Boulangerite

Nestled among tufts of boulangerite within a vug of this dolomitic marble matrix are many rounded, silvery metallic crystals. Their exact identity is somewhat uncertain due to their habit and surface characteristics, but they may represent galena, or possibly sphalerite coated by boulangerite making for an intriguing association.

The specimen comes from the Rogers Mine, a fluorite deposit first discovered in 1909 near Madoc, Ontario. Initial mining took place from an open pit between 1910 and 1914, followed by the sinking of a shaft in 1914. After a period of inactivity, operations resumed in 1943 under the Reliance Fluorspar Mining Syndicate Limited and continued until 1951, marking the mine’s most productive period. During this time, four shafts (37.5, 26.5, 36.5, and 73 m deep) were developed, and approximately 39,000 tonnes of ore were produced, making it the leading fluorite producer in the Madoc area. Today, remnants of the operation remain, including old buildings and sizeable dumps near the former shafts.