quartz siderite chalcopyrite
Virtual Museum ID: 19-Ed12
Specimen Summary
Chalcopyrite is an important copper ore mineral found in many different types of copper deposit. It is sometimes mistaken for Gold because of its bright yellow colour; however, it is harder, more common, and chalcopyrite commonly occurs with other copper sulphide minerals such as bornite and weathers to malachite and azurite.
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral on Earth, present in many different types of rocks. Although usually clear or milky white in colour, quartz is found in a variety of colours due to impurities in the crystal structure. Pure quartz consists of silicon and oxygen only, but atoms of other elements often make their way into the quartz crystal structure, colouring the crystals. Some varieties of quartz, like purple amethyst and yellow citrine, are considered to be semi-precious gemstones and have been used since ancient times to make jewellery and decorative objects. Well-formed (euhedral) crystals of quartz have a hexagonal cross section and are highly collectible.
Specimen Data
The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.
Collection Details
Original Collection:
Decade Resources (ED)Sub Collection:
-Collection ID:
Ed-12Virtual Museum ID:
19-Ed12Accessibility:
Date Added to VM:
2019-08-15Location Information
Sample Origin:
N. of Kimball Lake, B.C.Specific Site:
Edith veinUTM Easting:
445632UTM Northing:
6240033Datum:
09 (NAD 83)Coordinate Accuracy:
Specimen Details
VM Category:
MineralPrimary Features:
quartz siderite chalcopyritePrimary Mineral Formula:
SiO2, CuFeS2Primary Category:
sulphide oxideSecondary Features:
SideriteAdvanced Geological Information
The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.
Geological Formation:
Betty Creek FormationGeological Period:
Lower JurassicStratigraphic Age:
174.1 to 201.3 Million YearsGeological Belt:
IntermontaneGeological Terrane:
StikineMinfile ID:
104A 115Site Details:
The exact location of the Edith showing is not known. It is assumed to be on the Edith claim, about 2.5 kilometres north of Kimball Lake and approximately 700 metres west of American Creek.
The area is underlain by rocks of the Lower Jurassic Betty Creek Formation (Hazelton Group (Bulletin 63). These rocks comprise green, red, purple and black volcanic breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and tuff. They strike north-northeast and lie on the west limb of the faulted, north-northeast trending American Creek anticline.
There is no information available on the nature of the mineralization. A grab(?) sample collected in 1932 assayed 4114.3 grams per tonne silver, 19.2 per cent zinc, 12.6 per cent lead, 3.4 grams per tonne gold and 1.2 per cent copper (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1932, page 60). Mineralization is inferred to be a polymetallic quartz vein similar to the Bugnello showing (104A 112) located 950 metres south. At the Bugnello, mineralization consists of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite in quartz-carbonate veins.
In 1932, K. McLeod owned the Edith claim group. The showing was discovered during intensive prospecting that year. No further work has been reported on the showing.
Additional Images