Historic Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona is a desirable destination to visit when in the area. A short drive from Tombstone, Bisbee boasts architecture unique to the region and is renowned for its numerous stairs leading to several buildings. If you are attending the Tucson Gem Show or visiting Tombstone, Bisbee is definitely worth a visit.
Although Bisbee has a few rock shops, you may find a more extensive selection of rocks and gems in Tucson’s shops, given the higher prices and products catering to tourists in Bisbee. Nevertheless, I have discovered some unique treasures there. The primary attraction in the area remains its art, history, and architecture.
Visitors to the historic district in Bisbee, will discover distinctive boutiques where they can purchase art directly from the artists. As visitors explore these shops and engage with the artists, they will have the opportunity to experience Bisbee’s unique architectural style, which diverges from the prevalent stucco architecture commonly found in Southern Arizona and Southern California, as well as other Arizona cities and towns.
Mines in Bisbee, Arizona
Driving through historic Bisbee, Arizona, it is almost impossible to miss the massive Lavendar Pit Mine situated adjacent to highway 80.
Numerous types of copper minerals have been sourced from the Lavender Pit and the nearby Copper Queen Mine, as well as several smaller mines in and around Bisbee, Arizona.
Bisbee Copper Minerals
Some of the finest copper mineral specimens available originate from Bisbee, Arizona. A few of the most popular copper minerals from Bisbee are listed below:
Bisbee Blue Turquoise
Notably, the most renowned mineral originating from Bisbee is recognized as Bisbee Blue Turquoise.
The highest grade of Bisbee Blue turquoise exhibits a dark turquoise blue hue with a brownish-red spiderweb matrix. These premium specimens are exceptionally rare and challenging to procure. Turquoise from Bisbee, Arizona, may also display lighter coloration or even a greenish tint.
The majority of the Bisbee Blue Turquoise known today was sourced from the Lavendar Pit Mine. Presently, Durango Silver Company, located in Durango, Colorado, is the primary supplier of Bisbee Blue Turquoise jewelry.
Chatoyant Malachite
Malachite is a highly sought-after gemstone characterized by distinctive dark and light banding colors of green. It exhibits a high polish and is well-suited for jewelry.
Much of the vintage Malachite from Bisbee, Arizona, possesses chatoyant qualities. Chatoyancy is an optical phenomenon most commonly associated with Tiger Eye. The chatoyancy effect present in Bisbee Malachite is similar to that of Tiger Eye, yet it is distinguished by its vibrant Malachite green hue.
Azurite
Among the most coveted azurites for United States collectors is Bisbee Azurite, a deep blue copper mineral often found in conjunction with Malachite. If you have the opportunity to visit the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee, Arizona, you will still be able to observe Azurite and Malachite in the mine walls upon close inspection.
Chrysocolla
This exceptional blue-green mineral is undoubtedly one of my favorites. Often mistaken for Turquoise, this mineral exhibits a remarkable color range, varying from dark blue-green to sky blue and light green-blue. In its pure form, it is relatively delicate; however, when it stains chalcedony (agate), it becomes quite hard and highly prized by collectors.
Aurichalcite
Aurichalcite is a carbonate mineral consisting of copper and zinc, typically exhibiting a pale blue-green hue. Its delicate composition, comprised of tiny needles, often results in feather-like formations. Most specimens are extremely fragile and delicate, necessitating careful handling. Washing an Aurichalcite specimen in water can cause damage.
Cuprite
Cuprite is a reddish mineral frequently encountered in crystalline form in Bisbee, Arizona. It is commonly associated with other minerals, such as Malachite or Chrysocolla. Cabochons fabricated from material comprised of Cuprite and other copper minerals can be exceptionally beautiful.
Campbellite
First identified in the late 1940s, Campbellite is named after the Campbell shaft in Bisbee, Arizona. Campbellite is, in fact, a composite of several minerals indigenous to Bisbee. The constituent minerals may include Calcite, Turquoise, Quartz, Cuprite, Copper, Azurite, Malachite, Calcite, Manganese, Tennorite, Chrysocolla, and other minerals. This distinctive combination of copper-bearing and other minerals is often utilized to create exquisite cabochons for jewelry applications.
One of the fascinating properties of Campbellite is its fluorescence under black light. Very little of this unique material was officially extracted from the mine, as most Campbellite was removed informally by miners. The mine is now closed, and no other deposits of this remarkable material have been discovered.
Chalcoalumite
This rare, light blue-green copper and aluminum mineral is notably soft and delicate. Due to its delicate nature, specimens of this mineral should be handled sparingly and with care.
Bornite
Bornite is commonly referred to as peacock ore due to the iridescent shades of blue to purple that form on the surface of the mineral as it oxidizes. This colorful mineral, a copper sulfide mineral, is a significant copper mineral within the mining industry due to its high copper yield, with copper comprising approximately 63 percent of its mass.
Shattuckite
Shattuckite was initially discovered in 1915 in Bisbee, Arizona, and is named after the Shattuck Mine where it was found. Shattuckite bears a resemblance to Chrysocolla and is frequently discovered alongside various copper minerals.