Open AccessSanta Blandina copper mine, São Paulo State, Brazil
Author(s) -
Briones Figueroa Andrea
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
terrae didática
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1980-4407
pISSN - 1679-2300
DOI - 10.20396/td.v16i0.8660129
Subject(s) - malachite , lode , mineralization (soil science) , archaeology , geology , copper , geochemistry , mining engineering , mineralogy , geography , metallurgy , materials science , soil water , soil science
This article aims to retrieve the history of Santa Blandina's remarkable copper deposit in the Itapeva region, in the southeastern state of São Paulo, Brazil. It was discovered in 1941 by João Baptista Anhaia de Almeida Prado. The approach adopted here contemplates the genesis of mineralization and mainly its importance as a source of beautiful mineral specimens for museums and collections. Until the end of the 1960s there was a large cavern in a mineralized lode in limestones of the Açungui Group, with an internal space of around 100 m3, with the ceiling, walls and floor covered with stalagitic and mamelonar malachite, as well as some chrysocolla and azurite. This cavern was destroyed along with precious specimens, at a time when the lack of interest in preserving these rarities was remarkable, causing the loss of a unique mineralization of its kind.