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Article: Pseudomorphs from Peru: pseudomorphs, crystals that have been replaced by another species while retaining their original shape, have been found in remarkable variety in the mines and mineral deposits of Peru. They provide evidence of changing chemical and physical conditions within ore deposits, and also make fascinating specimens.(Report)
- Article from:
- The Mineralogical Record
- Article date:
- March 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 The Mineralogical, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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INTRODUCTION
Pseudomorphs (replaced crystals) and perimorphs (molds of dissolved crystals) are a rare but very interesting part of the mineral kingdom. They are scientifically important, some of them are aesthetic, and they are very popular among mineral collectors. This article summarizes occurrences of pseudomorphs and perimorphs in Peru, much as a previous study by Hyrsl and Petrov (1998) summarized Bolivian pseudomorphs. Most of the cited examples were acquired by the author during regular trips to Peru since 1995, and later analyzed by X-ray diffraction.
The classification of pseudomorphs is very difficult, because in many cases the original mineral ...