Quartz, Galena & Pyrite

Description

Galena, Pyrite and Quartz have ratings on the hardness scale of 2½, 6 – 6½, and 7, respectively, and they have a corresponding specific gravity of 7.6, 4.8 – 5, and 2.65 -2.66. All three minerals are quite common, and quite distinguishable from one another, in addition to many of the other minerals, as well.

It was stated “likely came from” above as it’s not guaranteed, but of all the mines in Colorado, it looks to have come from either Creede, or the San Juans near Ouray. Judging from pictures of the Amethyst Vein and other Quartz/Galena/Pyrite specimens to have come from there, this looks identical. With all certainty, however, it can be told to you that this was a part of a collection that was donated to, and then purchased from, the Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club to support scholarships for geology students at the local university, and it likely came from somewhere nearby, possibly following an estate liquidation. Therefore, it’s not 100% certain that this is from the Commodore Mine, or Galena Queen, or even Colorado, but it’s priced arguably inexpensively, anyway… especially if there is actually any gold in this specimen!

This isn’t any exceptionally remarkable collector’s piece, but it’s old stock and a part of a collection that was clearly cherished since its original excavation. This would make for a great Sulfur, Lead, Iron, and/or Silicon & Oxygen sample for element collectors, and regardless of whether there’s actually any visible gold or not, there’s likely some trace amounts, at least! In addition to that, there’s a chance there could be some Silver, as well, or possibly some Zinc in Sphalerite, Cadmium in some Greenockite, Copper in Chalcopyrite, Bornite, Arsenic in Tennantite, Manganese in Manganite, or some other elements in some additional unidentified sulfides… if it came from the Commodore Mine, or a mine which produced similar looking rocks and similar elements from similar ore…

Be sure to keep your eyes out for a rock like this while out on your next hike, and while it might not make you super rich if you do happen to find one, look around the rocks and see if there might be more valuable metals nearby, as well! But, you need not study this too closely to recognize it in the future, as, if you’re out on a hike and see any rock with any kind of shiny metal like this, it’ll definitely catch your eye anyway!