Azurite with Malachite

specimen number:
2242102

location:
Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA

description:
Large lustrous sharp beautiful blue bladed crystals of azurite coming off matrix with malachite. This is in super condition. The specimen comes with several previous labels as shown at the end of the video. At one time this specimen was part of the E.R. Chadbourn collection at Harvard University

Bisbee, Arizona, located in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County, is one of the most significant mineral districts in American history, famous for its prolific production of copper, gold, and silver. Geologically, the region is defined by the Warren Mining District, where a large porphyry copper system intruded into Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as the Martin and Escabrosa Limestones, resulting in massive replacement ore bodies. The district is celebrated for its incredible variety of secondary copper minerals, particularly the world-class specimens of azurite and malachite found in its oxidized zones. Historically, mining and quarrying began in the late 1870s following the discovery of copper by Jack Dunn, leading to the formation of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company and later the expansion by Phelps Dodge Corporation. Industrial operations flourished for nearly a century, transitioning from deep underground shafts like the Czar and Campbell to massive open-pit mining at the Lavender Pit in the 1950s. While large-scale commercial mining concluded in 1975, the legacy of Bisbee remains a focal point for geological study and heritage tourism through 2026.

The E.R. Chadbourn mineral collection was a highly significant private accumulation assembled by Erlon R. Chadbourn (1855-1941) of Melrose, Massachusetts, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Geologically and mineralogically, the collection was renowned for its exceptional diversity and the high quality of its systematic species, with a particular strength in New England localities and classic European specimens acquired from prominent dealers of the era. Historically, Chadbourn spent decades meticulously cataloging and expanding his holdings, which ultimately grew to comprise thousands of carefully curated pieces accompanied by detailed handwritten labels and provenance records. Following his death in 1941, the entirety of this historic collection was indeed bequeathed to Harvard University, where it was integrated into the Harvard Mineralogical Museum.

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