Dolomite with Hematite

specimen number:
2062149

location:
Florence Mine, Florence Co., Wisconsin, USA

description:
Sparkling colorless crystals of dolomite across the top of a hematite matrix. In good condition, nice locality example. Collected in 1996. Only rarely is material from this Wisconsin locality seen available on the market.

The Florence Mine, located in Florence, Florence County, Wisconsin, was a key iron ore producer within the Menominee Iron Range. Geologically, the mine consisted of surface and underground workings in the Proterozoic Riverton Iron Formation, which features interlayered siderite and chert that weathered into soft, massive hematite. The ore body was characterized by this red earthy hematite, often found alongside minerals like magnetite, quartz, and grunerite. Historically, iron ore was discovered at the site in the late 1870s, and the Florence Mine officially began operations during the winter of 1879 to 1880. It was a productive site for several decades, reaching its peak output around 1920 before changing market conditions for lower grade ores led to its eventual closure. The mine ceased most major operations by 1931, though the site remains a significant historical landmark in the region, with its former pits now serving as deep, water filled ponds that mark the legacy of the local mining industry.

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