Zanazziite with Elbaite, Albite

specimen number:
2072296

location:
Ponte do Piaui Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:
Rich greenish brown micro crystals of zanazziite across the top of an elbaite and albite crystal matrix. In very good rich example for the species.

The Ponte do Piaui Mine, located in the Itinga district of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a prolific mineral locality situated within the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province. Geologically, the site is characterized by complex, zoned granitic pegmatites that have undergone significant hydrothermal alteration, creating environments rich in secondary phosphate minerals. The mine is a renowned source of zanazziite, which occurs there as sharp, lustrous, barrel-shaped crystals with colors ranging from olive green to dark brown. Historically, mining and quarrying in the Itinga region began in earnest during the mid-20th century to extract industrial feldspar, lithium ores, and beryl. While many local operations have been intermittent, the Ponte do Piaui claim emerged as a premier site for rare phosphate species during the 1970s and 1980s. Small-scale and artisanal specimen mining has continued steadily through the early 21st century and remains active as of 2026. Today, the locality is considered a global benchmark for zanazziite, valued by mineralogists for the exceptional size and crystalline perfection of the specimens recovered from its pegmatitic pockets.

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