Sphalerite with Pyrite, Calcite

specimen number:
8911181

location:
Animon Mine, Huaron, Huayllay, Pasco, Peru

description:
Bright lustrous black twinned crystals of sphalerite measuring to 3.0 x 2.8 x 2.5 cm in size set nicely up the top of a matrix coated with micro crystallized quartz, small golden crystals of pyrite, and crystalline white calcite. In good condition. Classic for this locality. The specimen comes with a previous label from the Alton collection.

The Animon Mine, situated in the Huaron mining district of the Pasco Province in Peru, is a major underground hydrothermal polymetallic operation. Geologically, the deposit is characterized by complex vein systems, stratiform mantos, and replacement bodies rich in zinc, lead, silver, and copper. These mineralized structures are structurally controlled by regional fault systems and are genetically related to Miocene-aged monzonitic intrusive dikes and stocks intersecting Mesozoic carbonate sequences. Historically, modern commercial extraction in the district expanded significantly during the mid-20th century, with Animon developing extensively in the 1960s to exploit structural extensions of the broader Huaron mineral field. It has since grown into a cornerstone asset for industrial production under the Chungar mining unit.

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