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Ore Minerals, part 1

Thursday, 13 July 2023 06:00 PM

A wide array of excellent, rich, and large ore minerals from classical mining districts.

Covellite

with Pyrite - #62064
Locality
Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States 
Formula
CuS 
Availability
Sold
Size
8.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 cm - Sm Cabinet 
Tagged
ore mineral , sulfide , copper  

A juicy specimen loaded with 66% copper and is a beautiful indigo blue color. Covellite is formed in supergene of copper porphyry deposits and hydrothermal deposits, such as Butte, Montana. There is also Pyrite in the matrix giving it a nice contrasting appearance.


Covellite

Formula
CuS 
Crystal System
Hexagonal 
Crystal Habit
Platy, Foliated 
Cleavage
Perfect, None, None 
Luster
Metallic 
Color
indigo blue, light blue, dark blue, black 
Streak
black gray 
Class
Hexagonal - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal 
Fracture
Brittle 
Hardness
1.5-2 
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Enstatite

var. bronzite, (Platinum ore) - #62098
Locality
Stillwater mine, Nye Co., Montana, United States 
Formula
MgSiO3 
Availability
Sold
Size
10 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm - Cabinet 
Tagged
ore mineral , platinum  

Stillwater is the only operating platinum/palladium deposit in the USA. In this specimen the platinum is located in the bronzite, a variety of Enstatite. It is shown in the second photo and smaller areas of the other photos along with some sulfide mineralization. The note that came with the specimen says "extremely high grade platinum ore". There are sulfides throughout the matrix, and I have not bothered to really scrutinize the specimen. So, ponder that and know that the Stillwater complex is home to 7 type locality minerals.


Enstatite

Formula
MgSiO3 
Crystal System
Orthorhombic 
Crystal Habit
Massive - Fibrous, Lamellar 
Cleavage
Distinct, Distinct, None 
Luster
Vitreous - Pearly 
Color
white, yellowish green, brown, greenish white, gray 
Streak
gray 
Class
Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal 
Fracture
Brittle 
Hardness
5.5 
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SOLD
Galena - RW57364
Galena - RW57364

Galena

#RW57364
Locality
Ozark-Mahoning mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, United States 
Formula
PbS 
Availability
Sold
Size
6.5 x 4 x 3 cm - Sm Cabinet 
Tagged
ore mineral , sulfide  

The specimen has large crystals to 3.5cm exhibiting nice cubic formations.


Galena

Formula
PbS 
Crystal System
Isometric 
Crystal Habit
Euhedral Crystals, Massive - Granular, Massive 
Cleavage
Perfect, Perfect, Perfect 
Luster
Metallic 
Color
light lead gray, dark lead gray 
Streak
grayish black 
Class
Isometric - Hexoctahedral 
Fracture
Brittle 
Hardness
2.5 
Collection
Robert J. Waidler Collection
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Guettardite

#AH62112
Locality
Brobdignag mine, Red Mtn. dist., San Juan Co., Colorado, United States 
Formula
Pb(Sb,As)2S4 
Availability
Sold
Size
11 x 7 x 5 cm - Cabinet 
Tagged
ore mineral , sulfide  

A large specimen of silvery, massive Guettardite and probably contains some Zinkenite. It is encased in Siderite. Hampson collected this specimen in 1977. Specimens of Guettardite are rarely seen on the market. This is an exceptional specimen. It is an ore of lead, but since it is a rare mineral, it cannot be regarded as an important source of lead.


Guettardite

Formula
Pb(Sb,As)2S4 
Crystal System
Monoclinic 
Crystal Habit
Acicular, Anhedral Grains 
Cleavage
Perfect, None, None 
Luster
Metallic 
Color
grayish black 
Streak
brownish 
Class
Monoclinic - Prismatic 
Fracture
Brittle - Conchoidal 
Hardness
Collection
Arnold G Hampson Collection
SOLD
Halite - 62056
Halite - 62056

Halite

#62056
Locality
Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario, Canada 
Formula
NaCl 
Availability
Sold
Size
6 x 4.5 x 3 cm - Sm Cabinet 

Waterclear cubic Halite crystals. Halite (salt) occurs in evaporite deposits, forming deposits reaching thicknesses of hundreds if not thousands of feet. It is also found as salt domes also known as diapirs.


Halite

Formula
NaCl 
Crystal System
Isometric 
Crystal Habit
Euhedral Crystals, Granular, Crystalline - Coarse 
Cleavage
Perfect, Perfect, Perfect 
Luster
Vitreous (Glassy) 
Color
white, clear, light blue, dark blue, pink 
Streak
white 
Class
Isometric - Hexoctahedral 
Fracture
Brittle 
Hardness
2.5 
Collection
RC Stamberg Collection
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Hematite

#RW62067
Locality
Soudan mine, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, United States 
Formula
Fe2O3 
Availability
Sold
Size
9 x 8 x 6 cm - Sm Cabinet 
Tagged
ore mineral  

This is more or less and fine-grained or specular Hematite specimen. It is one of the major ores of the district. Unfortunately the glory days of this district are long gone. It use to drive the once huge steel industry of the USA sending ore to the steel mills of south Chicago, Pittsburg and Cleveland. 


Hematite

Formula
Fe2O3 
Crystal System
Trigonal 
Crystal Habit
Tabular, Blocky, Earthy 
Cleavage
None, None, None 
Luster
Metallic 
Color
reddish gray, black, blackish red 
Streak
reddish brown 
Class
Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral 
Fracture
Conchoidal 
Hardness
6.5 
Collection
Robert J. Waidler Collection
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