Wulfenite

specimen number:
8311413

location:
San Carlos Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico

description:
A lustrous orange tabular crystal of wulfenite just under 1.0 cm in size set nicely up on matrix. In great condition, a very choice thumbnail for the species for this Mexican locality. Great color. The matrix is covered with rhombohedral calcite crystals.

The San Carlos Mine, located in the Manuel Benavides Municipality of northeastern Chihuahua, Mexico, is a notable lead-zinc-silver deposit situated within the Sierra Blanca mountain range. Geologically, it is a skarn and carbonate-replacement deposit where hydrothermal fluids reacted with Cretaceous limestones to form rich ore bodies containing minerals like wulfenite, mimetite, and vanadinite. The mine is particularly famous among collectors for its world-class wulfenite specimens, which often appear as thick, tabular, butterscotch-orange to reddish-orange crystals of exceptional luster. Historically, mining activities in the San Carlos district date back to the late 19th century, with significant industrial production occurring intermittently throughout the 1900s. While large-scale commercial mining has slowed significantly in recent decades, the site remains a legendary locality for mineral enthusiasts due to the high quality and distinct habit of the specimens recovered from its underground workings.

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