Pyrrhotite with Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2262337

location:
Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Quebec, Canada

description:
Masses of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite throughout. Interesting ore sample for this old locality. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video.

The Rouyn-Noranda mining district, located within the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region of western Quebec, Canada, was one of the most prolific producers of copper, gold, and zinc in North America. Geologically, the district is situated within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of the Archean-age Superior Province, an ancient volcanic terrain characterized by complexly folded and faulted metavolcanic rocks. The economic ore deposits are primarily hosted within volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) systems, where ancient submarine hydrothermal vents concentrated thick lenses of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite, alongside significant structurally controlled, lode-gold quartz vein systems associated with the Cadillac-Larder Lake Fault Zone. Historically, the district was established following the seminal discovery of copper-gold ore by prospector Edmond Horne in 1922, which led to the foundation of Noranda Mines and the rapid development of the legendary Horne Mine. Full-scale commercial underground extraction and on-site smelting operations commenced in 1927, triggering a massive regional mining boom that saw dozens of adjacent underground shafts and open-pit quarries, such as the Quemont and Chadbourne mines, open across the twin cities. While the landmark Horne Mine officially closed its primary underground mining operations in 1976 after extracting over 50 million tons of rich ore, the iconic Horne Smelter remained operational as a major custom recycling and processing facility, and localized corporate exploration, tailings reprocessing, and specialized open-pit gold extraction projects continue to actively sustain the district through 2026.

Ward's Natural Science Establishment, located in Rochester, New York, is one of the oldest and most influential scientific supply houses and mineral dealerships in United States history. Founded in 1862 by Henry Augustus Ward, a prominent professor of natural sciences at the University of Rochester, the institution began as a specialized studio to create, preserve, and distribute high-quality geological collections, taxidermy, and anatomical models for museums and universities. Geologically and mineralogically, the company became a primary global conduit for classic mineral specimens, systematically sourcing, cataloging, and distributing rare and aesthetic reference pieces from important international discoveries throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. Historically, the business operated out of its iconic, sprawling College Avenue complex from 1869 until a devastating fire destroyed a large portion of its inventory and historical archives in 1930, prompting a relocation to its modern facilities on Ridge Road. The establishment played a foundational role in professionalizing American museum curation, serving as a training ground for legendary museum builders, and establishing standardized mineral kits that educated generations of geologists.

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