Provenite

Leonard Mine

MineClosedDraft data

46.0208° N, 112.5042° W · ± 1 km

Bornite, Enargite and Rhodochrosite from Montana, United States, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

BorniteEnargiteRhodochrosite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Quartz with Enargite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show enargite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Pyrite with Enargite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show enargite with pyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Bornite

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show bornite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Bornite at Leonard Mine

Three large discrete bornite crystals on a quartz plate from the Leonard Mine.
Three large discrete bornite crystals on a quartz plate from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sharp bornite crystal of about 3.7 cm on quartz from the Leonard Mine.
Sharp bornite crystal of about 3.7 cm on quartz from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Cu₅FeS₄
Morphology
Large, sharp, discrete crystals on quartz crystal plates
Typical size
Crystals about 2-3.7 cm
Color / luster
Lightly iridescent, lustrous
Associated minerals
Quartz
Availability
Scarce
History
Bornite at the Leonard Mine itself is documented here only by dealer photo labels; the Handbook of Mineralogy documents bornite for the Butte district as a whole.

Sources: SRC-664 SRC-678

About Bornite →

Enargite at Leonard Mine

Small cluster of sharp, terminated enargite crystals from the Leonard Mine.
Small cluster of sharp, terminated enargite crystals from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Enargite specimen with crystals to about 2 cm from the Leonard Mine, Butte.
Enargite specimen with crystals to about 2 cm from the Leonard Mine, Butte.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Thumbnail-size cluster of lustrous black enargite blades from the Leonard Mine.
Thumbnail-size cluster of lustrous black enargite blades from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Upright striated enargite crystal of about 3.5 cm on massive enargite from the Leonard Mine.
Upright striated enargite crystal of about 3.5 cm on massive enargite from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Striated enargite prisms with needle quartz and pyrite on massive pyrite from the Leonard Mine.
Striated enargite prisms with needle quartz and pyrite on massive pyrite from the Leonard Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Cu₃AsS₄
Morphology
Lustrous striated prisms and blades in clusters, also on massive enargite or pyrite
Typical size
Crystals to about 3.5 cm; specimens mostly 3-7 cm
Color / luster
Black with bright metallic luster
Associated minerals
Quartzpyritebaritecovellitechalcocitetetrahedrite
Surface features
Prism faces striated
Availability
Scarce
History
Copper mine discovered in 1886; old-time specimens

Sources: SRC-644 SRC-653

About Enargite →

Rhodochrosite at Leonard Mine

Well-defined free-standing rhodochrosite rhombs from the Leonard Mine, Butte.
Well-defined free-standing rhodochrosite rhombs from the Leonard Mine, Butte.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Well-defined free-standing rhombs
Color / luster
Pink
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-950

About Rhodochrosite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Main-stage copper veins and horsetail ore bodies of the Butte district, associated with the Rarus Fault
Type
Hydrothermal
Host rock
Late Cretaceous quartz monzonite (Boulder Batholith)
Region
Montana
Country
United States

Discovered 1886, first production 1887; past producer operated by the Anaconda Company. Coordinates from the USGS MRDS record shown by Western Mining History; MRDS states its locations are not verified, hence +/- 1 km.

Sources: SRC-644

Sources

  1. SRC-644 · Database
    Leonard MineUSGS Mineral Resources Data System (via Western Mining History) · Western Mining History
  2. SRC-664 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - BorniteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  3. SRC-678 · Website
    File:Bornite-Quartz-181686.jpg; File:Bornite-Quartz-197443.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-653 · Website
    File:Enargite-172408.jpg; File:Enargite-Quartz-Pyrite-47688.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  5. SRC-950 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-34646.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.