Zincolivenite with Barite

specimen number:
9302121

location:
Milpillas mine, Cuitaca, Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico

description:

A superb combination piece with green sparkling crystal groupings of zincolivenite measuring to 1.0 cm in size across the top of a cluster of thin bladed colorless lustrous gemmy barite crystals. In excellent condition, outstanding for the species from this locality. There is very little matrix attached on the bottom side.

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 Peñoles. 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 pristine brochantite.

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