Azurite with Malachite

specimen number:
2242031

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

description:
Classic specimen from Arizona lustrous deep blue crystals of azurite covering all sides of matrix with green crystals of malachite. In very good condition with minimal damage present. The specimen comes with a series of previous labels dating back to the well-known dealership Schortmann's Minerals.

The Campbell Mine, located in Bisbee, Arizona, was one of the deepest and most productive shafts in the Warren Mining District. Geologically, it exploited high-grade copper-gold-silver replacement ore bodies hosted within the Paleozoic Martin and Escabrosa Limestones, specifically targeting mineralization along the Campbell Fault. The mine is famous among mineralogists for producing exceptional specimens of deep-red cuprite, native copper, and rare sulfides like bornite. Historically, shaft sinking began in the early 1920s by the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company, but the operation became a cornerstone of the Phelps Dodge Corporation after a 1931 merger. The Campbell shaft eventually reached a depth of nearly 4,000 feet, serving as a primary production hub and a vital ventilation and pumping station for the entire district. Industrial mining and quarrying at the Campbell continued until the general cessation of underground operations in Bisbee in 1975. Today, the headframe remains a prominent landmark on the eastern edge of the district.

Schortmann's Minerals, operated by brothers Raymond and Alvin Schortmann in Easthampton, Massachusetts, was one of the most influential American mineral dealerships of the mid-20th century. Historically, the business rose to prominence between the 1930s and the 1960s, serving as a primary source for high-quality specimens for both major museums and serious private collectors during the golden age of mineral collecting. Geologically, the dealership was famous for its extensive inventory of classic New England minerals, including exceptional beryls and tourmalines from regional pegmatites, as well as significant acquisitions from world-class localities across the globe.

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