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Santa Elena ultramafic Nappe, Nicoya Canton, Guanacaste Province, Costa Ricai
Regional Level Types
Santa Elena ultramafic NappeComplex
Nicoya CantonCanton
Guanacaste ProvinceProvince
Costa RicaCountry

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Area:
250 km2
Type:
Complex
Mindat Locality ID:
246312
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:246312:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Platinum bearing complex.
The homonymous Santa Elena Nappe consists of partially to completely serpentinized peridotites, with subordinate gabbro, thrust over the Santa Rosa accretionary complex . There is a general agreement to consider the rocks of the Santa Elena Peninsula as a patchwork of a dismembered ophiolite complex, probably formed in a supra–subduction zone. The chromitites occur in a small area a few kilometers north of the Potrero Grande tectonic window. They form irregular pods a few meters in size, associated with strongly altered peridotites covered by lateritic soil. Most of the chromitites are massive, however orbicular or leopard textures have been recognized locally. The magmatic composition of chromite shows a wide range of variation from Cr–rich to Al–rich.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


29 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Awaruite
Formula: Ni3Fe
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Brucite
Formula: Mg(OH)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
References:
Zaccarini, Federica, Bakker, Ronald J., Garuti, Giorgio, Aiglsperger, Thomas, Thalhammer, Oskar A. R., Campos, Lolita, Proenza, Joaquin A., Lewis, John F. (2010) Platinum group minerals in chromitite bodies of the Santa Elena Nappe, Costa Rica: mineralogical characterization by electron microprobe and Raman-spectroscopy. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 62 (1) 161-171 doi:10.18268/bsgm2010v62n1a9
Schwarzenbach, Esther M.; Gazel, Esteban; Caddick, Mark J. (2014) Hydrothermal processes in partially serpentinized peridotites from Costa Rica: evidence from native copper and complex sulfide assemblages. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 168 (5). 1-21 doi:10.1007/s00410-014-1079-2
Schwarzenbach, Esther M., Gill, Benjamin C., Gazel, Esteban, Madrigal, Pilar (2016) Sulfur and carbon geochemistry of the Santa Elena peridotites: Comparing oceanic and continental processes during peridotite alteration. Lithos, 252. 92-108 doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2016.02.017
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Chromite var. Ferrian Chromite
Formula: Fe2+(Cr,Fe3+)2O4
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cubanite
Formula: CuFe2S3
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ Erlichmanite
Formula: OsS2
ⓘ Heazlewoodite
Formula: Ni3S2
ⓘ Irarsite ?
Formula: (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
ⓘ Laurite
Formula: RuS2
ⓘ Magnesiochromite
Formula: MgCr2O4
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Native Copper
Formula: Cu
ⓘ Native Osmium
Formula: (Os,Ir,Ru)
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Polydymite
Formula: Ni2+Ni3+2S4
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Ruarsite ?
Formula: (Ru,Os)AsS
ⓘ Samaniite
Formula: Cu2Fe5Ni2S8
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Smythite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
ⓘ Sugakiite
Formula: Cu(Fe,Ni)8S8
ⓘ Taenite
Formula: (Ni,Fe)
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Violarite
Formula: Fe2+Ni3+2S4

