calcite pocket mine \

Historic photo showing a room-sized pocket of calcite crystals associated with the mine workings of the Pend Oreille Mine. This pocket was barely exposed during blasting. A small hole along the mine face revealed an approximate 30-foot long, 12-foot deep and 10-foot high pocket filled with flattened rhomohedral calcite crystals (Jim Browne, personal communication, December 2013). The pocket was beautifully preserved as shown in the photo.
Pend Oreille Mine, near Metaline Falls, Pend Oreille County, Washington, USA

Photo Copyright © 2013 Jeffrey M. Schwartz. Photo taken in August 1962 by Jim Browne.