The wurtzite came from Block D of the mining area, and was associated with tanzanite or
alabandite (a manganese sulphide, MnS).
The general hue and cry and the expressions of worshipful awe around those gold cases were just what one would expect, and so, instead of running superlatives predictably around the old track, I will simply say that the major gold cases included the following: Gold Mines of Transylvania (with specimens showing visible crystals of petzite, hessite and
alabandite)--Bill Pinch; a gorgeous case with gold coins, assay scales, books, pictures, etc., and superb specimens including the famous "tree root" California gold--Wayne and Dona Leicht; twelve tremendous old golds from the Burrage collection--Harvard; Native Elements of the Gold Group--A.
Pale yellow dodecahedrons of spessartine to about 1 mm and black veins of
alabandite are commonly found on these specimens.
Occurrence: Associated minerals are: enstatite, ferroan
alabandite, troilite and daubreelite.
Relationship to o ther species: An hexagonal polymorph of
alabandite.
Alabandite was first reported from the Butte district by Hewett and Pardee (1933).
Alabandite has been found at the Molinello mine, in the deepest part of the deposit.
Associated minerals are: pyrrhotite (Ti- and V-rich), ferroan
alabandite, marcasite (Ti- and V-rich), wurtzite-2H (Mn- and Fe-rich), corundum, phlogopite, rutile, monazite-(Ce) and a graphite-like mineral.
Massive black
alabandite has been found in a tunnel connecting the Verchniy and Nikolaevskiy mines.
(3) Sulfosalt stage:
alabandite, marcasite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, quartz, manganaxinite, clinozoisite, stibnite, robinsonite, jamesonite, barite, orpiment, realgar, hutchinsonite, geocronite, native arsenic, seligmannite, Pb-As-S glass ("revoredite," not a true mineral).