Malachite after Azurite

specimen number:
2063196

location:
Milpillas Mine, Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico

description:
Bladed crystals of what were once azurite measuring to 3.0 cm in size standing up from matrix and replaced by glistening deep green crystallized malachite. Sharp crystals, in great condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

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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