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Copper1.AA.05Cu
ⓘTaenite1.AE.10(Ni,Fe)
ⓘAwaruite1.AE.20Ni3Fe
ⓘNative Osmium1.AF.05(Os,Ir,Ru)
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘSamaniite2.BB.Cu2Fe5Ni2S8
ⓘHeazlewoodite2.BB.05Ni3S2
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘSugakiite2.BB.15Cu(Fe,Ni)8S8
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘCubanite2.CB.55aCuFe2S3
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘSmythite2.CC.10(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
ⓘPolydymite2.DA.05Ni2+Ni3+2S4
ⓘViolarite2.DA.05Fe2+Ni3+2S4
ⓘErlichmanite2.EB.05aOsS2
ⓘLaurite2.EB.05aRuS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘRuarsite ?2.EB.20(Ru,Os)AsS
ⓘIrarsite ?2.EB.25(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘCuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnesiochromite4.BB.05MgCr2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘChromite
var. Ferrian Chromite		4.BB.05Fe2+(Cr,Fe3+)2O4
ⓘBrucite4.FE.05Mg(OH)2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Chromite var. Ferrian ChromiteFe2+(Cr,Fe3+)2O4
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Mgⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
SSulfur
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Sⓘ ErlichmaniteOsS2
Sⓘ HeazlewooditeNi3S2
Sⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Sⓘ LauriteRuS2
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PolydymiteNi2+Ni23+S4
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsS
Sⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Sⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
Sⓘ SugakiiteCu(Fe,Ni)8S8
Sⓘ SamaniiteCu2Fe5Ni2S8
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4
Crⓘ Chromite var. Ferrian ChromiteFe2+(Cr,Fe3+)2O4
FeIron
Feⓘ AwaruiteNi3Fe
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Feⓘ Taenite(Ni,Fe)
Feⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
Feⓘ Chromite var. Ferrian ChromiteFe2+(Cr,Fe3+)2O4
Feⓘ SugakiiteCu(Fe,Ni)8S8
Feⓘ SamaniiteCu2Fe5Ni2S8
NiNickel
Niⓘ AwaruiteNi3Fe
Niⓘ HeazlewooditeNi3S2
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Niⓘ PolydymiteNi2+Ni23+S4
Niⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Niⓘ Taenite(Ni,Fe)
Niⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
Niⓘ SugakiiteCu(Fe,Ni)8S8
Niⓘ SamaniiteCu2Fe5Ni2S8
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
Cuⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ Native CopperCu
Cuⓘ SugakiiteCu(Fe,Ni)8S8
Cuⓘ SamaniiteCu2Fe5Ni2S8
AsArsenic
Asⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Asⓘ Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsS
RuRuthenium
Ruⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Ruⓘ LauriteRuS2
Ruⓘ Native Osmium(Os,Ir,Ru)
Ruⓘ Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsS
RhRhodium
Rhⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
OsOsmium
Osⓘ ErlichmaniteOsS2
Osⓘ Native Osmium(Os,Ir,Ru)
Osⓘ Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsS
IrIridium
Irⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Irⓘ Native Osmium(Os,Ir,Ru)
PtPlatinum
Ptⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS

Fossils

This region is too big or complex to display the fossil list, try looking at smaller subregions.
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Zaccarini, Federica, Bakker, Ronald J., Garuti, Giorgio, Aiglsperger, Thomas, Thalhammer, Oskar A. R., Campos, Lolita, Proenza, Joaquin A., Lewis, John F. (2010) Platinum group minerals in chromitite bodies of the Santa Elena Nappe, Costa Rica: mineralogical characterization by electron microprobe and Raman-spectroscopy. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 62 (1) 161-171 doi:10.18268/bsgm2010v62n1a9
Schwarzenbach, Esther M.; Gazel, Esteban; Caddick, Mark J. (2014) Hydrothermal processes in partially serpentinized peridotites from Costa Rica: evidence from native copper and complex sulfide assemblages. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 168 (5). 1-21 doi:10.1007/s00410-014-1079-2
Schwarzenbach, Esther M., Gill, Benjamin C., Gazel, Esteban, Madrigal, Pilar (2016) Sulfur and carbon geochemistry of the Santa Elena peridotites: Comparing oceanic and continental processes during peridotite alteration. Lithos, 252. 92-108 doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2016.02.017
[1]Zaccarini, Federica; Kiss, Gabriella B.; Garuti, Giorgio; Mauro, Daniela; Economou-Eliopoulos, Maria; Hegedűs, Máté; Biagioni, Cristian (2025) Methane in Fluid Inclusions in Ophiolitic Chromitites Revealed by Raman Spectroscopy: Preliminary Results. Minerals, 15 (4). 335 doi:10.3390/min15040335
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