Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Mystery Mine, Costello Mine group, Gleeson, Turquoise Mining District (Courtland-Gleeson Mining District), Cochise County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Mystery MineMine
Costello Mine groupGroup of Mines
GleesonTown (Former)
Turquoise Mining District (Courtland-Gleeson Mining District)Mining District
Cochise CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 44' 39'' North , 109° 49' 4'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Elfrida459 (2011)14.0km
McNeal238 (2011)21.2km
Sunizona281 (2011)21.8km
Tombstone1,312 (2017)23.9km
Bisbee5,208 (2017)34.5km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Sunsites Gem and Mineral ClubPearce, Arizona18km
Mindat Locality ID:
16732
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:16732:6
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Mystery Tunnel Mine; Minerals Exploration Co. property


A former small underground Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu-Au-Gemstone occurrence/mine located on four patented claims in the SE¼ sec. 29 & NE¼ sec. 32, T19S, R25E, G&SRM, and adjoins the Silver Bill on the East. Discovered in 1879 by J. McMann. Produced 1924-1942. Owned at times, or in part, by the Mystery Mining Co.; D. L. Roscoe and S. Pryor (1950); and, the Minerals Exploration Co.

Mineralization is oxidized lead, zinc, and minor copper ores in irregular replacement ore bodies, controlled by fractures and faults in Pennsylvanian-Permian Naco Group limestone. Ore concentration was strong oxidation causing deposition of malachite and azurite. Associated rock units include the Gleeson Quartz Monzonite and the Sugarloaf Quartz Latite Porphyry.

Local structures include the Naco unit dipping 40-50NE near the quartz monzonite contact. The intrusion plane dips 5W, exhibiting only slight marbleization of the limestone.

At the adit portal, impure, dark gray Permian (?) limestone, dipping steeply southeastward, is intruded by quartz monzonite which, a short distance farther east, is in turn intruded by quartz-monzonite porphyry. The intrusive contact between the quartz monzonite and the limestone, as exposed in the adit, dips 5 degrees westward.

Workings include underground openings including tunnels.

Production was some 9,300 tons of ore produced from 1924 to 1930 and 94 tons in 1942.
The Mystery tunnel connected to the underground workings at the Defiance Mine and ores were once taken from the Defiance through the Mystery to ship at the closest railroad at Dragoon or Willcox. Some of the wulfenite specimens listed from the Mystery may have come from adjacent underground workings and been carried out the Mystery tunnel.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


25 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
Aurichalcite
Formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Braunite
Formula: Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
References:
Luetcke, Rolf (n.d.) Personal communication.Identified by Rolf Luetcke: Visual Identification
Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
Galena
Formula: PbS
Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Hemimorphite
Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Description: Occurs as incrustations & druses.
'Iridescent coating'
References:
Luetcke, Rolf (n.d.) Personal communication.Identified by Rolf Luetcke: Visual Identification
Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
'Limonite'
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
'Manganese Oxides'
References:
Luetcke, Rolf (n.d.) Personal communication.Identified by Rolf Luetcke: Visual Identification
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Rosasite
Formula: (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
Description: Large specimens of botryoidal crusts with associated minerals and manganese oxides.
Smithsonite
Formula: ZnCO3
Colour: Blue to green
Description: Incrustations and crystalline masses.
'Wad'
Willemite
Formula: Zn2SiO4
References:
Luetcke, Rolf (n.d.) Personal communication.Identification: Visual Identification
Wulfenite
Formula: Pb(MoO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
Chlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Goethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Pyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Smithsonite5.AB.05ZnCO3
Dolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Aragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
Cerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
Azurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Rosasite5.BA.10(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
Aurichalcite5.BA.15(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Anglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
Jarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Wulfenite7.GA.05Pb(MoO4)
Group 9 - Silicates
Willemite9.AA.05Zn2SiO4
Braunite9.AG.05Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
Hemimorphite9.BD.10Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Unclassified
'Limonite'-
'Wad'-
'Manganese Oxides'-
'Iridescent coating'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
H AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
H ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
H GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
H HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
H JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
H KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
CCarbon
C AragoniteCaCO3
C Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
C AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
C CalciteCaCO3
C CerussitePbCO3
C DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
C Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
C SmithsoniteZnCO3
OOxygen
O AnglesitePbSO4
O AragoniteCaCO3
O Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
O AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
O BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
O CalciteCaCO3
O CerussitePbCO3
O ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
O DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
O GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
O HematiteFe2O3
O HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
O JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
O KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O PyrolusiteMn4+O2
O QuartzSiO2
O Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
O SmithsoniteZnCO3
O WillemiteZn2SiO4
O WulfenitePb(MoO4)
MgMagnesium
Mg DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Al ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Al KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
SiSilicon
Si BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Si ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Si HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Si KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Si QuartzSiO2
Si WillemiteZn2SiO4
SSulfur
S AnglesitePbSO4
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S GalenaPbS
S JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
S PyriteFeS2
ClChlorine
Cl ChlorargyriteAgCl
KPotassium
K JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
CaCalcium
Ca AragoniteCaCO3
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
MnManganese
Mn BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Mn PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Fe PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cu Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Cu AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cu Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
ZnZinc
Zn Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Zn HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Zn Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2
Zn SmithsoniteZnCO3
Zn WillemiteZn2SiO4
MoMolybdenum
Mo WulfenitePb(MoO4)
AgSilver
Ag ChlorargyriteAgCl
PbLead
Pb AnglesitePbSO4
Pb CerussitePbCO3
Pb GalenaPbS
Pb WulfenitePb(MoO4)

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10048117

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Mexico
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 05:52:10 Page updated: September 21, 2025 03:59:43
Go to top of page