Malachite (Botryoidal) (Specimen #300001)

Mineral(s): Malachite 

Location: Copper Queen Mine, Queen Hill, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA 

Size: 19.0 x 5.6 x 5.1 cm 

Description:   A classic specimen of bright botryoidal green malachite without matrix. This is a very clean, old-time specimen from a classic mine now closed. Good solid specimen with pleasing luster and good green color. Banding is visible in the specimen and there is no damage. Malachite from this site is suitable for cutting and polishing into gem material.

The Copper Queen is a former large output surface and underground Cu-Ag-Au-Pb-Zn-Gemstone mine discovered 1877 as the original copper mine of the district. Production began in 1881 and was owned and operated by the Phelps Dodge Corporation. Mine workings include surface and underground openings comprised of shafts and open pit operations. A maze of workings connecting with the surface through four working shafts and several other less-used openings. The area is thoroughly intersected by drifts and crosscuts and covers nearly half a square mile, while the extreme vertical range is about 950 feet (ca. 290 m). The shaft names are the Czar, Queen inclined, Holbrook, Spray, Gardner, and Hayes.