Azurite

specimen number:
8311405

location:
Junction Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA

description:
Attractive bladed crystals of brilliant blue azurite on matrix. Some contacting present, still in good condition. The color is wonderful.

The Junction Mine, located in the Warren District of Bisbee, Arizona, was one of the most significant deep-level operations in the Mule Mountains. Geologically, the mine exploited massive sulfide replacement deposits and secondary enrichment zones hosted within Paleozoic limestones, particularly the Martin and Escabrosa formations, which were intruded by the Jurassic-aged Sacramento Hill porphyry. The mine was especially famous for its rich copper ores and world-class specimens of crystallized secondary minerals like cuprite and malachite. Historically, the Junction shaft was started in 1903 by the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company to reach the deeper water-table extensions of the Bisbee ore body. It eventually became the primary pumping station for the entire district due to its depth, reaching over 2700 feet. The mine remained a major producer through the merger with Phelps Dodge in 1931 and continued operations until the mid-1970s, when underground mining in Bisbee was finally phased out in favor of open-pit methods and eventual closure.

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