I'm pleased to offer this excellent ore specimen of Galena with Quartz and Pyrite and possible Plattnerite from the Valley View mine, Hamilton district, Butte County, Idaho. The specimen measures 3.69 x 2.55 x 1.85 inches or 9.36 x 6.48 x 4.70cm and shows a polished face and a classy attached label.
Information about this obscure mine is rather scant. It was worked primarily for lead and secondary silver and was located at a little more than 7300 feet in elevation. After the mine closed, it was a source of rather pure quartzite--apparently for use as a smelter flux.
The galena is best seen as silver reflective material in the brecciated quartz matrix. There may be some plattnerite present but certainly NOT ALL of the dark coloration can be due to plattnerite. The material is just not a good fit on the unpolished surfaces. Kuizon and Lipton (1991) report in"Mineral resource appraisal of the Diamond Peak Study Area, Butte, Clark, and Lemhi Counties, Idaho" that plattnerite is found in "....fracture fillings and sheer zones in quartzite." The brassy pyrite is obvious. I will not add plattnerite to my label.
A friend of mine collected this particular piece and he noted the especially pure white quartzite at the mine
Please check my response and my other items.All specimens are carefully wrapped, come with complete and accurate labels and are quickly shipped. As always, your complete satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteedand I even offer FREE return shipping on any item that fails to satisfy for any reason---you can't go wrong. I'm reminded of the firm pledge printed on the old Foote Mineral Company mineral catalogs from more than a century ago,
"Quality of specimens is assured as we permit return of specimens at our expense." Thanks for looking!
I buy collections! Please contact me if you have a collection for sale or know of one that is available. I will pay a finder's fee to anyone that can point me to an eventual purchase!
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