CHALCOPYRITE. French Creek Mines, St. Peters, Warwick Township, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA. ...

Description

CHALCOPYRITE
French Creek Mines, St. Peters, Warwick Township, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA

Opened in 1846, the copper and iron ore body that constituted "the French Creek Mines" was the most significant Iron mine in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Operated off and on over an 84-year period, it produced an estimated 1 million tons of ore during that period (1). It has now been about 70 years since the mine was last in production, and the site has returned to forest. Several different minerals of notable quality were found in the workings - the most spectacular were Chalcopyrite specimens of the very distinctive habit shown by this fine example. What first appears to be a mass of pyramidal crystals of metallic, deep bronze color is very likely a large, single crystal of extremely complex morphology, some 2.75 inches (7.0 cm) across. Nestled among the recesses of the Chalcopyrite are 7+ black Magnetite crystals of sharply octahedral form. The small amount of gray, fibrous "matrix" shown by the specimen is very likely the Actinolite. On the obverse of the specimen is a collection number "EMG 436," which corresponds to an accompanying label with the same number from E. Mitchell Gunnell. Evidently, Gunnell acquired it in 1946 from the "P. Jonas Collection" for $6.00. It is in excellent condition with a few minor "wilbers" of little consequence.
Overall Measurements: 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.75 inches (8.9 x 6.4 x 5.1 cm)
Offered at no reserve.

(1) Sloto, Ronald A. & Dickinson, Lana L. "The French Creek Mine." The Mineralogical Record March-April 1994: 105-120.

Provenance: Western Minerals, ex. E. Mitchell Gunnell Collection, ex. P. Jonas Collection [Hoppel #D1704]

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