Silver, Chalcopyrite

This specimen showcases rich, native silver embedded in a carbonate matrix, accompanied by iridescent chalcopyrite. The Foster Mine has a storied history in the Cobalt Camp. Initially mined by the Foster Cobalt Mining Co. from 1906 to 1909, the deposit featured a main shaft, the “Foster Shaft,” which reached a depth of 210 feet (64 meters) with three levels. The first mill on the property, the Cobalt Central Mill, operated intermittently between 1907 and 1919. Later, the Foster Mill, later renamed the Penn Mill, was in operation from 1957 until it burned down in 1986. Total silver production from the Foster Mine was approximately 1,200,000 ounces (around 45 metric tons). After the mine’s closure in the mid-1960s, a new mill was constructed on-site, which is now operated by SMC Canada to process metals from recycled materials. This specimen not only represents the exceptional mineralogy of the Cobalt district but also carries a fascinating historical legacy.