Provenite

Santa Eulalia Mining District

AreaUnknownDraft data

28.5939° N, 105.8878° W · ± 10 km

Dolomite, Galena, Pyrrhotite, Rhodochrosite and Siderite from Chihuahua, Mexico, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

DolomiteGalenaPyrrhotiteRhodochrositeSiderite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Sphalerite with Galena

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

Same specimen Pyrrhotite with Galena

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena with pyrrhotite 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 Siderite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show siderite 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 Siderite with Pyrrhotite

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

Same specimen Galena with Pyrrhotite

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

Dolomite at Santa Eulalia Mining District

Lustrous white dolomite rhombs up to 3.8 cm in gossan from the San Antonio Mine, East Camp.
Lustrous white dolomite rhombs up to 3.8 cm in gossan from the San Antonio Mine, East Camp.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
CaMg(CO₃)₂
Morphology
Rhombohedra
Typical size
Up to about 3.8 cm
Color / luster
White; highly lustrous
Associated minerals
Gossan (iron oxides)

Sources: SRC-520 SRC-064

About Dolomite →

Galena at Santa Eulalia Mining District

Major lead ore of a carbonate replacement district, with shallow oxidized zones of cerussite and anglesite

Matrix-free crystallized galena with complex stepped faces and shiny metallic luster, with associated pyrrhotite.
Matrix-free crystallized galena with complex stepped faces and shiny metallic luster, with associated pyrrhotite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Naturally etched galena crystal with curved, melted-looking surfaces on sphalerite.
Naturally etched galena crystal with curved, melted-looking surfaces on sphalerite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
PbS
Morphology
Massive sulfide ore in manto and chimney orebodies
Associated minerals
Sphaleritepyrrhotitecerussiteanglesite
Availability
Unknown
History
Early mining (from 1703) worked near-surface oxidized ores of cerussite and anglesite carrying silver halides; selective flotation in the early 20th century allowed recovery of galena-rich sulfide ores, mined to depths beyond 1,200 m.

Sources: SRC-064 SRC-065 SRC-066

About Galena →

Pyrrhotite at Santa Eulalia Mining District

Hexagonal 'poker chip' pyrrhotite crystal among smaller crystals and massive sulfides, Santa Eulalia.
Hexagonal 'poker chip' pyrrhotite crystal among smaller crystals and massive sulfides, Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Tripod cluster of three diverging pyrrhotite columns with brassy terminations, Santa Eulalia.
Tripod cluster of three diverging pyrrhotite columns with brassy terminations, Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Bronze-brown pyrrhotite cluster dotted with small balls of bladed siderite, Santa Eulalia.
Bronze-brown pyrrhotite cluster dotted with small balls of bladed siderite, Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Bronze pyrrhotite with gray galena from the Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia (Carnegie Museum specimen).
Bronze pyrrhotite with gray galena from the Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia (Carnegie Museum specimen).
Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0 · Source
Intergrown crystals of galena and brassy pyrrhotite from the Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia.
Intergrown crystals of galena and brassy pyrrhotite from the Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Fe₁₋ₓS (x = 0-0.17)
Morphology
Hexagonal tabular ('poker chip') crystals, tapering and columnar clusters
Typical size
Crystals up to about 3 cm
Color / luster
Bronze-brown to golden-brassy
Associated minerals
Galenasphaleritesideritequartz
Availability
Scarce
History
Classic specimens from finds of the 1940s-1970s; the Handbook names the Potosi and San Antonio mines and uses Santa Eulalia material for its reference X-ray powder pattern.

Sources: SRC-627 SRC-634

About Pyrrhotite →

Rhodochrosite at Santa Eulalia Mining District

Glassy pink rhodochrosite crystal rising from light pink massed rhodochrosite, Santa Eulalia district.
Glassy pink rhodochrosite crystal rising from light pink massed rhodochrosite, Santa Eulalia district.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Massed small salmon-pink rhodochrosite balls on contrasting matrix, Santa Eulalia.
Massed small salmon-pink rhodochrosite balls on contrasting matrix, Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Small specimen of sharp, transparent intense pink rhodochrosite crystals from Santa Eulalia.
Small specimen of sharp, transparent intense pink rhodochrosite crystals from Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A gemmy cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedron with a little matrix from the Santa Eulalia District.
A gemmy cherry-red rhodochrosite scalenohedron with a little matrix from the Santa Eulalia District.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lustrous gemmy pink rhodochrosite crystals scattered over a large matrix from the Santa Eulalia District.
Lustrous gemmy pink rhodochrosite crystals scattered over a large matrix from the Santa Eulalia District.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Pink crystal groups, small balls and dome-shaped aggregates
Typical size
Crystals to about 4 mm in groups; aggregates about 9 mm
Color / luster
Pale to salmon pink
Associated minerals
Tuff-like matrix
Availability
Scarce
History
Old classic Mexican material

Sources: SRC-397 SRC-404

About Rhodochrosite →

Siderite at Santa Eulalia Mining District

Four intergrown sparkly siderite balls forming a floater from Santa Eulalia.
Four intergrown sparkly siderite balls forming a floater from Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sharp brown-gray siderite crystals partly coating white quartz from Santa Eulalia.
Sharp brown-gray siderite crystals partly coating white quartz from Santa Eulalia.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeCO₃
Morphology
Intergrown balls with a surface of small blades; crystals coating quartz
Typical size
Specimens 3-5 cm
Color / luster
Brown-gray, sparkly
Associated minerals
Quartz
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-612

About Siderite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Carbonate replacement deposit in a roughly 2,200 km long belt of such deposits; the West Camp has massive sulfide manto and chimney orebodies, the East Camp intrusion-cored skarns and peripheral mantos. Shallow oxidized ores held cerussite and anglesite.
Type
Skarn, Hydrothermal
Host rock
Limestone and dolostone
Region
Chihuahua
Country
Mexico

Coordinates are those of the village of Santa Eulalia (Wikipedia, SRC-065), i.e. district level only. Sources describe near-continuous mining since 1703 and intermittent production since the 1990s; current status not confirmed.

Sources: SRC-064 SRC-065

Sources

  1. SRC-064 · Article
    Mineralogy of the Santa Eulalia Mining District, Chihuahua, MexicoMegaw, P.K.M. · 2018 · 39th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium, abstracts, pp. 22-24
  2. SRC-065 · Website
    Santa Eulalia, ChihuahuaWikipedia
  3. SRC-520 · Website
    File:Dolomite-68000.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-066 · Website
    Santa Eulalia (collector's newsletter post)Substack (richardigibson)
  5. SRC-627 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - PyrrhotiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  6. SRC-634 · Website
    File:Pyrrhotite-162725.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  7. SRC-397 · Database
    Potosi Mine, Francisco Portillo, West Camp, Santa Eulalia Mining District, Chihuahua, Mexico (rhodochrosite photo page)Mindat.org contributors · Mindat.org / Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
  8. SRC-404 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons: Rhodochrosite-165190.jpg (Santa Eulalia)Lavinsky, R.M. · Wikimedia Commons
  9. SRC-612 · Website
    File:Siderite-121981.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

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.