Vanadinite

specimen number:
9862034

location:
Apache Mine, Gila Co., Arizona, USA

description:

Brilliant red crystals of vanadinite measuring to 0.4 cm in size on a brecciated matrix. Slight damage present, the prominent crystals are in good condition. Attractive piece for this old Arizona classic locality.

The Apache Mine, located in the Globe Hills District of Gila County, Arizona, is a historic small-scale underground mine with a production history spanning from the late 1920s through the 1950s. Geologically, the deposit occurs within rugged Basin and Range terrain where mineralization is closely associated with Proterozoic diabase sills and Laramide-to-Tertiary intrusive events, forming fault-controlled veins bounded by bedding plane faults. Mineralogically, the site is notable for its oxidized vein assemblages rich in lead and vanadium, producing fine specimens of vanadinite. Historically, prospectors initially located the claims in the late 1800s, but commercial extraction did not begin until 1929 when operators started shipping concentrated vanadinite ores and lead material.

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