Stolzite

specimen number:
2062985

location:
Thompson Mine, Darwin, Inyo Co., California, USA

description:
Many sharp non-lustrous pseudo-octahedral crystals of stolzite measuring to 0.6 cm across embedded on top of matrix. Originally this material was labeled as scheelite, it has since been determined to be the mineral stolzite. This one is in great condition and comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Thompson Mine is situated within the geologically complex Darwin mining district of Inyo County, California, where extensive Jurassic intrusive activity altered surrounding Paleozoic carbonate rocks to form rich hydrothermal replacement and vein deposits. Mining in this arid district began during the late 19th century, focusing primarily on silver, lead, zinc, and later strategic materials like tungsten through intermittent periods of intense extraction. Within these oxidized ore zones, secondary minerals formed through weathering and hydrothermal alteration, occasionally yielding rare heavy-metal compounds such as stolzite, a secondary lead tungstate species.

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