Panasqueira
Panasqueira is a one of the largest tungsten mines in the world. It is located in Castelo Branco, Portugal.
Mineral specimens
The current low price of tungsten and the competition from other sources means that commercial operation is tough. This classic locality has for over 100 years produced, and keeps on producing, fine collector specimens. These include exceptional specimens of fluorapatite, ferberite, arsenopyrite, siderite, quartz and numerous other species such as: chalcopyrite, sphalerite, dolomite, calcite, mica, tourmaline, fluorite, topaz and triplite. It has also produced some very rare minerals including panasqueiraite and thadeuite. The great feature of these specimens, apart from their quality, is the fact that they almost always combine quite a few mineral species, so the paragenesis has made this mine famous throughout the world.
For many years the sale of mineral specimens from the mine was forbidden, as tungsten was a strategic mineral. Quite a few years ago, and at the same time as Portugal began to change after its entry into the European Union, things began to become easier. However, unfortunately, obtaining good specimens has once again become more difficult, but this time due to the way the mine is worked and the lower grade seams.
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