Azurite

specimen number:
2282055

location:
Juanita Mine, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA

description:
Sparkling blue crystals of azurite on matrix. Neat locality example for the species. In good condition.

The Juanita mine, situated in the Magdalena mining district of Socorro County, New Mexico, is a notable historical underground producer of lead, zinc, and silver. Geologically, the deposit is a classic limestone replacement and skarn-type body located near the contact between Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, specifically the Mississippian Kelly Limestone, and Tertiary volcanic and intrusive complexes. Hydrothermal solutions associated with regional caldera volcanism replaced the favorable limestone beds, depositing rich primary sulfides like galena and sphalerite, which later underwent extensive surface weathering to form a colorful suite of secondary minerals including cerussite, smithsonite, and calcite within dissolution cavities. Modern commercial mining at the Juanita claim began in the late 1870s following the initial discovery of silver-lead ores in the district, and systematic extraction expanded rapidly through the 1880s and 1890s under various mining operators. Production continued intermittently through the early twentieth century to supply regional smelters, but operations slowed considerably after World War I, with final small-scale artisanal and specimen mining tapering off completely by the mid-twentieth century.

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