Sphalerite with Pyrite, Marcasite

specimen number:
2212090

location:
Ballard Mine, Cherokee Co., Kansas, USA

description:
A cluster of lustrous black sphalerite crystals, these mostly coated with micro crystals of pyrite and marcasite. In good condition.

The Ballard Mine, located southwest of Baxter Springs in Cherokee County, Kansas, was a major producer within the Baxter Springs Field of the Tri-State Mining District. Geologically, it targeted Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) mineralization where lead and zinc sulfides were concentrated in brecciated zones of the Mississippian-aged Boone Formation limestone and chert. The mine is mineralogically renowned for producing exceptional specimens of galena and sphalerite, often occurring as large, well-developed crystals on a matrix of chert or pink dolomite. Historically, mining and quarrying activities at the Ballard site began in the early 20th century, with its most significant period of production occurring from the 1930s through the 1950s under the Eagle-Picher Mining and Smelting Company. At its peak, the Ballard was one of the largest and most productive mines in the entire district, known for its extensive underground workings and high-grade ore. Commercial operations eventually slowed as the primary reserves were exhausted, leading to the mines closure by the late 1960s. Today, the Ballard Mine is considered a classic American mineral locality, with its specimens serving as important examples of the mid-continent lead-zinc deposits for researchers and collectors.

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