Siderite on Galena (classic material)

Item Description

The iconic Eagle Mine in Colorado (near the ghost town of Gilman) dates back to the 1880s, and it closed permanently in 1984. While this mine was a source of gold and silver, a large percentage of the ore value came in the form of base metals like lead. This locality is famous among Colorado collectors for producing excellent crystallized examples of various sulfides, often with some kind of carbonate association. This piece many sharp, compressed "disc"-like crystals of tan-brown Siderite measuring up to 1.2 cm across, sitting on cubic dark grey Galena matrix with individual cubes measuring up to 8 mm on edge. A small amount of roughness is visible, but overall the piece is in very good shape, and stands as a nice combo piece this now seldom seen material.
From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".