Celestine

specimen number:
2062139

location:
Bates Mine, Iron River, Michigan, USA

description:

Extremely rare locality example for the species, this may actually be the only one in existence. Glue partly gemmy and lustrous bladed crystals of Celestine measuring to 8.0 cm in size in a cluster without matrix. This is crystallized naturally all around. This piece was collected by Ray's uncle, Tom DeMark, when he worked in this mine in 1928. The identity has been confirmed. There is damage as seen, but I think still quite significant for the area and species. Note that the previous label gives the collecting date of 1928, but the label directly on the specimen says 1938.

The Bates Mine, located in Iron River within the Iron River-Stambaugh district of Iron County, Michigan, was a significant producer of iron ore on the Menominee Range. Geologically, the mine exploited the Riverton Iron Formation, a Paleoproterozoic unit consisting of cherty iron carbonate and slaty rocks that were heavily folded and faulted. The ore bodies primarily consisted of high-grade hematite and goethite, which formed through the secondary enrichment of the iron formation by circulating groundwater. Historically, the Bates Mine was opened in 1910 by the Bates Iron Company and later operated by the M.A. Hanna Company. It featured a vertical shaft reaching depths of over 1,800 feet and was known for its consistent production of high-quality ore. The mine remained in operation for nearly four decades before permanently closing in 1947.

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