White Calcite Mine

SO I finally acquired the lock combination and keys to get across several private ranches to get to this old calcite mine.  I went on an exploratory trip, but after several side trips, I never went far enough.  This trip I was much better prepared, having slowly gone over the route using Google Earth.  It  made the trip so much easier.
   I stopped along the way looking for a tungsten prospect I had heard about.  I  didn't find it, but I did collect some nice quartzwith varying amounts of iron staining it red.
   While on the first rance, going thru a cattle gate, a couple of vehicles came ove the hill.  The lead vehicle stopped to find out who I was.  what with the vehicles they were in, the clothing they were wearing, and the guy actively tapping away on his laptop, I of course wondered why they were out here in the middle of no where.  The next day I read about the largest wind farm in the US is going up in the area where I was - they probably had something to do with that.
   After passing thru the thir roperty I came to my 5th gate, and doubted I would get thru, but in fact the extra key I had got me thru numerous gates beyond that point.  The closer I got to the mine the more calcite I would see in and along the road.  The further I went, the higher I went in elevation, and the windier it got.  I was grateful for the wind, as the temp was around 100 degrees.
   I eventually drove right into the quarry area of the old mine.  This old mine could be fired right up for production in no time.  There were calcite boulders, piles of calcite gravel, and plenty of calcite in the ground.  I collected three large boulders, alot of fist sized pieces, and alot of  gravel sized specimens.  The Material is very white and clean, and alot of it had a shiny metal, which at first I thought was pyrite.  When I looked at it under the cool little field microscope I have, it was clearly galena.  This is some beautiful material, beautiful specimens, and once home I was able to easily make some candle holders with my diamond hole saw.

   Shown in the photo is the last wall area worked.  I'll probably return soon, before the windmill construction begins.