Mexico's Fabulous Historic Ojuela Mine

The Ojuela Mine near Mapimi in the state of Durango is probably Mexico's most famous mine and the source of mineral specimens prized by collectors around the world. The mine was discovered by Spanish prospectors in 1598. The rich polymetallic deposits produced silver, lead, copper and zinc commercially for most of the next 350 years. The mine operated sporatically as the main ore deposits were exhausted. Since the end of commercial operations in the 1940s, Ojuela has been leased to an organization of local miners who continue to explore for small pockets of minerals of value to collectors. Mindat lists 126 mineral species that occur at Ojuela, including many rare and beautiful arsenates.

Ron's Bio

Ron Wolf began collecting minerals in high school and has been at it for more than 60 years. He is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines and the University of California, Berkeley. During his career as a geological engineer, he has worked in petroleum exploration, groundwater hydrology and highway construction. He operated a rock quarry in Vietnam for the U.S. Army. In a mid-career shift, he became a journalist covering scientific and technological subjects for major daily newspapers. He was a member of a team at the San Jose Mercury News awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. As a mineral collector he has focused on zeolites, evaporites, and the Colorado mineral belt. He made two trips to the Ojuela Mine in Mexico decades ago and has been collecting Ojula specimens ever since then. Since retiring, he has enjoyed life as prolific nature and wildlife photographer. He has posted more than 3,000 mineral photos online. His photos have been widely published in magazines, scientific journals, textbooks, and field guides.

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Amber, CMS President