Dyscrasite

specimen number:
2354312

location:
De Lamar Mine, Owyhee Co., Idaho, USA

description:
Very rich lustrous metallic masses of dyscrasite throughout a quartz matrix. Great reference quality example for the species and locality. The specimen comes with an old label from the collection of Ernest W. Chapman.

Located in the Silver City mining district of Owyhee County, Idaho, the De Lamar Mine is set within volcanic host rocks dominated by Miocene rhyolitic flows and tuffs. Epithermal mineralization occurred as precious-metal-rich hydrothermal fluids filled fault zones and fractures, depositing high-grade silver and gold ores within quartz veins and clay-altered host rocks. Mining in the district began in the late 19th century following initial placer discoveries, evolving from underground operations into a major open-pit silver mine in the late 20th century. Mineral collectors prize the locality for producing exceptional specimens of dyscrasite, a rare silver antimonide mineral that occurs here as well-formed, metallic gray crystals and bladed aggregates embedded in quartz and clay matrices.

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