Marcasite on Calcite

specimen number:
9892009

location:
Viburnum No. 29 Mine, Viburnum Trend, Washington Co., Missouri, USA

description:
Clusters of golden marcasite crystals measuring to almost 1.5 cm in size on a calcite matrix. This is in good condition. This is an older specimen likely from the 1970s and is still quite fresh and shows no signs of decomposition.

The Viburnum No. 29 Mine, operated by the Doe Run Company as part of the famed Viburnum Trend (New Lead Belt) in southeast Missouri, is situated within Washington County. Geologically, the deposit is a classic Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) ore body hosted within the Cambrian Bonneterre Dolomite, where metal-bearing basinal brines deposited primary lead, zinc, and copper sulfides along structural solution-collapse breccias. Historically, the mine became prominent during the later stages of district operations, gaining notable attention in the 1990s when deep underground mining encounters exposed massive vugs and cavities containing world-class mineral specimens, particularly large, highly sought-after calcite crystals accompanied by marcasite.

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