Uranium Minerals of 18 Mine

Mine no. 18 in Palaiokamariza, located in the Lavrion Mining District, is particularly fascinating due to its unique minerals. It is renowned among collectors for three specific minerals. The first is Baryte, known for yielding some of the most famous red Baryte specimens from Lavrion. The second is Gypsum, specifically the "Rams Horn" variety, which is exclusively found here and has produced spectacular specimens. Additionally, in a small area near the Rams Horn Gypsum, there is a variety of uranium-bearing minerals, such as Sklodowskite.

The mineral Sklodowskite, which contains uranium, was initially discovered in 2016 by local collector Konstantinos Kapellas. Since that time, several other minerals, including Novacekite and Boltwoodite, have also been found. A notable feature of some of these minerals is their impressive reaction to UV light.

Sklodowskite needls on Gypsum

FOV: ~4mm

Boltwoodite crystals of exceptional shape on Gypsum matrix.

Left : FOV~0.5mm

Right : FOV~1mm

RamsHorn Gypsum with yellow tuffs of Sklodowskite from L.Rantos collection. This is probably on of the most typical specimens from this area.

FOV: ~8cm

Novacekite has probably the most dominant reaction in UV light and this can be seen in the pictures above.

Left: Strobe light (daylight flash)

Center : Strobe light (daylight flash) and Shortwave UV

Right : Shortwave UV only

FOV: ~0.8mm

All information above come from the webpage of Dr. Branko Riek on Lavrion minerals

www.lavrion.gr 

All pictures above come from specimens of my collection (unless stated otherwise) and are all photographed by me.