Azurite

specimen number:
8311235

location:
Milpillas Mine, Sonora, Mexico

description:
A superb thumbnail specimen for the species from this famous locality. This is a cluster of mostly loose brilliantly lustrous deep blue azurite crystals with slight matrix attached on the backside. This is in wonderful condition.

The Milpillas Mine, located in the Cuitaca region of Sonora, Mexico, is a world-renowned copper deposit famous for producing some of the finest azurite specimens in modern history. Geologically, it is a supergene-enriched porphyry copper system that was hidden beneath hundreds of meters of volcanic rocks and gravels, a factor that protected its rich oxidation zone from surface erosion and weathering. The azurite from this locality is celebrated for its incredible electric-blue color, high luster, and sharp, tabular to prismatic crystal forms that often occur in large, aesthetic clusters. Historically, the deposit was discovered in the 1990s using sophisticated geophysical technology, and underground mining operations by the Penoles company commenced in 2006. While the mine's primary industrial purpose is the production of copper cathode, it became a legend among collectors for the extraordinary pockets of crystals encountered between 2006 and roughly 2015. Today, Milpillas azurite is considered a gold standard for the species, with many specimens now residing in major museum collections due to their perfection and intense color saturation.

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