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Ore Specimens
Images below are hyperlinked.....click any mineral to enlarge
To order a mineral give the mineral name and the number of the specimen(s) you wish to purchase.
You will receive that exact specimen.
Satisfaction is guaranteed.
Pyrrhotite, Galena, Bornite and Chalcocite
Mineral # 1839
Mary Mine Ore
Ducktown District, Tennessee
Baxter Shaft, 0F Pillar from stoped area between 60 fathom and 100 foot level
7 x 6 x 5.5 cm
$ 299
Pyrrhotite, Galena, Bornite and Chalcocite
Mineral # 1839
Another view of the specimen showing the ore filling all the spaces in quartz
Pyrrhotite, Galena, Bornite and Chalcocite
Mineral # 1839
Another view of this specimen. Click on specimen to enlarge.
You might think you are being red garnets. But its really a light reflection
disorder of some type, its metallic looking when to actually see it.
Note the 3 dark circular structures below these crystals.
They are small masses of chalcocite.
Pyrrhotite, Galena, Bornite and Chalcocite
Mineral # 1839
Another view of another area on this specimen.
You will find it difficult to put this one down once it is in your hand.
There are so many discoveries to enjoy.
Pyrrhotite is brassy in color; most dark areas are bornite, Chalcopyrite is the usual golden color and as said above Chalcocite in black.
These minerals are very tightly packed together.
Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite
Stone Hill Mine [Wood Copper Mine], Arbacooche Mining District, Cleburne County, Alabama
Mineral # 1836
slice: 8 x 8 cm, 4 mm thick 86 grams
$ 45
This is a slice of Stone Hill Ore composed of mainly two just minerals - mainly pyrrhotite with some brighter spots of Chalcopyrite
Stone Hill Mine [Wood Copper Mine]
Mineral # 1836
This is a close up view of this ore sample as pictured above
Galena in massive Sphalerite
New Prospect Mine, Leadmine Bend, Union County, Tennessee
slice: 8 x 6 cm, 4 mm thick 38 grams
Mineral # 1837
This is a slice of the ore from the New Prospect Mine composed mainly of two just minerals - bright galena in massive sphalerite
$ 45
Galena in massive Sphalerite
New Prospect Mine, Leadmine Bend, Union County, Tennessee
Mineral # 1837
Minor minerals - Smithsonite (small bubbles in occasional vugs) and Greenockite (yellowish-brown coating on outer edges of the ore as seen above)
The galena is very reflective across the fresh cut as you tip the slice in good light
Chalcopyrite, Pyrrhotite
Mineral # 1838a
Gossan Howard Mine, Carroll County, Virginia [Discovered in 1789]
Slice: 11 x 8 cm, 86 grams
$ 50
This is a slice off the rock pictured in # 1838 d below.
When re-inserting the rock into the saw later it is just a guess if the angle is exactly right.
This particular slice in mineral # 1838a is 7mm on one slide and 2 mm thick on the
other side; but is a complete slice - my angle was off slightly.
Pyrrhotite and Chalcopyrite
Mineral # 1838b
10 x 8 cm, 117 gm, 5mm thick
$ 100
This is another slice off the rock from the Gossan Howard Mine which is composed mainly Pyrrhotite
and lesser amounts of Chalcopyrite (metallic appearance) with black Silicate streaks.
This slice is a straight cut of 5 mm. Note the clear areas, presumably quartz inclusion.
Pyrrhotite and Chalcopyrite
Mineral # 1838c
10.5 x 8 cm, 51 gm, 6 mm thick
$ 150
This is the 3rd slice of Gossan Howard Ore through the same rock as pictured above and below.
Upon chemical analysis sphalerite and stannite are also present in most specimens from this mine.
Reference: Economic Geology, Volume 74, pages 645 - 656
Pyrrhotite and Chalcopyrite
Mineral # 1838d
10 x 7 x 7.5 cm, 997 gm
$ 250
This is the the other side of the slice above with the reminder of the entire rock that all the slices above were cut from.
