Topaz from near el chalten santa cruz province, argentina

摘要

The density of known mineral localities in various parts of South America seems to be comparable to the population density in those areas. Our discovery of a small and now completely exhausted topaz locality was the result of pure coincidence, and does not justify a "gold rush" of mineral collectors into this region far from civilization. People contemplating such a trip themselves should be aware that in the short month of our Patagonian journey, each of us covered about 250 km on foot, including considerable stretches crossing glaciers and other quite difficult terrain. However, for nature lovers who are happy to sleep for weeks in a tent, eating food from boxes and washing themselves in water a few degrees above freezing, this part of our planet guarantees a worthwhile experience. The traveler willing to spend weeks "leaning against the wind," constantly feeling the sand between his teeth, will be rewarded with views of nature almost untouched, of vast glaciers and spectacular mountain vistas, their slope and ruggedness looking otherworldly.