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Canada's Minerals Contents | |
By Richard Gunter
In Manitoba, the major source of tetrahedrite is the Chisel Mine, near Snow Lake. It is a common enough mineral that small amounts, usually in microscopic size, can be found in other copper-zinc mines in Manitoba, such as the original Flin Flon Mine. The Chisel Mine, now closed, was a complex zinc-copper mine with several sulphosalt minerals found in small amounts. Tetrahedrite was more widespread than boulangerite or the other sulfosalts within the mine and was not always directly associated with the massive zin-copper ore. Tetrahedrite was most commonly found as iron-black, coarse grained masses, with 2 - 3 cm single crystal partings, in the center of late quartz veins. The quartz veins formed during the metamorphism of the Chisel Mine in areas of lower pressure, such as fold noses. Minor pyrite and chlorite were found in the quartz veins as accessory minerals. There are no recorded pockets in the quartz veins that produced crystals of tetrahedrite. As with boulangerite, tetrahedrite specimens will probably not be found on the dumps as the tetrahedrite contains significant silver values and was mined whenever it was found.
This article may not be copied, distributed or reprinted in any form without the author's permission. To contact the author, please use the e-mail address provided. If you are unable to contact the author, please contact the Canadian Rockhound. Authorized reprints must acknowledge the author, original source and the Canadian Rockhound, and include the website URL address of the Canadian Rockhound. The preceding article was first published in the February 1998 issue of The Mineral Vein, the official newsletter of the Mineral Society of Manitoba. Reprinted in the Canadian Rockhound with permission from the editor. Document Number: CR9802113
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