Vanadinite with Calcite

Unknown Owner

A loose cluster of lustrous multicolored vanadinite crystals. Minor calcite attached. Minimal damage present, this is in good condition for one of these.The San Carlos Mine, located in the Manuel Benavides Municipality of Chihuahua, Mexico, is a notable mineral locality situated within the rugged Chihuahuan Desert. Geologically, it is a lead-zinc-silver deposit hosted in Cretaceous limestone, where primary sulfide minerals have undergone extensive oxidation to create a rich suite of secondary minerals. The mine has gained recent international acclaim for its discovery of world-class vanadinite specimens, which are distinct from the typical Moroccan or Arizona varieties. These crystals often appear as vibrant, orange-red to reddish-brown hexagonal prisms, frequently exhibiting a brilliant luster and occurring in dense, sparkling crusts or as large, individual crystals on a contrasting matrix. Historically, the mine was worked sporadically on a small scale for lead and silver throughout the 20th century. However, it was the recent targeted specimen mining efforts in the early 2020s that brought the mine to the forefront of the mineral world, providing collectors with some of the most aesthetic and high-quality vanadinite found in Mexico in decades.