Pyrite with Grossular (O-0025)

specimen number:
9273123

location:
El Cobre Mine, Zacatecas, Mexico

description:

Bright lustrous sharp cubic crystals of golden pyrite measuring to 2.0 cm on edge in a cluster with crystals of grossular. In good condition with minimal damage present, neat combination piece for this locality.

The El Cobre mine, situated within the historic Concepcion del Oro mining district in the northern part of Zacatecas, Mexico, is a notable producer of copper alongside significant gold, silver, and lead byproducts. Geologically, the deposit is classified as a classic intrusion-related copper-gold skarn and hydrothermal vein system. Mineralization developed during the early Tertiary period when granodioritic to monzonitic plutons intruded thick sequences of Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, specifically Cretaceous limestones, triggering intense metasomatism and depositing dense chalcopyrite, bornite, and magnetite ore bodies. The rich history of the area traces back to early Spanish colonial exploration around 1530, making it one of the oldest European-exploited mining sectors in Zacatecas. Underground and surface extraction at the specific El Cobre unit progressed from crude colonial methods to structured industrial operations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries under foreign capital consolidations. Following various periods of ownership changes and intermittent closures due to global metal price fluctuations during the mid-to-late 20th century, the historic assets of the immediate El Cobre and surrounding Aranzazu vein systems were modernized, leading to revitalized underground exploitation and milling activities that continue into the 21st century.

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