Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite

This striking specimen features massive, metallic, brassy chalcopyrite and dark sphalerite.  The material comes from the Myra Falls Mine, a major copper-producing site now operating as a mining museum. Situated approximately 80 km southwest of Campbell River, British Columbia, at the south end of Buttle Lake in Strathcona-Westmin Provincial Park, this mine is unique as the only one in British Columbia located within a provincial park.

The Myra Falls deposit is a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit within the Insular Belt of the Canadian Cordillera. Mining began in 1966 as an open-pit operation but quickly transitioned to underground methods. Despite its rich mineral history, production has been intermittent due to fluctuating metal prices, ceasing temporarily in late 2001 and again in 2015 for economic reasons.

Chalcopyrite specimens from Myra Falls are uncommon and his particular specimen exemplifies the site's mineral wealth.