Whetstone Mining District, Arizona, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Whetstone Mining District | Mining District |
| Arizona | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° North , 110° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~44km
Type:
Köppen climate type:
A Cu-Ag-W-F-U, silica mining area located in the Whetstone Mountains.
Mineralization is of several types: (1) Copper oxides, carbonates, and sulfides with pyrite as veinlets and disseminations in fractured porphyry dikes and Laramide granodiorite, and in pyrometasomatic lenses in folded and faulted Pennsylvanian and Permian limestone; (2) Tungsten mineralization with sparse sulfides in quartz veins cutting Precambrian granitic rocks, pegmatite dikes, or Pinal Schist; (3) Fluorspar along a quartz vein in Precambrian Pinal Schist; (4) Relatively weak oxidized uranium mineralization along an andesite dike cutting Precambrian granitic rock; and, (5) A large Precambrian quartz body, (6) Spotty copper minerals, mostly oxidized, in Cretaceous sediments intruded by Laramide rhyodacite intrusives, strong faulting.
Operations include shaft and open pit mining. Worked in 1955-1956 and 1962-1963.
Workings include several, scattered, relatively small mines and prospects. About 2,100 tons of copper ore, a few tons of tungsten concentrates, some 20,000 tons of fluorspar, minor shipments of uranium ore, and 50,000 or more tons of silica flux were produced in this district.
Mineralization is of several types: (1) Copper oxides, carbonates, and sulfides with pyrite as veinlets and disseminations in fractured porphyry dikes and Laramide granodiorite, and in pyrometasomatic lenses in folded and faulted Pennsylvanian and Permian limestone; (2) Tungsten mineralization with sparse sulfides in quartz veins cutting Precambrian granitic rocks, pegmatite dikes, or Pinal Schist; (3) Fluorspar along a quartz vein in Precambrian Pinal Schist; (4) Relatively weak oxidized uranium mineralization along an andesite dike cutting Precambrian granitic rock; and, (5) A large Precambrian quartz body, (6) Spotty copper minerals, mostly oxidized, in Cretaceous sediments intruded by Laramide rhyodacite intrusives, strong faulting.
Operations include shaft and open pit mining. Worked in 1955-1956 and 1962-1963.
Workings include several, scattered, relatively small mines and prospects. About 2,100 tons of copper ore, a few tons of tungsten concentrates, some 20,000 tons of fluorspar, minor shipments of uranium ore, and 50,000 or more tons of silica flux were produced in this district.
‡Ref.: Hess, F.L. (1909) Note on a wolframite deposit in the Whetstone Mountains, Arizona, in Contributions to economic geology, 1908; pt. I, metals and nonmetals except fuels: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 380, p. 164-165.
University of Arizona Bull. 41 (1916-17), Mineralogy of Useful Minerals in Arizona: 24.
Burnette, C.R. (1957) Geology of the Middle Canyon, Whetstone Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, M.S. thesis, 55 p.
Tyrrell, W.W., Jr. (1957) Geology of the Whetstone Mountain area, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona: New Haven, Conn., Yale University, Ph.D. dissertation, [236 p.], 8 sheets, scale 1:62,500, 31,680, 1:125,000, and 1:528,000. Ullmer (1978) Journal of Geochemical Exploration: 9(2-3): 235-236.
Graybeal, F.T. (1962) Geology and gypsum deposits of the southern Whetstone Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, M.S. thesis, 80 p.
Ross, C.A., and Tyrrell, W.W., Jr. (1965) Pennsylvanian and Permian fusulinids from the Whetstone Mountains, southeast Arizona: Journal of Paleontology: 39(4): 615-635.
DeRuyter, V.D. (1979) Geology of the Granitic Peak stock area, Whetstone Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, M.S. thesis, 121 p.
Archibald, L.E. (1982) Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Bisbee Group in the Whetstone Mountains, Pima and Cochise Counties, southeastern Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, M.S. thesis, 195 p.
McColly, R.A., and Scott, D.C. (1982) Mineral investigation of the Whetstone Roadless Area, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona: U.S. Bureau of Mines Mineral Land Assessment Open File Report MLA 129-82, 22 p.
Wrucke, C.T., McColly, R.A., Werschky, R.S., Scott, D.C., Bankey, V.L., Kleinkopf, M.D., Staatz, M.H., and Armstrong, A.K. (1983) Mineral-resource potential map of the Whetstone Roadless Area, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1614-A, 10 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:48,000.
Wrucke, C.T., and Armstrong, A.K. (1984) Geologic map of the Whetstone Roadless Area, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona; summary report: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1614-B, 1 sheet, scale 1:48,000.