Pyrrhotite and Chalcopyrite
Mineral # 1838d
Another jpeg of the above specimen elevated in back to show the top
of the rock all of the above slices were cut from
This specimen gives you a cut surface and the reminder of the Gossan Howard ore specimen as found in the mine
Native Antimony
Mineral # 1800
Lac Nicolet Mine, Quebec, Canada
2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm
$ 40
This is a glistening, silver, metallic specimen of native antimony ore; from this pick you
might think it looks like chalk, it actually is a collection of silver particles and quite
nice; click on the image to get a little closer ; click on the specimen to enlarge by 4 times
Bornite on Native Silver
Mineral # 1801
San Martin Mine, Zacatecas
Mexico
6.5 x 4 cm
$ 45
Bluish-black ore covering thin sheets of nearly pure silver; very impressive specimen
Bornite with Covellite and Chalcopyrite
Mineral # 1802
Magma Mine, 3600' level, Superior
Pinal County, Arizona
6 x 2.5 x 2 cm
$ 30
This is a bright purple-gold metallic ore; most specimens have pyrite inclusions
Mineral # 1802
Another view of the colorful specimen
Bornite
Mineral # 1803
Kelly Mine, Butte
Silver Bow County, Montana
5 x 4 x 3.5 cm
$ 45
Gray to blue solid metallic specimens collected in the deep mines of Butte when the mines were still active; this specimen has a sawed flat surface for displaying
Bornite
Mineral # 1804
San Martin, Zacatecas, Mexico
8 x 7.5 x 6 cm
$ 45
Attractive multicolored specimen
collected by M. Rheinlander in 1997
Bornite
Mineral # 1804
a surface view of the above specimen
Chalcopyrite with Magnetite and Bornite
Mineral # 1835
Grasberg Mine, Ertsberg Complex, Gunung Bijih District (Grasberg District), Mimika Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia
5.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm
$ 365
Collected in 1998 at 11,000 feet in an area that developed to become the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in
the world; it began as a large open pit, but since 2016 it is underground only
Chalcopyrite with Magnetite and Bornite
Mineral # 1835
A spectacular view of the specimen on other side. This specimen has one flat sawed side that is useful for display.
This is my best and last specimen from this location.
Cobaltite with Smaltite
Mineral # 1806
Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
7 x 4.5 x 1.5 cm
$ 65
Cobaltite is a sulfosalt mineral composed of cobalt, arsenic, and sulfur compounds to make the formula CoAsS
Cobaltite with Smaltite
Mineral # 1806
a closer view of the specimen above
Copper on Black Shale
Mineral # 1807
White Pine Mine, Ontonagan County,
Michigan
6.5 x 5 x .2 <and> 4 x 4 x .2 cm
$ 45
This specimen consists of two pieces; there is a nice, sharp contrast between the bright copper and the black shale
These pieces were found originally in the pictured position.
Copper
Mineral # 1808
Chino Pit, New Mexico
9 x 3.5 x 0.25 cm
$ 45
A fairly flat , but 3D piece of native copper with a little rock matrix
Native Copper
Mineral # 1809
Ray Mine, Arizona
6.5 x 5 x 1 cm, 103.1 grams
$ 55
A clean 3D piece of native copper with virtually no matrix
Native Copper
Mineral # 1809
Another view with a change in light source
Phlogopite and Molybdenite
Mineral # 1813
Questa Mine, Taos County, New Mexico
8 x 7.5 x 6 cm
$ 45
Phlogopite and Molybdenite
Mineral # 1813
A closer view
This view shows the top of this specimen which has a pocket of Phlogopite crystals
Phlogopite and Molybdenite
Mineral # 1813
On the lower aspect of this specimen are more Phlogopite crystals and some flashing silver Molybdenite crystals
Covellite
Mineral # 1816
Little Annie Vein, Summitville, Rio Grande County, Colorado
8 x 4 x 3 cm, 204 grams
$ 265
Typical Covellite with fine blues, gold, on white matrix; a very attractive but rare ore specimen; fracture lines are common is this material
Covellite
Mineral # 1816
Another side view of the specimen above showing various exposed Covellite in the specimen.
During the last 3 days the mine was open, miners were encouraged to collect as many specimens as they wanted.
Gold Ore
Mineral # 1817
Homestake Mine, Lead, South Dakota
5 cm across, 1.5 cm thick core section
$ 60
All the flecks in the specimen are native gold.
The slight bevel on one edge is to smooth to the spur on one edge when a core is cut by a diamond saw blade.
Also available: a smaller 2.5 cm circular core sections, $ 10; request one of these free with any order
Reference: see the photographs in USGS Professional Paper 26
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1818
Sunnyside Gold Mine,
Eureka, San Juan County, Colorado
7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm
$ 50
Specimen consists of quartz, gold, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite in matrix
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1819
Sunnyside Gold Mine,
Eureka, San Juan County, Colorado
6 x 5 x 4 cm
$ 100
A fine specimen of quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, gold, galena, and sphalerite on/in rock matrix
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1819
A closer view of the specimen above showing the ore clearly exposed on the surface of the specimen.
The white quartz background makes the specimen quite attractive.
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1832
Sunnyside Gold Mine,
Eureka, San Juan County, Colorado
9 x 6 x 2.5 cm
$ 50
Specimen has a cut surface which exposes the ore inside the rock.
When you tip the specimen in the light the x.s. through the ore crystals are very apparent .
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1832
A close-up view of the specimen above showing the both the ore and some Rhodonite
in the specimen which is common in ore samples from this location.
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1833
Sunnyside Gold Mine,
Eureka, San Juan County, Colorado
14 x 13 x 6 cm 1496 grams
$ 200
A nice specimen with massive Rhodonite. Rhodonite was common in Silverton and Ouray area ore.
