Pyrite from USA, South Dakota, Lawrence County, Lead District, Homestake Mine

Pyrite on a coating of Calcite from a lining of watercourse pocket, Homestake Mine, Lead, South Dakota USA. Ex Dave Bunk Minerals, Ex Al Mura. About 2.25 inches across. The mine was discovered in 1875 and was purchased by George Hearst, Lloyd Tevis, and James Haggin from the original claimants in 1877. Hearst and his partners then formed the Homestake Mining Company and sold shares. In 1879 the Homestake Mining Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). When the mine closed in 2002 it was reportedly the largest and deepest underground gold mine in North America, and the Homestake Company was one of the longest-listed stocks on the NYSE. Specimens from the Homestake are hard to obtain, only a handful of company geologists were ever allowed to collect and remove specimens.