The 79 Mine has produced some of the world’s finest aurichalcites. This specimen features bright blue sprays and tufts of aurichalcite crystals together with a myriad of tiny sparkling colourless hemimorphite crystals. Although aurichalcite is delicate and often damaged, this specimen is in excellent condition – it survived because the crystals are protected in a recess.  Stands perfectly for display as photographed. Beautiful, brilliant colour!

About the 79 Mine

One of Arizona’s most classic specimen localities, the 79 Mine has a long and colourful history and has produced wonderful mineral specimens. First located in 1879, the deposit was sporadically operated primarily for lead, zinc and copper, well into the 20th century. However, the fine specimens for which the 79 Mine is famous have come out during the decades since mining production ended. The celebrated specimens of the 79 Mine were brought out by hard-working collectors who, in the post-mining era, worked the network of underground stopes and “rooms” and brought the specimens out safely, hand-carried, up ladder after ladder.