Calcite with Sphalerite

specimen number:
2072090

location:
Animas Mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico

description:
Colorless crystals of calcite very nice across the top of a crystallized sphalerite and galena matrix. In good condition.

The Animas Mine is located in the West Camp of the Santa Eulalia Mining District in Chihuahua, Mexico. Geologically, it is part of a massive carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) where high-temperature hydrothermal fluids reacted with Cretaceous-aged limestones. This process created a complex network of mineralized chimneys and mantos that have been mined for silver, lead, and zinc for over 300 years. The Animas Mine is particularly noted for its deep workings and its proximity to the famous "Bustillos" and "San Domingo" systems. Historically, it contributed significantly to the vast mineral wealth of the district, which is one of the most productive silver regions in the world. For mineralogists, the mine is a classic locality for well-crystallized specimens of sulfides and secondary carbonates. The structural geology is characterized by a series of north-south trending faults that served as primary conduits for the ore-bearing fluids, resulting in large, cavernous vugs where crystals could grow undisturbed for millennia.

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