Anglesite with Galena

specimen number:
2102165

location:
11 level, Orr orebody, Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Idaho, USA

description:
Blocky crystals of anglesite measuring to 1.4 cm on edge across the massive galena matrix. In good condition, neat locality example for the species. The dark color of the anglesite crystals is due to inclusions of galena. This would have been collected in the early 1980s.

The Bunker Hill Mine, located in Kellogg within the Coeur d Alene District of Shoshone County, Idaho, stands as one of the most significant lead, silver, and zinc producers in American history. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within the Precambrian-aged Belt Supergroup, specifically the Revett and St. Regis Formations, consisting of thick sequences of quartzite and argillite. The ore occurs in massive replacement veins and breccia zones formed by hydrothermal fluids moving through complex fault systems, such as the Osburn Fault. While primarily an industrial giant, the mine is legendary for spectacular mineral specimens, including world-class pyromorphite, cerrusite, and anglesite. Historically, the mine was discovered in 1885 by Noah Kellogg and operated almost continuously until 1981, with various efforts to resume production occurring in the decades following. During its primary century of operation, the Bunker Hill produced over 165 million ounces of silver and 5 million tons of lead, shaping the economic landscape of the Silver Valley while leaving a complex environmental legacy that necessitated one of the largest Superfund cleanup projects in the United States.

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