Ruby Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite and Dolomite
From Near Joplin, Missouri (Tri-State Mining District).
A gigantic, superb, museum quality specimen in fantastic condition.
Excellent relief and presentation. Dramatically shows off the
superb combination of minerals this regions was famous for.
These mines are now closed. Note the pen in the picture for a
size reference. This rock weighs 80.5 pounds according to my
back as well as a bathroom scale. It has a very special history
that I share with you below.
$4900 including s/h in the continental USA.
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Yes, all of these pictures are from the same specimen. I took the pics in my
driveway throughout the day so the light would come from various different
angles. I dampened the specimen in some of the pics to show the contrast
better. I've always had this rock outdoors, but protected, as it is so large.
History of the Rock
An older gent, Mr. McMinn had a rock shop/permanent fleamarket
in an old chicken house near here in Little Flock, Arkansas. He always
told me about this huge sphalerite specimen he had acquired from a miner up
near Joplin many years before, but he couldn't find it anywhere. A huge
lost specimen...I sort of figured his mind was going and never dreamed I
would see the specimen. Well, he finally met his match with cancer and his
family hired an auctioneer to sell off his stuff. They had been sorting the
literally thousands of boxes of misc he had in a back storeroom of the
chicken house and sitting on a table was this huge sphalerite specimen. I
asked one of the workers where they had found the rock and it was
discovered underneath a smallish chicken coop that he had maintained
with a few chickens for personal eggs. It was completely covered by years
of chicken droppings. No wonder he had lost track of it!!! In any case, they
had done a pretty good job of cleaning it, considering. I managed to
get Mr. McMinn's prize specimen for a really decent price. On the
way home, I stopped at a car wash and gave it a good washing to make
sure I wasn't transferring illegal chicken poop. The rock is very, very stout.
It has been outside on my deck for the last several years but I clean it regularly
and gave it one last cleaning before taking the pics you see above. It will
need to ship UPS ground and have much packing material. It is in outstanding
condition considering its history with some individual sphalerites to over two
inches in size, much preferential placement of chalcopyrites and the dolomite,
which was most likely pink to begin with, is bleached white as snow. If you have
a favorite mineral museum it would make a nice tax write off and your name
would forever be emblazened with the rock that came from poop. Mr. McMinn,
wherever he is, must be smiling that his rock finally turned up and is being
appreciated by persons around the world. I miss him greatly. I will miss this
specimen as well, but it is time for it to be displayed where others can enjoy it.
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Contact Me with Questions or Order