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Commonwealth Mine, Pearce, Pearce Mining District, Pearce Hills, Sulphur Springs Valley, Cochise County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Commonwealth MineMine
PearceUnincorporated Community
Pearce Mining DistrictMining District
Pearce HillsGroup of Hills
Sulphur Springs ValleyValley
Cochise CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 54' 3'' North , 109° 48' 56'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Sunizona281 (2011)15.4km
Dragoon209 (2011)25.3km
Elfrida459 (2011)26.9km
Tombstone1,312 (2017)31.7km
McNeal238 (2011)36.1km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Sunsites Gem and Mineral ClubPearce, Arizona1km
Mindat Locality ID:
10260
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:10260:2
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Pearce Mine; Silver Ware Mine; Brockman Mine; Smith Mine; Rinaud Mine; Ritter Mine; Eisenhart vein


A former small underground Ag-Au-Mo-Cu-Pb-V-Silica mine located in the NE¼ sec. 5, T.18S., R.25E, 1/2 mile E of Pearce, on private land. Discovered by John Pearce in 1895. Produced 1895-1979. One of Arizona's major silver producers. Owned at times, or in part, by the C.O.R. Ford Corp. of Dallas, TX (1979); Commonwealth Mining and Milling Co.; Montana Tonopah Mining & Milling Co.; and the Commonwealth Development Co. Operated by GOURMET CHIEF INC. (1975). Additional names associated with this mine: Main Mine, North Mine, Hartery veins, Footwall Mine, Discovery stope.

Mineralization is irregular silver-gold halides and minor sulfo-salts with some manganese in quartz-calcite fissure veins and in fault breccia zones (on the hanging wall) in silicified Tertiary rhyolite and andesite volcanics. The ore zone is 1,219.2 meters long, 106.68 meters wide, depth to bottom of 152.4 meters, and 18.29 meters thick, striking N-S (main vein), and dipping 60E. Alteration is propylitic, silicification, and oxidation. It is more intense in and near vein fractures. Sericitic and K-feldspar alteration exists closest to the veins, with extensive argillic and propylitic alteration away from the veins. The associated rock units are the Pearce volcanics and the Brockman Andesite.

Local structures include volcanic flows that dip 35-40E. Fissure veins and fault breccia zones; N-S faults are pre-mineralization, others are post-mineralization.

Workings include a shaft(s). Two inclined shafts, 62 degrees, with extensive workings on 8 levels. The water level was at 700 feet, and a majority of mining was done above the water table, although shaft "C" was eventually sunk to 1,000 feet. There are about 20 miles of underground workings. The workings are 9,144 meters long in total and 152.4 meters deep. Over 1,000,000 tons of ore were produced from 1895 to 1942. Tailings being reworked, 1976-19, flotation methods. Intermittent shipments of tailings were made in the mid-1980'S. About 100,000 tons of tailings had been sold for use as high-silica smelter flux. It is estimated that up to a million tons of tailings remained. In addition, there are approximately 150,000 tons of mine dump material in the area that average 2.5 oz of Ag/t.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