Gold Mine Ore
Mineral # 1833
A close-up view of the specimen above showing the Rhodonite and exposed ore. This specimen has a cut flat base for good display.
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1811
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
9 x 7.5 x 4 cm
$ 30
This is typical Carolina Slate rock (schist) which has one diamond cut side for display purposes;
you can find a sprinkle of pyrites on each side
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1811
Another view of the specimen above; click on the specimen to enlarge; electrum is associated with the pyrites
Pyrite / Gold ore in matrix
Mineral # 1820
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
6 x 4 x 3 cm
$ 100
This is what you want to find. Massive mineralization containing many pyrites with gold embedded in white to cream or gray colored shists
Price determined by the number of sulphides and/or metallic inclusions on the surface of the host rock which has not been assayed
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1821
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
15.5 x 8 x 7 cm
$ 40
This specimen is an example of the Carolina Slate Belt. Composition of this specimen is unknown. Metamorphism played a major role
in forming the numerous structural features of this area. Rocks here are commonly called phyllonites which formed
under high pressure conditions converting chloride to sericite with a loss of quartz.
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1821
Another closer view of the specimen above. You can see near the top of this specimen where there are some gray spots.
This means you might be getting close to where clusters of pyrites formed (as shown in other specimens shown below).
The gold is with or in the pyrites. Some dark spots on the lower side of this specimen are probably Pyrrhotite.
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1805
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
6 x 6 x 4 cm
$ 30
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1805
This is another view of the specimen above with a different light source. This one is similar to specimen 1811 above.
Lots of pyrites, but not as rich as specimen 1820.
I don't know what to make about the yellow in this and other specimens. After studying research papers where
authors talk about hydrothermal activity here, maybe that is where the yellow color originated.
If you have a better idea, please send me an email: msbooks@booksgeology.com
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1810
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
7.5 x 6.5 x 6 cm
$ 50
This is a fine specimen due to its unusual shape. Specimen was tipped up in front to show the cut surface for excellent display.
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1810
A straight shot of the front of this specimen showing a strip of pyrites in the vertical groove on the left side.
On the back side of the specimen (not shown here) is a dark gray area full of tiny pyrites and/or electrum similar to
mineral specimen # 1823 below, but it is a flat area, and not elevated or round.
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1810
This is a view of the front of this specimen lying on its right side which using shadowing
shows the 3-dimensional structure not really seen in the earlier views.
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1834
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County
South Carolina
5 x 2.5 x 1 cm
$ 35
Another Haile Mine specimen showing the color of the host rock;
the surface of the specimen is covered with pyrites / gold crystals
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1822
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County, South Carolina
11.5 x 6 x 1.5 cm
$ 75
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1822
A much closer view showing some pyrites / eletrum gold everywhere on/in this host rock
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Haile Mine, 3 ½ miles northeast of Kershaw, Lancaster County, South Carolina
Mineral # 1823
8 x 5.5 x 2 cm
$ 65
Pyrite containing electrum, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite
and sometimes molybdenite and rutiles.
Mineral # 1823
You can see the two rounded elevations near the bottom of this specimen.
If you click on the specimen you can also see smaller elevations elsewhere on the specimen.
Those are the pyrite you are looking for. Gold is located in and with the pyrites.
Heubnerite
Mineral # 1824
Adams Mine, Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado
3.5 x 3 x 3 cm
$ 30
Typical Heubnerite with brown-gold-black glistening metallic crystals on matrix
Molybdenite on Calcite
Mineral # 1826
Questa, Taos County, New Mexico
9 x 6 x 3 cm
$ 40
This specimen shows silver metallic Molybdenite ore on matrix with Phlogopite crystals
Molybdenite
Mineral # 1827
Jardinera # 1 Mine, Inca de Oro, Chile
5.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm
$ 40
Silver metallic specimen, some on a green matrix, collected in 1994
Molybdenite
Mineral # 1827
another view of the side of the above specimen
Molybdenite
Mineral # 1828
Santa Ana de Yecora, Sonora, Mexico
5.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 cm
$ 20
Molybdenite covers most of the surface of this rock which also has malachite and pyrite; it was collected in 1999
Molybdenite
Mineral # 1829
Cadillac Mine,
Lac Preissac, Quebec, Canada
8 x 6 x 4.5 cm
$ 45
This specimen is very impressive with the stark contrast of silver ore on white quartz
Molybdenite
Mineral # 1829
A closer view of the specimen above
Silver - Lead Ore
Mineral # 1830
War Eagle Mine
Tecopa, California
6 x 5 x 6 cm
$ 45
Galena, pyrite, sphalerite, and associated minerals
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Mineral Specimens Mineral Index Mineralogy Book Catalog Select Mineral Books Rock, Gem, and Mineral Book Catalog
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