Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Monazite-(Ce) vs. Andalusite
It's a showdown with rare earth elemental ore Monazite-(Ce) and index mineral Andalusite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spaini
Regional Level Types
El Sapo mineMine (Inactive)
ÁloraMunicipality
MálagaProvince
AndalusiaAutonomous Community
SpainCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
02119930017272294264556.jpg
El Sapo mine. View to the south. Sierra de Aguas

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
09617300017272294269253.jpg
General view. Dumping places in the forest

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
09191720017272294275893.jpg
Dumping place

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
02119930017272294264556.jpg
El Sapo mine. View to the south. Sierra de Aguas

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
09617300017272294269253.jpg
General view. Dumping places in the forest

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
09191720017272294275893.jpg
Dumping place

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
02119930017272294264556.jpg
El Sapo mine. View to the south. Sierra de Aguas

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
09617300017272294269253.jpg
General view. Dumping places in the forest

El Sapo mine, Álora, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 50' 56'' North , 4° 46' 7'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
36.84916,-4.76882
GRN:
N25W03
Type:
Mine (Inactive) - last checked 2018
Köppen climate type:
Csa : Hot-summer Mediterranean climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Carratraca849 (2012)4.6km
Alora13,395 (2018)6.3km
El Chorro242 (2014)6.7km
Ardales2,631 (2012)7.7km
Casarabonela2,490 (2012)9.6km
Mindat Locality ID:
204004
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:204004:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Mina El Sapo, Sierra de Aguas, Álora, Málaga, Andalucía, España


Nickeline-chromite pockets and nodules in felsic quartz-feldspar veins with red phlogopite (chromium-bearing wonesite) and magnesium carbonates included in lherzolitic type peridotites. The ores embedded in felsic dykes were forming a "rosario shape" as miners termed it.
The district was mined during the period 1940-1950 consequently and running in parallel with the Jarales district. The ore was transported to the local road between Alora-Carratraca.

The site was pervasively mined following a stepped system in the mountain with horizontal adits, connected with a vertical shaft at the head of the El Sapo Puerto, currently collapsed.

Currently access to the site is feasible following a clear upward pathway which is crossing all the different levels of mining activities. Collecting samples is rather difficult.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


13 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ 'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series'
References:
Pavel M. Kartashov - look https://www.mindat.org/mesg-821658.htmlIdentified by Pavel Kartashov: Inferred (explain how)
ⓘ Dumortierite
Formula: Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Löllingite
Formula: FeAs2
ⓘ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
ⓘ Maucherite
Formula: Ni11As8
ⓘ Népouite
Formula: Ni3Si2O5(OH)4
ⓘ Nickeline
Formula: NiAs
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Phlogopite
Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Pimelite'
Formula: Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ 'Smectite Group'
Formula: A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
ⓘ Westerveldite
Formula: (Fe,Ni,Co)As

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘMaucherite2.AB.15Ni11As8
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘNickeline2.CC.05NiAs
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘWesterveldite2.CC.15(Fe,Ni,Co)As
ⓘLöllingite2.EB.15aFeAs2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘDumortierite9.AJ.10Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
ⓘPhlogopite9.EC.20KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ'Pimelite'9.EC.22Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
ⓘNépouite9.ED.15Ni3Si2O5(OH)4
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Smectite Group'-A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ NépouiteNi3Si2O5(OH)4
Hⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ PimeliteNi3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
Hⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
BBoron
Bⓘ DumortieriteAl(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
CCarbon
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ DumortieriteAl(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ NépouiteNi3Si2O5(OH)4
Oⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PimeliteNi3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
Oⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Smectite GroupA0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Mgⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ DumortieriteAl(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
Alⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ DumortieriteAl(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)
Siⓘ NépouiteNi3Si2O5(OH)4
Siⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ PimeliteNi3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SSulfur
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
KPotassium
Kⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series
FeIron
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ LöllingiteFeAs2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Westerveldite(Fe,Ni,Co)As
Feⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series
CoCobalt
Coⓘ Westerveldite(Fe,Ni,Co)As
NiNickel
Niⓘ MaucheriteNi11As8
Niⓘ NépouiteNi3Si2O5(OH)4
Niⓘ NickelineNiAs
Niⓘ Westerveldite(Fe,Ni,Co)As
Niⓘ PimeliteNi3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
AsArsenic
Asⓘ LöllingiteFeAs2
Asⓘ MaucheriteNi11As8
Asⓘ NickelineNiAs
Asⓘ Westerveldite(Fe,Ni,Co)As

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
EuropeContinent
Iberian PeninsulaPeninsula

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

Gervilla, F.; Leblanc, Marc (1990) Magmatic ores in high-temperature alpine-type lherzolite massifs (Ronda, Spain, and Beni Bousera, Morocco). Economic Geology, 85 (1). 112-132 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.85.1.112
Romero Silva, Juan Carlos (2003) Minerales y Rocas de la Provincia de Málaga [Minerals and Rocks of the Province of Malaga]. Centro de Ediciones de la Diputación de Málaga.
www.foro-minerales.com (n.d.) https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11453
www.aulamuseodegeologiamalaga.com (n.d.) http://www.aulamuseodegeologiamalaga.com/es/12-de-marzo-2017-visita-al-distrito-minero-los-jarales-carratraca-y-minas-del-sapo-alora/
Quick NavTopMineral ListOther RegionsReferences
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 7, 2026 06:58:34 Page updated: March 3, 2026 21:41:18
Go to top of page