Hemimorphite

specimen number:
2063726

location:
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

description:
Classic for the species and locality, colorless sprays of hemimorphite crystals measuring to 0.5 cm in size quite nice across the top of a limonite matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark. Ray personally collected this piece in May, 1976.

Situated in the rugged desert mountains above Mapimi in Durango, Mexico, the Ojuela Mine is a legendary mineral locality originally discovered by Spanish prospectors in 1598. The deposit geology consists of complex sulfide replacement ore bodies hosted within folded Cretaceous limestone, which deeply oxidized over millennia to create a vast, labyrinthine network rich in silver, lead, and zinc. Although large-scale industrial extraction ended decades ago, the mine remains world famous among collectors for its astonishing variety of vibrant secondary minerals. Among these, hemimorphite forms exceptionally fine specimens, frequently occurring as sparkling crystalline crusts, radial fan aggregates, or distinct prismatic crystal groups. Often tinted by iron oxides into rich amber, brown, or bluish shades against a contrasting matrix, these hemimorphite pieces highlight the extraordinary oxidation zone mineralogy that makes Ojuela a crown jewel of Mexican mining history.

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