Azurite

specimen number:
8311469

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

description:

Beautiful cluster of large thick deep blue lustrous azurite crystals without matrix. An outstanding thumbnail specimen for this famous locality. In great condition.

The Junction Mine, situated in the Warren District of Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, is a pivotal component of the Mule Mountains mineral system. Geologically, it is located within a complex environment of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, specifically the Escabrosa Limestone, which underwent extensive replacement by copper-bearing hydrothermal fluids associated with the Jurassic-aged Sacramento Hill porphyry stock. The mine is notable for its diverse secondary mineralization, including fine specimens of cuprite, malachite, and azurite, often occurring in deep oxidation zones. Historically, the Junction shaft was started in 1903 by the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company to drain the deeper, wetter portions of the district, eventually becoming the main pumping station for the entire Bisbee area. Large-scale mining and quarrying operations at the Junction were most productive from the early 1900s through the mid-20th century, with the shaft reaching a depth of over 2700 feet before industrial activity concluded in 1975 following the cessation of underground mining by Phelps Dodge. As of 2026, the Junction remains a historically significant site, representing the technical challenges and mineralogical richness of one of the premier copper districts in the United States.

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