Wrucke, C.T., and McColly, R.A. (1984) Whetstone Roadless Area, Arizona, in Marsh, S.P., and others, eds., Wilderness mineral potential - Assessment of mineral resource potential in U.S. Forest Service lands studied 1964-84, vol. 1: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1300, p. 126-129.
Bankey, V., and Kleinkopf, M.D. (1985) Geophysical maps of the Whetstone Roadless Area, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1614-C, 1 sheet, scale 1:48,000.
Archibald, L.E. (1987) Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Bisbee Group in the Whetstone Mountains, southeastern Arizona, in Dickinson, W.R., and Klute, M.A., eds., Mesozoic rocks of southern Arizona and adjacent areas: Arizona Geological Society Digest: 18: 273-282.
Wrucke, C.T., and Armstrong, A.K. (1987) Paleozoic stratigraphic section in Dry Canyon, Whetstone Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, in Hill, M.L., ed., Cordilleran Section of the Geological Society of America: Geological Society of America, Centennial Field Guide Volume 1, p. 29-34.
Schreiber, J.F., Jr., Armin, R.A., Connolly, W.M., Stanton, R.J., Jr., Armstrong, A.K., Lyons, T.W., and Wrucke, C.T. (1990) Upper Paleozoic stratigraphy of the Whetstone Mountains, Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona, in Gehrels, G.E., and Spencer, J.E., eds., Geologic excursions through the Sonoran Desert Region, Arizona and Sonora, Geological Society of America, Cordilleran section, 86th Annual Meeting, Tucson Ariz., March 14-16, 1990, Field-Trip Guidebook: Arizona Geological Survey Special Paper 7, p. 104-113.
Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 142.
Yale Peabody GNIS database.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities21 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz var. Chalcedony | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 | |
| ⓘ | var. Bull Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | 'Wolframite Group' | 4.DB.30 va | |
| ⓘ | Tyuyamunite | 4.HB.25 | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Aragonite | 5.AB.15 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Nitrocalcite | 5.NC.10 | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | var. Selenite | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Hydroxylapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Brushite | 8.CJ.50 | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Autunite | 8.EB.05 | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Muscovite var. Illite | 9.EC.15 | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| ⓘ | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Nontronite | 9.EC.40 | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Rectorite | 9.EC.60 | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Clay minerals' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Petrified Wood' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Manganese Oxides' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Nitrocalcite | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| N | Nitrogen | |
| N | ⓘ Nitrocalcite | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Nitrocalcite | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| O | ⓘ Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Bull Quartz | SiO2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Bull Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| P | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Nitrocalcite | Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| V | Vanadium | |
| V | ⓘ Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
Localities in this Region
- Arizona
- Cochise County
- Chadwick Mine (Chadwick claims; East Evening Star Mine; West Evening Star Mine; Houston Mine)
- Chimney Mine (Chimney prospect)
- David Lee prospect
- East Peak No. 1 Uranium occurrence
- Eastern slope of Whetstone Mountains
- Evening Star Mine (Evening Star claims)
- Gold Cristle claims
- James Mine (Nunnelley Mine; Ricky Dale Mine; San Juan Mine)
- Kartchner Caverns
- Little David claims
- Lost Apache claim
- Lost Apache Girl claim
- Lucky Seven No. 1 prospect
- Mammoth Tungsten prospect
- McGrew Spring
- Nevada and Mascot Mines
- ⭔San Juan Siding area
- Southern Whetstone Mountains Gypsum occurrence
- Star No. 1 Mine (Bluestone Mine)
- Cochise County
- Arizona
- Cochise County
- Taylor group
- Two Peaks Mine (Noriega Mine; Black Oak Mine; Buck Mine; Boot Jack Mine)
- Unnamed Cu prospect (10)
- Unnamed Cu prospect (4)
- Unnamed Cu prospect (5)
- Unnamed Cu prospect (9)
- Unnamed Gypsum deposit (4)
- Unnamed Gypsum deposit (5)
- Unnamed Quartz occurrence
- Unnamed U working (1)
- Unnamed U working (2)
- Unnamed U working (3)
- Unnamed U working (4)
- Unnamed W-U mine
- Western Part of Whetstone Mountains
- Western slope of Whetstone Mountains
- Whetstone Huebnerite occurrence
- Whetstone Mountains Clay deposit
- Whetstone Mountains deposit (Whetstone Mountains Gypsum)
- Windmill group
- Pima County
- Cochise County
Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect
North AmericaContinent
- Sonoran DesertDesert
- San Pedro river valleyValley
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mazatzal DomainDomain
- Pedregosa BasinBasin
- Southern Basin and RangeWide Rift
USA
- Arizona
- Whetstone MountainsMountain Range
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References
Unnamed Quartz occurrence, Cochise County, Arizona, USA