La Farola / World Of Crystals

The world-famous place for Atacamite crystals

The world’s best atacamite crystals were found in Chile. Especially the famous La Farola mine near Copiapó is one of the places for atacamite at its best. Situated 15 km south of the mining city Copiapó, La Farola is located in a small valley. The typical arid landscape allows fantastic views onto the desert like area and many smaller excavations and smaller mines nearby. At la Farola works are ongoing only underground an the smaller open pit areas are closed.

Following up an interesting vein with atacamite in one of the open pit areas

The mine is famous for fantastic atacamite crystals. The dark green crystals have often a very high glossiness and are counting definitely to the best in world of their kind. The size of the crystals is in a rage between a couple of millimetres and 3 centimetres. Matrix is the typical Chilean porphyry. Atacamite at La Farola comes often with white halloysite and chrysocol. In other parts of the mine, we could find very nice specimen with small atacamite crystals on aurichalcite. Another small vein hat pockets with brochantite crystals of very nice quality.