Azurite

specimen number:
2102380

location:
Peacock Mine, Lemhi Co., Idaho, USA

description:

Interesting locality example for the species, attractive deep blue sparkling crystallized azurite across the top of matrix. Some contacting present as seen, still in good condition.

The Peacock mine, located within the Texas mining district near Gilmore in Lemhi County, Idaho, represents a historic underground operation known for its production of base metal ores and distinctive mineral specimens. Geologically, the deposit is a characteristic carbonate replacement system hosted within the thick Paleozoic limestone and dolomite sequences of the region, which underwent intense localized faulting and structural fracturing. Hydrothermal fluids rich in copper, lead, and iron migrated through these structural pathways, replacing the host carbonate rocks and filling fractures to deposit primary sulfides that later underwent surface oxidation, creating rich zones of secondary copper minerals like malachite and chrysocolla alongside iron oxides. Historically, prospecting in the Texas district began in the late 1870s, with organized underground shaft development and regular ore shipments at the Peacock property gaining momentum during the 1900s and 1910s to supply regional smelters. Commercial mining operations experienced intermittent periods of activity and closure throughout the mid-twentieth century, heavily influenced by fluctuating industrial metal prices and the eventual exhaustion of the primary high-grade replacement bodies.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.