Azurite

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A neat and attractive locality example with lustrous blue bladed crystals of azurite to 0.8 cm in size across about one third of this matrix with minor malachite. In good condition. This was collected by Aaron Bankes in July, 2007. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.The Lordsburg mining district, located in the Pyramid Mountains of Hidalgo County, New Mexico, is characterized geologically by Tertiary-aged andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic and intrusive rocks cut by mineralized fault veins and related skarn zones associated with porphyry systems. Prospecting and minor operations began around 1870, but heavy production accelerated following the arrival of the railroad in 1880, transforming the area into a major underground producer of copper, gold, and silver. Commercial activity peaked during the 20th century at major operations like the Banner and Miser's Chest mines, and while large-scale industrial extraction has since ceased, the district remains a noted locality for mineral specimen collecting.