Eagle Picher Mine, Creta, Jackson County, Oklahoma, USAi

Regional Level Types
Eagle Picher Mine	Mine
Creta	- not defined -
Jackson County	County
Oklahoma	State
USA	Country

A Cu-Ag occurrence/mine located in secs. 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, and 16, T1S, R22W, Indian Meridian, on private land. Discovered in 1962 by Kenneth E. Smith, formerly of Vinson, Harmon County, Oklahoma. Captain R.B. Marcy noted copper in the region as early as 1852. Owned & operated by Eagle-Picher Industries Incorporated (100%), Oklahoma (1962-1978). Owned by Mr. Ira C.Prewitt and others (in T1S, R22W). Operated by EP Minerals, LLC Reno, Nevada. Operated during the period 1965-1975. The USGS MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 10 meters.

Mineralization is a Cu-Ag deposit (Mineral occurrence model information: Model code: 197; USGS model code: 30b; BC deposit profile: E04; Deposit model name: Sediment-hosted Cu; Mark3 model number: 63), hosted in the Permian Prewitt Copper Shale and Upper Copper Shale. The ore body strikes NNW and is sedimentary, tabular and disseminated, at 0.27 meter thick, a width of 2.5 meters (?), and a length of 11,265.1 meters. The depth-to-top is 13.5 meters with a minimum of 4.5 meters. The primary mode of origin was residual concentration. Primary ore control was bedding and the secondary control was lithology. Malachite is oxidized from chalcocite where there is less than 10-15 feet of overburden. Associated rocks include the Permian Flowerpot Shale. Local rocks include the Elm Fork Member of Blaine Formation.

Regional geologic structures include low westward dip of about 10-20 feet/mile WSW.

Workings include surface openings comprised of strip operations. They have a length of 8,046.5 meters, width of 3,218.6 meters with an overall depth of 30.48 meters, overall length of 11,265.1 meters and an overall width of 4,827.9 meters.

Production statistics: Approximately 40,000 tons of Cu were recovered, at $0.75 cents/pound, or $1,500/ton, or $60,000,000 total (period values). About $1,600,000 (period values) in Ag was recovered (4 ounces/ton of concentrates or 80,000 X 4 X $5.00 = $1,600,000).


Commodity: To the south, these beds were commercially mined beginning in sept. 1965 by eagle-picher industries, inc., at the rate of about 1000 tons of ore a day. The deposits extend over an area of 15 square miles in 1s-22w. By aug. 1973, about 1.5 million tons of ore was mined, with average grade of 1.9% cu. The ore was dried in a mill and floated, to produce a concentrate of 50% cu, which was shipped to the asarco copper smelter in el paso, texas. Mining ceased on feb. 23, 1975, and the mill closed on march 28, 1975, due to low copper prices of 63 cents a pound. Total production was 2,000,000 tons of ore. The prewitt copper shale averaged 1.9% cu after mining 1.5 million tons, according to dingess (1976, p. 16). About 2,000,000 tons were mined. About 4,000,000 tons are unmined, with average of 0.5% of 6 inch bed of prewitt copper shale, over 10 square miles left. About 5 square miles were mined.

Deposit: Johnson (1962) gives details. Ham and johnson (1964, p. 28, sec. A) published details. Richter (1960) mapped the geology of the area. Johnson (1976), dingess (1976), hagni and gann (1976), lockwood (1972; 1976), kidwell and bower (1976), johnson and brockie (1973), and stroud and others (1970) discuss the mineralogy and economic geology of the area. About 2,000,000 tons of ore was mined from the prewitt copper shale, with average content of 1.9% cu. The concentrate was 50% cu, with 3-5 oz/ton of Ag (silver).

Deposit type: Sediment-hosted Cu

Development: Mr. Smith brought in samples from ne-nw-15-1s-22 W in early 1962. Ham and johnson began studies in march 1962. Eagle-picher began studies in summer 1963, beginning mining in sept. 1965, and closed feb. 23, 1975, due to depressed economics. About 2,000,000 tons was mined. About 2,000,000 tons or more remains, with average of 1.9% cu, and 30-100 ft of overburden. Mr. Smith brought samples to ogs from ne-nw-15-1s-22w, in january or february 1962. Ken johnson began measuring sections on march 6, 1962, working with william ham. Eagle-picher began studies in summer 1963. Ham and johnson published in 1964. Eagle-picher began mining in september 1965 and closed february 23, 1975, due to bad economics.

Geology: Alteration: malachite is oxidized from chalcocite where less than 10-15 ft of overburden host rock unit name - prewitt copper shale and upper copper shale, 5-10 ft below marty dol. The marty dol. Is about 25-30 ft below the haystack gypsum. The copper shales are 0.25-1 ft thick in several beds, about 5-10 ft below the marty dol. The grade of copper is 0.2-4.5%, with an average of 1.9% for the prewitt copper shale. The upper copper shale was locally mined in the northern part of 1s-22w, with an average grade of 0.79% cu, being about 5 inches thick.; hr.age.mv: guadalupian prewitt copper shale, 9.7 ft below marty dolomite; upper copper shale, 5.3 ft below marty dolomite. The marty dolomite is about 25-30 ft below the haystack gypsum. The flowerpot is about 154 ft thick. The prewitt copper shale is the main ore body, about 0.25-1.5 ft thick, averaging 1.9% cu. It occurs over 15 square miles. About 5 square miles were mined. A cap gypsum, about 1 ft thick, occurs at the top of the prewitt, about 8.7 ft below marty dolomite.;

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Link to USGS MRDS:	10248691

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References