Galena with Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2102411

location:
Brushy Creek Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA

description:

Bright lustrous cubic crystals of galena measuring to 4.0 cm on edge very aesthetic across the top of a breccia matrix with golden crystals of chalcopyrite and minor dolomite. Micro-damage present but quite minimal, this is in very good condition all around. Collected in the late 1990s.

The Brushy Creek mine, located near Greeley in Reynolds County, Missouri, is a major underground operation positioned within the famous Viburnum Trend, or New Lead Belt. Geologically, the deposit is a classic Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) stratabound lead-zinc-copper deposit hosted within the Cambrian-aged Bonneterre Dolomite formation. Ore mineralization occurred when basinal hydrothermal fluids migrated through the underlying Lamotte Sandstone and deposited massive sulfides, primarily galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite, along ancient microbial reef structures and collapse breccias. Construction and shaft sinking at the site began in 1969 by the St. Joe Minerals Corporation, with formalized commercial milling and underground ore extraction commencing in 1973. The mine has maintained nearly continuous operations for over five decades, transitioning through ownership changes to The Doe Run Company, which continues active, deep-level industrial production of base metals from the facility today.

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