Pyrite with Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Tetrahedrite

specimen number:
2312107

location:
Sulfide Pocket, Tetrahedrite Drift, Sweet Home Mine, Park Co., Colorado, USA

description:
Quite good for the species and locality, sharp striated golden lustrous metallic cubic crystals of pyrite measuring to 2.0 cm in size on a crystallized quartz matrix with rhodochrosite and tetrahedrite. In excellent condition.

The Sweet Home Mine, located near Alma in Park County, Colorado, is a historic underground mining site originally established during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late nineteenth century to extract silver, copper, and lead. Geologically, the deposit is situated within the Alma mining district and consists of complex hydrothermal vein systems hosted in Precambrian gneiss and Tertiary intrusive rocks. Although it began as a silver and base metal producer, the mine achieved global renown among mineral collectors when modern underground operations resumed in the late twentieth century, specifically targeting pocket zones that yielded magnificent, highly sought-after specimens of brilliant red rhodochrosite crystals associated with quartz, tetrahedrite, fluorite, pyrite and hubnerite.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.