Keystone Mine (Keystone #1; K1; Keystone #2; K2), Coquihalla Pass, Nicola Mining Division, British Columbia, Canadai
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Keystone Mine (Keystone #1; K1; Keystone #2; K2) | Mine |
Coquihalla Pass | Pass |
Nicola Mining Division | Division |
British Columbia | Province |
Canada | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
49° 41' 34'' North , 121° 1' 30'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Club | Location | Distance |
---|---|---|
Princeton Rock and Fossil Club | Princeton, British Columbia | 45km |
Mindat Locality ID:
67530
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:67530:2
GUID (UUID V4):
62a72e89-b510-40a5-b00a-73bb9eb7eca7
"The Keystone mine is located on the west side of the Coldwater River, approximately 6 kilometres north of the Coquihalla Lakes. Base and precious metal mineralization were originally discovered at this locality in the early 1900's and underground development had taken place by 1936. The only production from the mine occurred in 1955, when 81 tonnes of ore were shipped for processing (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1955, page A48). . . Three "vein zones" are known to be hosted along the structure. The No. 1 Vein zone, developed from two levels at the Keystone Mine, comprises quartz, calcite and rhodochrosite with pyrite, sphalerite, galena and rare tetrahedrite. It averages from 5 to 10 centimetres wide, but pinches and swells from a one-centimetre wide pyrite-gouge clay zone to a 30-centimetre wide massive pyrite-quartz vein with minor base metals. It also splits and branches where exposed on the lower level of the mine. A total strike length of approximately 275 metres has been explored, both in underground workings and drill holes. . . Two mineralized intersections averaging one metre in width were encountered in drill holes northeast of and below the mine workings, but precious metal values were very low. A second vein, which assayed 23.25 grams per tonne gold and 41.14 grams per ton silver across a 3.05-metre intercept, was discovered at depth further to the northeast (Assessment Report 19139). Veining intersected in a follow-up hole, however, did not contain significant precious metal values." (Govt. BC).
Collectors visiting the area have two general localities to choose from. The first is typically referred to as Keystone #1, or simply K1, by collectors. This locality consists of the workings (adit, tunnel, etc.) and tailing pile from the No. 1 vein zone. The second area is perhaps a kilometer from K1 and consists of several low piles of rock and debris, as from a test trench. This spot is referred to as Keystone #2, or K2, and likely comes from the exploratory work of the second vein described above in the reference. K2 has limited appeal to collectors, but does produce specimens that are different that those from K1. The minerals of interest are massive blue Celestine, as well as nice crystals of pyrite and sphalerite. The pyrite occurs in groups of parallel crystals, larger than the pyrite crystals at K1. The sphalerite occurs in larger (over 1 cm) black crystals, sometimes with colorless cores. No trace of silver mineralization has been seen at K2.
At Keystone #1, the rock that is "interesting to collectors appears to fall into four general categories. The first is generally massive Rhodochrosite, faintly banded, with layers or zones along the bands of sulfides, primarily Sphalerite and Galena. This type of ore itself can be quite attractive, but is generally black on the exterior, due to oxidation of the manganese in the ore. This is the most common βore rock,β and the majority of the mineral species are found in vugs in this ore, notably argentian Tetrahedrite, Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz, and Rhodochrosite.
"The second type of rock that only occasionally produces attractive specimens is primarily massive pyrite. The lionβs share of this material is completely solid and useless from the standpoint of most mineral collectors. At times, the pyrite is partially rotten and smells of sulfur. Occasionally, a vuggy piece can be found. The vugs are lined with lustrous Pyrite crystals. Sometimes, lovely, transparent, lustrous, greenish-yellow Sphalerite crystals are found growing upon the Pyrite.
"The third type of rock is abundant, but is rarely interesting. Nevertheless, it appears to be the primary host of an interesting form of Enargite that occurs in branching, almost dendritic groups of crystals. The rock is fine-grained and black, and hosts Quartz veins lined with druzy Quartz crystals. Very rarely, the unusual Enargite crystals can be found on the Quartz.
