Boleite

specimen number:
2262130

location:
Amelia Mine, Boleo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

description:
A loose lustrous deep blue cubic crystal of boleite. In good condition all around with no points of attachment. The specimen comes with a previous label from dealer Larry Conklin as shown at the end of the video.

The Amelia Mine, located near Santa Rosalia in the Boleo District of Baja California Sur, Mexico, is the premier locality for the rare mineral boleite. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within Pliocene sedimentary layers of the Boleo Formation, where copper-rich volcanic tuffs interacted with ancient marine brines to precipitate a unique suite of lead-copper hydroxychlorides. Boleite occurs here as magnificent, indigo-blue cubic crystals, often appearing as complex twins or in association with related species like pseudoboleite and cumengeite. Historically, mining and quarrying at the site were managed by the French company Compagnie du Boleo, with the most significant period of exploitation for copper occurring between 1885 and 1938. While the broader district produced massive amounts of copper ore, the Amelia Mine specifically became famous for the pockets of crystallized halides found by miners in the clay-rich "manto" layers. Though industrial operations transitioned to Mexican ownership and eventually scaled back in the mid-twentieth century, the site remains a legendary destination for mineralogical research.

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