Detailed information
Species
Wulfenite
Dimensions
72 x 90 x 53
mm
Weight
326 g
Locality
Aurora mine Cuchillo Parado Chihuahua, Mexico
Condition
No recorded repairs
Aurora mine is a little-known old-time Wulfenite-producing locality at Cuchillo Parado, Chihuahua, Mexico, situated some 100 miles from the famous Erupción mine. Most of the very limited number of specimens seen from this mine are claimed to have been collected during the 1960s, but in reality specimens have trickled out in very small numbers, and usually small sizes, over a long period of time right up until recent times. This magnificent cabinet-sized display specimen is not only one of the largest I have seen from Aurora mine, but is one of the richest, and perfect specimens too. It features distinctive, tapering, elongated bipyramidal crystals of a rich deep orange colour and with a fine greasy lustre. These crystals reach an exceptional 1.4 cm in length, with most in the 3 to 6 mm size range. It is remarkable specimen from this unusual occurrence. An article on Aurora mine features in The Mineralogical Record in 2016 (Vol. 47, no. 5) and describes specimens of this size and larger as "scarce".