32 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

Acanthite
Formula: Ag2S
Alunite
Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Aurichalcite ?
Formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Bromargyrite
Formula: AgBr
Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
Chlorargyrite var. Bromian Chlorargyrite
Formula: Ag(Cl,Br)
'Chlorite Group'
Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Conichalcite
Formula: CaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
Galena
Formula: PbS
Gold
Formula: Au
Description: Occurs as broad splotches & leaf forms.
Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Iodargyrite
Formula: AgI
Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
'K Feldspar'
'K Feldspar var. Adularia'
Formula: KAlSi3O8
'Limonite'
Mimetite
Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl
'Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series'
Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Plattnerite
Formula: PbO2
Proustite
Formula: Ag3AsS3
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
Quartz var. Chalcedony
Formula: SiO2
Rhodochrosite
Formula: MnCO3
Sanidine
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
Silver
Formula: Ag
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
'Wad'
Wulfenite
Formula: Pb(MoO4)
Description: Occurs lining cavities with embolite.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Gold1.AA.05Au
Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Acanthite2.BA.35Ag2S
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Proustite2.GA.05Ag3AsS3
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Group 3 - Halides
Iodargyrite3.AA.10AgI
Bromargyrite3.AA.15AgBr
Chlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
var. Bromian Chlorargyrite3.AA.15Ag(Cl,Br)
Fluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Quartz
var. Amethyst
4.DA.05SiO2
var. Chalcedony4.DA.05SiO2
4.DA.05SiO2
Plattnerite4.DB.05PbO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Rhodochrosite5.AB.05MnCO3
Siderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Aurichalcite ?5.BA.15(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Alunite7.BC.10KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Jarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Gypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Wulfenite7.GA.05Pb(MoO4)
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
Conichalcite8.BH.35CaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Mimetite8.BN.05Pb5(AsO4)3Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Montmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Sanidine9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
'K Feldspar
var. Adularia'
-KAlSi3O8
'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
'Chlorite Group'-
'Limonite'-
'Wad'-
'K Feldspar'-
'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
'Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
H Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
H BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
H ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
H ConichalciteCaCu(AsO4)(OH)
H Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
H GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
H JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
H KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
H Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
C Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
C CalciteCaCO3
C RhodochrositeMnCO3
C SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
O K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
O AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
O Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
O Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
O BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
O CalciteCaCO3
O Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
O ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
O ConichalciteCaCu(AsO4)(OH)
O Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
O GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
O HematiteFe2O3
O JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
O KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
O MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
O PlattneritePbO2
O QuartzSiO2
O RhodochrositeMnCO3
O SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
O SideriteFeCO3
O WulfenitePb(MoO4)
O Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
O Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series
FFluorine
F BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
F FluoriteCaF2
NaSodium
Na Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
MgMagnesium
Mg BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mg Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
AlAluminium
Al K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Al AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Al BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Al ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Al Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Al KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Al Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Al SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
Al Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Si K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Si Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Si BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Si Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Si ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Si Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Si KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Si QuartzSiO2
Si SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
Si Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
PPhosphorus
P Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series
SSulfur
S AcanthiteAg2S
S AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S ChalcociteCu2S
S GalenaPbS
S GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
S JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
S MolybdeniteMoS2
S ProustiteAg3AsS3
S PyriteFeS2
S Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ClChlorine
Cl ChlorargyriteAgCl
Cl Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
Cl MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
Cl Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series
KPotassium
K K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
K AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
K BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
K JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
K SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
K Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca ConichalciteCaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Ca Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Ca FluoriteCaF2
Ca GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Ca Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
TiTitanium
Ti BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MnManganese
Mn RhodochrositeMnCO3
FeIron
Fe BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Fe PyriteFeS2
Fe SideriteFeCO3
CuCopper
Cu Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
Cu ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cu ConichalciteCaCu(AsO4)(OH)
Cu Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Zn Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
AsArsenic
As ConichalciteCaCu(AsO4)(OH)
As MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
As ProustiteAg3AsS3
As Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series
BrBromine
Br BromargyriteAgBr
Br Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
MoMolybdenum
Mo MolybdeniteMoS2
Mo WulfenitePb(MoO4)
AgSilver
Ag AcanthiteAg2S
Ag BromargyriteAgBr
Ag ChlorargyriteAgCl
Ag Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
Ag IodargyriteAgI
Ag ProustiteAg3AsS3
Ag SilverAg
SbAntimony
Sb Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
IIodine
I IodargyriteAgI
AuGold
Au GoldAu
PbLead
Pb GalenaPbS
Pb MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
Pb PlattneritePbO2
Pb WulfenitePb(MoO4)
Pb Mimetite-Pyromorphite Series

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10103554

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality


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