New Mexico Mineral Symposium — Abstracts

A second New Mexico occurrence of chalcophanite, the rare zinc manganese oxide has recently been found. Located in the long abandoned Lone Star Mine, significant quantities of uncommonly attractive specimens have been recovered.

Aside from the scarce nature of this mineral, several unusual, if not unique depositional features accompany this occurrence. Most notably, the chalcophanite is found almost completely decorating a solution cavity that measures approximately 35 feet in length, 15 feet in width and 10 feet high. Secondly, the only apparent source of the necessary manganese is a solid solution mixture of the clinopyroxenes hedenbergite-johannsenite occurring immediately above the opening.