Azurite on Malachite after Azurite

specimen number:
2062508

location:
Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Sonora, Mexico

description:
Wonderful combination specimen for this famous locality. The top of this matrix is covered by thick blocky crystals of what were once azurite measuring to almost 2.5 cm in size, these now replaced with dark green velvety crystallized malachite. Set perfectly up on this is in on replaced crystal of brilliant deep blue lustrous azurite measuring 2.8 cm across. Overall in super condition. Collected in the late 2000's. A previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark accompanies the specimen as shown at the end of the video.

The Milpillas Mine, situated in the municipality of Santa Cruz within the prolific Cananea District of Sonora, Mexico, is a major modern copper producer operated by Industrias Penoles. Although initial exploration began decades earlier, the deposit was discovered beneath deep alluvial gravels and commercial production officially commenced in 2006. Geologically, Milpillas is a supergene-enriched porphyry copper deposit located within a down-dropped Basin and Range graben, where extensive oxidation of primary sulfide ores created rich secondary mineral zones. Mineralogically, the mine achieved legendary status among global collectors for yielding some of the finest secondary copper specimens ever recovered, most notably electric-blue azurite crystals, vibrant malachite pseudomorphs after azurite, and well crystallized brochantite.

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