Jamesonite

specimen number:
2262072

location:
Oruro, Bolivia

description:
a neat spongy cluster of acicular crystallized jamesonite. Neat example for the species. In great condition all around.

The Oruro mining district, situated in the Altiplano of the Bolivian Andes, represents a premier example of a high-level epithermal to mesothermal tin-silver-sulfosalt system. Geologically, the deposit is centered on a series of Miocene-aged dacitic volcanic domes that intruded into Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, creating a complex network of mineralized veins. These veins are renowned for their incredible diversity of species, including distinct prismatic crystals of andorite and zinkenite. Historically, mining and quarrying in Oruro date back to the pre-Columbian era, with massive silver extraction beginning under Spanish colonial rule in the late 1500s. Following a shift in focus to tin during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the district became a cornerstone of the Bolivian economy under the Corporacion Minera de Bolivia (COMIBOL). While large-scale state operations slowed in the mid-1980s, active production continues through various mining cooperatives into 2026, maintaining Oruro's status as a vital global locality for both industrial metals and rare mineral specimens.

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