Limni Crystal Hunting

[Dominic]

We've long been fans of hunting for exotic crystals in the countryside of Cyprus. Half the fun of it is finding an interesting geological location. But it can also be a lot of hard work. So we thought we would show you it is possible to find some nice crystals with nothing more than a little hammer. They won't win any awards, but they are easy to find, and make a change from looking for shells on the beach...

Read the article and chat about it below...
 

limni-crystal-hunting_masthead.jpg (99.29 KiB) Viewed 2055 times

[MikeH]

Thanks Dominic.

FYI:
- Most of the white /colourless minerals lining geodes in this area will be quartz (often drusy quartz).
- Small but distinct lumps of chalcopyrite (a copper ore) can be found, but you have to get your eye in! These lumps are usually a mush of many crystals, but they still show the characteristic brass-like appearance. ...Which is also a bit like gold, so it can get your pulse racing for a moment.
- Less-obviously crystalline, but malachite (a green copper mineral) can also be found in the area.

[cyprusmax47]

FYI:
- Most of the white /colourless minerals lining geodes in this area will be quartz (often drusy quartz).
- Small but distinct lumps of chalcopyrite (a copper ore) can be found, but you have to get your eye in! These lumps are usually a mush of many crystals, but they still show the characteristic brass-like appearance. ...Which is also a bit like gold, so it can get your pulse racing for a moment.
- Less-obviously crystalline, but malachite (a green copper mineral) can also be found in the area.

Just some examples I collected in the Limni area concerning the above explanation...





both were amazing light-weight (perhaps gypsum!)

to the contrary this was very heavy


Max

[MikeH]

Nice Max.
Looks like pyrite in the last one (striated ~cubes)