Malachite from Morenci Mine, Morenci, Arizona, USA - image 1
Malachite from Morenci Mine, Morenci, Arizona, USA - image 2

Malachite from Morenci Mine, Morenci, Arizona, USA

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A sharp octahedral crystal of cuprite 0.5 cm in size on matrix. This is coated by what is possibly green malachite. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark. The Morenci Mine, located in Greenlee County, Arizona, is one of the oldest and largest copper-producing operations in North America, with mining history dating back to the late 1860s and early 1870s following initial discoveries by pioneers like Army Captain Willcox and the subsequent involvement of the Lezinsky brothers. Geologically, the deposit is a massive porphyry copper system centered on intrusive monzonite porphyry cutting through Precambrian granite and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, where extensive supergene enrichment created vast blanket deposits of copper ores. Historically, operations transitioned from early underground high-grade extraction to massive open-pit mining and modern heap leaching, turning Morenci into a cornerstone of the American copper industry and a notable producer of fine secondary copper mineral specimens.

Product details

SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions6.0 x 4.0 x 2.0 cm
Added on10/09/2026

Owners

Unknown Owner
Current owner
Acquired
Nov 2026

Learn more

Malachite
Mineral guide
Learn about Malachite
vivid green banded crystals and botryoidal forms from copper deposits; color varieties, formation clues, and identification tips for collectors.
Malachite
Regional guide
Malachite from Morenci Mine, Arizona, USA
from Morenci, Arizona: vivid green botryoidal forms and pseudomorphs against a dark matrix; prized for color contrasts with azurite and chrysocolla.
Locality guide
Morenci Mine
A collector's guide to Morenci Mine, USA: its geology, mining history and notable minerals, illustrated with the 269 specimens documented from this locality on EarthWonders.