Wulfenite

specimen number:
2133266

location:
Erupcion Mine, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico

description:
An attractive grouping of lustrous blocky caramel colored wulfenite crystals, these measuring to 0.5 cm on edge. An aesthetic thumbnail from this Mexican locality, in good condition.

The Erupcion Mine, also known as the Ahumada Mine, is located in the Sierra de Los Lamentos of Chihuahua, Mexico, and is world-renowned for its exceptional wulfenite specimens. Geologically, the deposit is a lead-zinc-silver replacement body hosted within Cretaceous limestone, where primary sulfide minerals underwent extensive oxidation to form secondary minerals in large solution cavities. The wulfenite from this locality is famous for its thick, tabular crystals that exhibit a distinct butterscotch to deep orange color, often found in dense, interlocking clusters. Historically, the mine was discovered in the early 20th century, with major production occurring between 1915 and 1930. While it was originally worked for its lead and silver content, it became a legendary site for mineral collectors during the mid-1900s as miners recovered thousands of museum-quality specimens from the oxidized zones. Today, the mine is largely inactive for commercial metal production, but it remains a benchmark locality for wulfenite enthusiasts due to the unique robust habit and saturated color of its crystals.

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