Libethenite

specimen number:
2062887

location:
Northwest Extension, Morenci Mine, Greenlee Co., Arizona, USA

description:
Fairly rich sparkling micro crystals of green libethenite across the top of matrix. Choice locality example for the species, this is in good condition. Collected by Ron Gibbs. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Morenci Mine, located in Greenlee County, Arizona, is one of the oldest and largest copper-producing operations in North America, with mining history dating back to the late 1860s and early 1870s following initial discoveries by pioneers like Army Captain Willcox and the subsequent involvement of the Lezinsky brothers. Geologically, the deposit is a massive porphyry copper system centered on intrusive monzonite porphyry cutting through Precambrian granite and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, where extensive supergene enrichment created vast blanket deposits of copper ores. Historically, operations transitioned from early underground high-grade extraction to massive open-pit mining and modern heap leaching, turning Morenci into a cornerstone of the American copper industry and a notable producer of fine secondary copper mineral specimens.

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