Vanadinite

A classic and richly covered large-cabinet specimen of vanadinite from the Apache Mine, featuring many sharp, lustrous, orange to red tabular hexagonal crystals measuring up to 2 mm, typical of this locality. The crystals blanket much of the matrix.

The Apache Mine, discovered in 1875 and worked intermittently between 1929 and 1957, is one of Arizona’s more notable vanadinite-producing localities. It yielded a wide range of metals including lead, vanadium, molybdenum, zinc, copper, silver, gold, and tungsten. Today, specimens from this site are highly sought after, particularly well-preserved older pieces such as this example, which dates back to the mid-1960s. Collecting is no longer permitted as the claims remain active. Ex. Dr. Peter Tarassoff collection.