Sweet Home / Alma area
Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:
The Rico district, in the San Juan Mountains of Dolores County, Colorado, is a historic silver and base-metal district (worked since 1879) whose veins carry banded quartz and rhodochrosite with galena and sphalerite.
About Sweet Home / Alma areaextended article
A San Juan silver district
The Rico district, in the Dolores River valley of south-western Colorado, has been mined since 1879 — first for silver, later for lead and zinc. Its veins are characterised by banded quartz and rhodochrosite with streaks of galena and sphalerite.
What collectors look for
Banded and crystallised rhodochrosite, together with galena and sphalerite, are the district's collector minerals.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sweet Home / Alma area?
Sweet Home / Alma area is a mineral locality in Colorado, USA. It lies at approximately 39.4000°N, 106.2000°W. Elevation is about 3500 m.
What minerals are found at Sweet Home / Alma area?
Signature minerals from Sweet Home / Alma area include Rhodochrosite. The locality lies in Colorado, USA, and each mineral links to a full reference entry with formula, crystal system, and collector notes.
What is Sweet Home / Alma area known for?
The Rico district, in the San Juan Mountains of Dolores County, Colorado, is a historic silver and base-metal district (worked since 1879) whose veins carry banded quartz and rhodochrosite with galena and sphalerite.
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