Galena with Dolomite, Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2072050

location:
Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA

description:
Cube octahedral lustrous crystals of galena measuring to 0.6 cm in size across a white dolomite crystal matrix and accented nicely with golden crystals of chalcopyrite. In great condition.

The Sweetwater Mine, located in Reynolds County, Missouri, is part of the Viburnum Trend, a major mining area within the Southeast Missouri region known for Mississippi Valley type deposits hosted in Cambrian dolomite. The deposit formed as metal rich fluids moved through the carbonate rocks and precipitated sulfide minerals in fractures, breccia zones, and porous horizons. Mining at Sweetwater began in 1968, with underground operations developed to extract lead along with significant amounts of zinc and minor copper from these stratabound ore bodies. The geology reflects large scale fluid migration and replacement processes that produced well developed mineralization typical of the Viburnum Trend. The mine has operated for decades and remains an important contributor to domestic metal production.

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