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Photos

  • Астафьевский карьер. Photo 1
  • Астафьевский карьер. Photo 2
  • Астафьевский карьер. Photo 3
  • Астафьевский карьер. Photo 4

Description

The Astafyevskoye quartz deposit, discovered in 1946, is one of the largest and most significant in the Southern Urals. Located 200 kilometers south of Chelyabinsk, it has long been an important source of piezoelectric quartz for the defense industry. The deposit is associated with a lenticular deformed block of volcano-sedimentary rocks, making it a unique object of geological research.

In the quarry, developed for the extraction of piezoelectric quartz, various types of valuable minerals are found, making it an attractive place for collectors and mineral enthusiasts. Particularly valuable is the quartz formed here in enormous sizes, reaching up to one and a half meters in length. However, mineral prospecting in this deposit does not always bring success; seekers must take into account some randomness and luck.

Prominent mineralogical findings include gersdorfite, pyrite, xenotime-(Y), torbernite, and other minerals that attract the interest of researchers and collectors from around the world.

For those interested in geology and mineralogy, the book "Mineralogy of Quartz Veins in the Southern Urals" by V.I. Kaynov can be a valuable source of information. It provides a brief description of the mine and discusses various valuable minerals found in the region.

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