Azurite with Malachite
Unknown Owner
Very showy combination piece with lustrous crystals of azurite attractive blue and measuring to 1.7 cm in size on a velvety botryoidal green malachite matrix. Choice miniature from this famous locality. In great condition.The Milpillas Mine, situated in the Cuitaca District of Sonora, Mexico, is a modern copper operation that has become legendary for its world-class secondary mineral specimens. Geologically, it is a high-grade porphyry copper deposit where intense supergene enrichment occurred, as surface waters leached copper from the upper layers and concentrated it in a rich oxidation zone below. This process resulted in spectacular pockets of carbonates and silicates hosted within a weathered volcanic porphyry. Historically, the mine was developed by Industrias Penoles and began commercial production in 2006. While it remains a significant industrial site for copper cathode production, its legacy in the mineralogical community was cemented by the discovery of extraordinary azurite, malachite, and brochantite between 2006 and the mid-2010s. The mine is still active today, though the most prolific period for collectible mineral pockets has largely passed, leaving behind specimens that are considered benchmarks for their respective species.
Product details
Species
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.0 x 4.0 x 2.0 cm
Added on05/22/2026
Locality
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 05/2026 | Unknown Owner | $1,200.00 |
| — | Weinrich Minerals | Not disclosed |
Learn more
Mineral guide
Learn about Malachite
vivid green banded crystals and botryoidal forms from copper deposits; color varieties, formation clues, and identification tips for collectors.
Regional guide
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