Detailed information
Species
Aurichalcite, Smithsonite
Dimensions
62 x 73 x 49
mm
Weight
212 g
Locality
Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee Warren District, Mule Mountains Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
This fine, old-time location piece comes from the famous Copper Queen mine at Bisbee and if online databases are to be believed Smithsonite has not been recorded there. However, this really interesting specimen is accompanied by a suite of quite old collector and dealer labels recording its details. Dense, and yet somewhat porous, the matrix of this small cabinet-sized specimen is fine-grained creamy-beige coloured Smithsonite, of a type grading towards what is sometimes termed 'dry-bone' ore on account of its texture. More striking, however, is the bright sulphur-yellow finely botryoidal coating of Smithsonite across much of one side of the specimen, and with sparse, small, bright blue-green Aurichalcite spherules dotted upon the contrasting yellow surface. The oldest accompanying label is that from 'MINERALS UNLIMITED' at 1724 University Avenue, Berkeley, California. This is believed to date to the 1950s or 1960, when Ralph Merrill owned the company. After that, it was owned by Harry Caral and R. Hauck.
