Capillitas Mining District

Andalgalá Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina

Capillitas Mine is a complex gold, silver and copper mine, known for over 500 years. It bears a wide range of mineral species – Mindat lists over 120!

It is simply one of the best locales for Rhodochrosite worldwide, with fine banded stalactites in a range of bright and pastel pink colours. I recommend taking a moment to quickly google ‘Capillita stalactite’ to see some excellent cross sections.

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Also known as Minas Capillitas, Departamento Andalgalá, Catamarca, Argentina.

There are several primary veins and mines around the area including the Capillitas, Camelitas, La Rosario, Ortiz, Restauradora, and 25 de Mayo.

Over 120 species are found at the locale, and it is the type locality for five of them – Catamarcaite, Ishiharaite, Lislkirchnerite, Omariniite, and Putzite.

By far the most famous mineral from the locale is Rhodochrosite, bright pink striped stalactites and masses. These pieces are often sold slabbed and polished to create a cross section across the stalactites and botryoidal forms.

The government and military ordered destruction of a cavern full of fine Rhodochrosite stalactites in 1987 is still a matter of disgust within the mineral collecting community.

The minerals from the site are underrepresented in museums around Argentina, but some are still available. Not much collection for mineral specimens seems to be done at the site, but it is still relatively easy to purchase small pieces online.

 

Further reading

 

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