A 3-Color Fluorescent Beauty from Miller Canyon, Arizona

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: May 2nd, 2026
Locality: Nelly James Mine, Miller Canyon, Miller Peak, Cochise County, Arizona, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 60 x 34 x 68 mm

Description:
The Nelly James Mine was a small open pit lead, copper, zinc, gold and silver mine located in Miller Canyon, in the Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona. Its history lasted from the 1880's until 1915. The small amount of ore produced by the Nelly James was inconsistent with the size of the operation, leading to speculation that the property was more of a prospect, and may have been part of a stock scam. The good news for fluorescent mineral collectors is that to this day, the Nelly James Mine has been a productive source of beautiful fluorescent minerals.

This specimen provides a good example of some of the bright and colorful fluorescent minerals found at the Nelly James Mine in Miller Canyon. Brightly fluorescent under shortwave UV, this specimen contains red fluorescent calcite, green fluorescent willemite and minor amounts of blue fluorescing hydrozincite. The willemite and calcite are also weakly phosphorescent. This specimen was collected by Ken and Gail Hennig in 2013.

Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2018.