Galena with Dolomite

specimen number:
2013396

location:
Fletcher Mine, Viburnum Trend, Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA

description:
Lustrous thin platy twinned crystals of galena measuring to 3.7 cm across coming off of a crystalline galena matrix with white crystals of dolomite. This is complete all around and in excellent condition. This would have been collected around 2012. These came out of what was known as the Big Bear orebody. This type of twinning for the species is often erroneously called spinel law twinning. These are flattened penetration twins.

The Fletcher Mine in Reynolds County, Missouri, is one of the major mines in the Viburnum Trend, a region known for large Mississippi Valley type lead deposits. The mine was developed in the 1960s as part of expanded exploration for deep seated lead ore bodies in southeastern Missouri. It works ore hosted in Cambrian dolomite, with galena as the primary lead mineral along with sphalerite and other sulfides. Operated by the Doe Run Company, the Fletcher Mine has been an important contributor to lead production in the United States since it began operation.

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