Orthoclase with Quartz

specimen number:
1052576

location:
Valenciana Mine, Guanajuato, Mexico

description:
The top of this flat matrix is covered by curving white blocky crystals of orthoclase to 2.5 cm in size. Quartz are scattered throughout. In great condition. This is classic material for this locality, often called valencianaite as a variety. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and dates to the very early 20th century.

The Valenciana Mine, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Guanajuato, Mexico, is historically one of the most prolific silver mines ever discovered, once producing a third of the entire world's silver. Geologically, it is located along the massive Veta Madre (Mother Lode), a major fault zone where hydrothermal fluids deposited rich concentrations of silver and gold within quartz-carbonate veins during the Oligocene epoch. The mine is famous for its stunning mineral specimens, including sharp crystals of polybasite, acanthite, and pyrargyrite, often found in association with beautiful pinkish rhombohedral calcite or amethyst. Historically, the mine was reopened in 1760 by Antonio de Obregon y Alcocer, who discovered the primary ore body that transformed the region into a global center of wealth and baroque architecture. At its peak, the main shaft, known as the Tiro General, reached an impressive depth of over 500 meters and featured a massive stone octagonal structure at the surface. Today, the Valenciana Mine remains an iconic symbol of Mexican mining history, with its nearby Templo de la Valenciana serving as a lasting monument to the immense riches extracted from the depths of the Veta Madre.

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