Sphalerite with Dolomite, Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2212101

location:
Pelican Mine, Ottawa Co., Oklahoma, USA

description:
Lustrous crystals of sphalerite measuring to 2.3 cm in size across the top of a dolomite crystal covered matrix. Minor chalcopyrite present as well. In good condition.

The Pelican Mine, situated near Picher in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, served as a noteworthy component of the prolific Picher Field within the Tri-State Mining District. Geologically, the mine focused on Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposits where metal-bearing hydrothermal fluids replaced and filled cavities within the brecciated cherts and limestones of the Mississippian Boone Formation. The site is mineralogically recognized for its classic occurrences of galena and sphalerite, often found in association with well-crystallized dolomite and occasionally featuring aesthetic groups of chalcopyrite or calcite. Historically, mining and quarrying activities at the Pelican were most intense during the early to mid-20th century, with the 1910s through the 1940s marking its peak contribution to the regional lead and zinc output. Like many surrounding operations, the mine played a vital role in the industrial effort for the World Wars before the eventual exhaustion of profitable ore bodies. Large-scale commercial extraction at the Pelican ended by the late 1960s as the district transitioned toward closure and subsequent environmental management under the Tar Creek Superfund program.

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