruz" (Aymara-Sprache) oder "Kimsa Krus" (Quechua-Sprache) oder auch "Tres Cruces" (deutsch "drei Kreuze") genanntem Gebirgszug im Departamento La Paz. Zahlreiche Stolleneingänge und meist verfallene Bergwerksbauten zeugen von einer umfangreichen Bergbautätigkeit. Verschiedene Quellen schreiben auch von Araca Mine, der Name sei quasi austauschbar. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen historischen Namen. |
| Iin 1546 Georgius Agricola reported about a white metal which is fused to the Rammelsberg lead and silver melter and that you could scrape off. He called this metal "contrefey", because it could imitate gold. Agricola did not recognize that this metal was zinc. He further observed that a similar met ... moreIin 1546 Georgius Agricola reported about a white metal which is fused to the Rammelsberg lead and silver melter and that you could scrape off. He called this metal "contrefey", because it could imitate gold. Agricola did not recognize that this metal was zinc. He further observed that a similar metal, which he named from some unknown reasons "ZINCUM" arose under similar circumstances in Silesia during smelting. |
| Aragonite is a calcium carbonate, chemically identical with calcite. The mineral calcite, however, differs from Aragonite due to its internal crystal structure. While the crystal system of calcite is trigonal, the system of aragonite is rhombic. Dense masses of small aragonite crystals are difficul ... moreAragonite is a calcium carbonate, chemically identical with calcite. The mineral calcite, however, differs from Aragonite due to its internal crystal structure. While the crystal system of calcite is trigonal, the system of aragonite is rhombic. Dense masses of small aragonite crystals are difficult to distinguish from calcite, but they are larger, they show a distinct habit. A lot of chapters in this portrait will give you much more details about this interesting mineral. Written and investigated by Peter Seroka. (Article in german) |