Pyrite (SUL-0049)

specimen number:
9273248

location:
Martin Marietta Materials Cement quarry, Midlothian, Ellis Co., Texas, USA

description:

A matrix less cluster of sharp semi lustrous pyrite crystals, the largest measuring to 3.0 cm in size. No points of attachment and in very good condition all around.

The Martin Marietta Materials Cement Quarry located near Midlothian in Ellis County, Texas, is an extensive commercial operation deeply tied to the regional manufacturing of cement and aggregates. Geologically, the quarry operations cut through Upper Cretaceous sedimentary sequences, notably exposing the contact zone between the Austin Chalk and the underlying Eagle Ford Shale. These marine sedimentary strata formed in shallow ancient seas, and their organic-rich layers provide a chemical environment conducive to mineral authigenesis. The site has gained recognition among mineral collectors and fossil enthusiasts for producing remarkable pyritized specimens, including brilliant pyrite crystals, pyritized fossils, and mineralized burrows formed as iron and sulfur reacted within the organic-rich muds.

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