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TGMS 2008 - Bisbee

Last Updated: 2nd Mar 2008

I did a second video, because I wasn't sure how the first one came out. Try them both!

The minerals of Bisbee dominated a major floor-standing case - here we have tried to show as many of the specimens from this case as we can, broken down by mineral species.

Azurite

Bisbee is remembered for Azurite more than any other mineral. The following specimens are some of the most classic examples of the species from Bisbee.

Azurite from Czar mine. Rock Currier collection

Azurite on Malachite, from Bisbee.

Azurite from Bisbee. Bob and Evan Jones collection

Azurite from Czar mine. Mark Hay collection

Azurite from Copper Queen mine, Tony Potucek collection

Azurite from Bisbee. Collection name not recorded

Azurite from Bisbee, LA County Natural History Museum collection

Azurite on Malachite, Holbrook mine. Paul S. Harter collection

Azurite from Copper Queen mine, Rock Currier collection

Azurite from Copper Queen mine, Richard Graeme collection

Azurite from Bisbee. Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals collection

Azurite from Copper Queen mine, Richard Graeme collection

Azurite from Bisbee. Mark Hay collection

Azurite from Copper Queen mine, Smithsonian collection

Azurite from Czar mine. Bob and Evan Jones collection

Azurite from Czar mine. Dick Morris collection

Azurite on Malachite, Sacramento mine. Richard Graeme collection

Azurite, Sacramento mine. Richard Graeme collection

Calcite

Calcite was very common within the Bisbee deposit, and some of the most aesthetic specimens where those with included copper minerals, such as these:

Calcite with included Malachite. Southwest mine. Les and Paula Presmyk collection

Calcite with included Cuprite, 400 level, Czar mine. Richard Graeme collection

Calcite with included Malachite. Southwest mine. Bob and Evan Jones collection

Chalcoalumite

This specimen, possibly the richest Chalcoalumite from Bisbee ever found, was recently sold as part of the disposal of the Philadelphia Academy collection.

Chalcoalumite from Czar mine. Ex Philadelphia Academy collection

Copper

Copper was abundant at Bisbee, although large crystals were relatively uncommon. Here are two of the better pieces from Bisbee:

Copper from Campbell mine. Les and Paula Presmyk collection

Copper, Copper Queen mine, Les and Paula Presmyk collection

Cuprite

At Bisbee, Cuprite used to be an abundant ore mineral, but despite this well-crystalline examples were not common. Here are some of the best pieces:

Cuprite on Atacamite, 14 stope, 5 level, Southwest Mine. Richard Graeme collection

Cuprite var. 'Chalcotrichite'. 1000' level, Cole Mine. University of Arizona Mineral Museum collection

Cuprite coating Copper, Bisbee. LA County Natural History Museum collection

Cuprite on Copper, Irish Mag mine. Bob and Evan Jones collection

Cuprite in Calcite. Czar Mine. Bob and Evan Jones collection

Malachite

At Bisbee Malachite was the most abundant oxide ore mineral, and was found in significant amounts even as collector quality pieces. Here are some of the better pieces in this display:

Malachite, Campbell mine, Richard Graeme collection

Malachite, Campbell mine, Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals collection

Malachite, Copper Queen mine, Smithsonian collection

Malachite after Azurite, Campbell mine. Tony Potucek collection

Malachite after Azurite with Calcite. From Bisbee. Paul S. Harter collection

Malachite after Azurite, Bisbee. Collector's Edge Minerals specimen

Malachite from Cole Mine, Bisbee. Les and Paula Presmyk collection

Malachite after Azurite, Bisbee. Bill Larson collection

Malachite, Copper Queen Mine. Tony Potucek collection

Malachite after Azurite, Campbell mine. Mark Hay collection

Paramelaconite

Paramelaconite is a rare copper oxide mineral, and this is one of the three best known specimens to come from the Copper Queen mine (which is also the type locality for Paramelaconite):

Paramelaconite from Copper Queen mine, Smithsonian collection

Spangolite

This is quite possibly the world's best specimen of Spangolite, on a mat of acicular malachite crystals.

Spangolite on Malachite. Czar mine. Houston Museum of Natural Science collection

This particular specimen was also shown at the Munich Show in 2006, and I took some video of the specimen then. Here's a clip from that video:

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