Fluorite with Pyrite

specimen number:
8311409

location:
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

description:
Colorless glassy gem crystals of fluorite to 1.8 cm on edge, the prominent crystal hosting a right crystal inclusion. This is in very good condition all around. Somewhat unusual and choice example for the species for this Mexican locality.

The Ojuela Mine, situated near the town of Mapimi in Durango, Mexico, is a world-class mineral locality famous for its remarkable diversity of secondary species. Geologically, it is a carbonate-replacement deposit where hydrothermal fluids deposited massive sulfides within Cretaceous-aged limestone and dolomite formations. The mine is particularly celebrated for its spectacular specimens of adamite, legrandite, and hemimorphite, which formed through the extensive oxidation of the primary ore bodies. Historically, the site was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1598, making it one of the oldest industrial mines in North America. Large-scale operations were later modernized by the Penoles company in the late 19th century, with the construction of the famous Puente de Ojuela suspension bridge in 1898 to facilitate ore transport. While primary commercial mining for lead, zinc, and silver largely transitioned to artisanal and specimen-based recovery by the mid-20th century, the mine remains an active and prolific source of world-class mineral specimens for the international market.

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