LARGE MINERAL SPECIMEN OF HI-GRADE SILVER ORE FROM THE BELMONT MINE, NEVADA

Description

THIS IS A LARGE SPECIMEN OF
HI-GRADE SILVER ORE CONSISTING OF ARGENTIFEROUS GALENA AND CERUSSITE WITH ALMOST NO MATRIX.
THE SPECIMEN IS
APPROXIMATELY 8 X 7 X 4 cm
.  IT
WEIGHS 492.2 gm.
THE SPECIMEN IS FROM THE
BELMONT MINE, WHITE PINE DISTRICT, WHITE PINE CO., NEVADA.
THE GALENA IS BRIGHT AND SHINY AND ALTERING TO CERUSSITE WITH A LITTLE LIMONITE GOSSAN ATTACHED.  IT IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF MANY OF THE WESTERN US LEAD-SILVER ORES.  THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT TYPE DEPOSIT WITH THE ORIGINAL GALENA (LEAD SULFIDE) BEING ALTERED (OXIDIZED) TO CERUSSITE (LEAD CARBONATE) BY DESCENDING SURFACE WATERS.  THE MINE WAS OPERATED BY THE "TONOPAH BELMONT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY", WHO BUILT THE HISTORIC BELMONT MILL 1.75 MILES FROM THE MINE AND CONNECTED WITH AND AERIAL TRAMWAY.  THE MINE OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY FROM THE 1920'S TO THE 1960'S.  SEE PICTURES.  I WILL COMBINE SHIPPING WHEN POSSIBLE.  THANKS FOR LOOKING.