Arsenopyrite with Quartz

specimen number:
2262096

location:
Hedley, British Columbia, Canada

description:
Lustrous metallic prismatic crystals of arsenopyrite measuring to 0.5 cm in size across matrix with quartz. Minimal damage present. The specimen comes with an old label from Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Rochester, New York.

The Hedley mining district, located in south-central British Columbia, is defined by its world-class gold skarn deposits situated primarily on Nickel Plate Mountain. Geologically, the mineralization is hosted within the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, where limestones were metamorphosed and replaced by gold-bearing sulfides following the intrusion of the Toronto Stock gabbro-diorite complex. The primary ore minerals include native gold associated with arsenopyrite and bismuthides within a complex silicate skarn gangue. Historically, mining and quarrying operations began in earnest after the 1898 discovery of the Nickel Plate deposit, with the first stamp mill beginning production in 1904. The district experienced several major phases of activity, most notably from 1904 to 1930 and again from 1934 to 1955, followed by a significant modern open-pit operation that ran from 1987 to 1996. While large-scale commercial extraction has ceased, the town of Hedley remains a historic landmark of Canadian mining heritage through 2026, and the district continues to be a subject of study regarding high-temperature gold skarn formation.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.