"The last type of productive rock is essentially a subclass of the first. Occasionally, in zones adjacent to the Rhodochrosite ore, a fine-grained, sulfide-bearing rock occurs that is primarily massive Quartz. Vugs in this rock host essentially the same assemblage of minerals as in the first rock type. Very rarely in addition, crystals of Polybasite, Proustite/Pyrargyrite, and Xanthoconite can be found in the vugs" (Meyer). This last rock type is very uncommon and many colectors who have repeatedly visited the locale have not found any of this rock that hosts the silver minerals.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
β Anglesite Formula: PbSO4 Description: At K1, very rarely as 1mm transparent crystals References: |
β Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS Description: At K1, rarely found as elongated, sometimes twinned groups of crystals. Maximum observed size is about 1.5 mm. References: |
β Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Description: At K1, commonly found as thin white to colorless blades of up 1 cm. |
β Boulangerite Formula: Pb5Sb4S11 Description: At K1, rarely found as typical acicular metallic crystals. References: |
β Bournonite Formula: PbCuSbS3 Description: At K1, very rarely found as 1mm crystals. References: |
β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
β Celestine Formula: SrSO4 Description: Only found at K2. Blue massive material. References: |
β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Description: At K1, rarely found as microcrystals of up about 1.5 mm. |
β Enargite Formula: Cu3AsS4 Description: At K1, found in odd branching, almost dendritic crystals. Two crystals found with a more typical Enargite habit. Both types confirmed compositionally, but could be luzonite. |
β Galena Formula: PbS Description: At K1, commonly massive, also in crystals to 1cm. |
β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
β Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
β Polybasite Formula: [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] Description: At K1, very rarely found in superb black crystals to about 2mm. |
β Proustite Formula: Ag3AsS3 Description: At K1, compositionally between Proustite and Pyrargyrite, ruby silver occurs very rarely associated with polybasite, xanthoconite, tetrahedrite, and quartz. The crystals are often rounded and indistinct, but occasionally form in nice crystals to about 2 mm in size. |
β Pyrargyrite Formula: Ag3SbS3 Description: At K1, compositionally between Proustite and Pyrargyrite, ruby silver occurs very rarely associated with polybasite, xanthoconite, tetrahedrite, and quartz. The crystals are often rounded and indistinct, but occasionally form in nice crystals to about 2 mm in size. |
β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: Massive pyrite forms a good percentage of the K1 tailing pile. Often it is altering, but occasionally fresh pieces are vuggy and host nice crystals of pyrite to about 2 mm in size that are often associated with beautiful pale green to golden transparent sphalerite crystals, also to about 2 mm. Pyrite also occurs at K2, in groups of larger crystals exhibiting parallel growth. The crystals at K2 are up to about 1 cm in size. |
β Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: A common constituent of the rock at K1. Occasionally in very nice micro crystals exhibiting a variety of forms. |
β Rhodochrosite Formula: MnCO3 Description: At K1, banded rhodochrosite/galena/sphalerite forms a significant portion of the rock at hand. This material can be attractive and has a potential for nice polished specimens. Really good material is very uncommon, though. Rhodochrosite also occurs in nice pink to pinkish-tan bladed crystals to about 1 cm in size. |
β Silver Formula: Ag Description: At K1, very rarely as wire silver, with aggregates to about 1 cm in size. References: |
β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Description: Found at both K1 and K2, in black crystals approaching 2 cm. Sphalerite is also a major constituent of the banded ore at K1. The best examples of sphalerite at the Keystone mine are from K1, are transparent green, golden, or red in color, are brilliant, and typically are about 1-2 mm in size. Transparent colorless inner zones have been observed in some of the black sphalerite crystals at K2. |
β 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
βͺ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite' Formula: (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 Description: At K1, originally referred to as freibergite, analysis revealed far too little silver for that species. Superb micro-sized lustrous crystals to 5mm, occasionally growing in cavities of pick rhodochrosite, which makes for very attractive specimens. |
β Xanthoconite Formula: Ag3AsS3 Description: At K1, two crystals, the largest about 3mm across, and one cleavage fragment, were found in one rock, associated with ruby silver and polybasite. Analysis showed both Arsenic and Antimony, but the form and color are consistent with xanthoconite. |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
β | Silver | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
β | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
β | Proustite | 2.GA.05 | Ag3AsS3 |
β | Pyrargyrite | 2.GA.05 | Ag3SbS3 |
β | Xanthoconite | 2.GA.10 | Ag3AsS3 |
β | Bournonite | 2.GA.50 | PbCuSbS3 |
β | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite' | 2.GB.05 | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
β | '' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
β | Polybasite | 2.GB.15 | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
β | Boulangerite | 2.HC.15 | Pb5Sb4S11 |
β | Enargite | 2.KA.05 | Cu3AsS4 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Rhodochrosite | 5.AB.05 | MnCO3 |
β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Celestine | 7.AD.35 | SrSO4 |
β | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
β | Anglesite | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
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