Metatorbernite: Les Bois-Noirs Mining Claim, France

Description

Species: Metatorbernite

Locality: Les Bois-Noirs Mining Claim, Loire, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France

Size: 4.9 x 3.5 x 2.6 cm. (49 g.)

The Les Bois Noirs Uranium Deposit in south-central France was one of Europe’s most important uranium mines, operating from the early 1950’s to the late 1970’s. While dozens of colorful uranium minerals are known from this famous deposit, good specimens are seldom seen for sale. Recently I obtained a small group of colorful, high-quality and inexpensive specimens from this mine at the Saint Marie Aux Mines mineral show in France. This is a great example of vivid green metatorbernite crystals on matrix. Measures ~40,000 CPM on my Ludlum Model 3 Probe with the 44-9 probe. Rare!