Pyrite with Sphalerite and Dolomite

Item Description

A beautiful association specimen from the Eagle Mine (New Jersey Zinc Mine) which lies about 12 miles south of Vail in the now ghost town of Gilman. This locality produced some iconic orebody specimens in its day, and this piece is a classic example showing a mixture of metallic, light golden colored pyritohedral Pyrite plus black Sphalerite and buff colored rhombic Dolomite on matrix. Select Pyrite crystals show a beautiful pinkish iridescence on the surface. The largest Dolomite rhomb is 1.7 cm. The front/display side of the piece is in great condition. A lovely example of these now notably scarce pieces from this classic mine.
From the collection of Gary and Terry Butts of Livermore, Colorado. This husband and wife collecting duo were childhood sweethearts, and have been together since they began dating as teenagers growing up in East Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. Both of them had an early interest in the hobby thanks to the fact that Terry's parents had a keen interest in lapidary, which sparked an interest in rocks for both of them. Gary and Terry were featured in an article in the Des Moines Register on Feb 4, 1962 (see photo in this listing) highlighting their interest and prowess in the hobby as youngsters. Gary traveled to various localities around the US as a teenager with his father (who worked in the tin industry), to personally collect specimens. He then attended the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and graduated in 1967 with a degree in extractive metallurgical engineering. We went to work for Duval Corp at the Esperanza Mine south of Tucson, Arizona and then work for Cyprus Mines, Hazen Research, Pincock, Allen & Holt and the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. His final job was in the mineral and environmental division of Intertek Testing Services of London, which owned the Canadian mineral testing company, Bonder Clegg. Gary's various jobs allowed him to travel the world and build his collection by buying a lot of specimens in person when they were coming out of the ground. Additionally, Terry's uncle was a miner in Creede, Colorado and later owned a rock shop which supplied Gary with specimens from the area. The specimens in this auction represent what Gary and Terry considered the "cream of the crop" of their collection.