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Fortuna Mining District (La Fortuna Mining District), Yuma County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Fortuna Mining District (La Fortuna Mining District)Mining District
Yuma CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° North , 113° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~98km
GRN:
N22W69
Type:
Mining District
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Mindat Locality ID:
33481
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:33481:2
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A Au-Ag-Cu-Fe-Mn-W-mica (Be-Ta-Nb-Th-RRE) mining area located in T.9-11S., R.19-20W., in the central and southern Gila Mountains.

Mineralization is varied: (1) Free gold, of ten with minor copper mineralization and pyrite, with a gangue of quartz, calcite, iron oxides, and manganese oxides , in irregular, lensing veins in fault and fracture zones in Mesozoic schist. There are some traces of tungsten; (2) Muscovite mica and samarskite in irregular pegmatites in small intrusives of Laramide granite; and, (3) Placer gold, mainly from old tailings.

Workings include one major mine shaft and several small prospects worked sporadically from the early 1890's to about 1951. Estimated and recorded production would be some 213,500 tons of ore, almost all from the Fortuna Mine, containing about 134,429 oz. of gold, 10,650 oz. silver and 98 pounds of copper.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity 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-localities

16 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Andalusite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
Habit: Prismatic, long, tabular, radiating
Description: Occurs as crystals in gray, speckled, quartz-biotite schist adjacent to the vein.
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Description: Small irregular masses in vein quartz.
ⓘ Beryl
Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)
Colour: Lavender, rose
Description: Crystals occur in matrix of yellowish quartz.
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Description: In vein quartz.
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Description: Small, irregular masses in vein quartz.
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Description: Occurs in black schist.
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
Description: Occurs in pegmatite dikes cutting gneiss.
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Description: Crystals in feldspar of narrow pegmatite dikes; fracture linings in quartz.
ⓘ Hematite var. Specularite
Formula: Fe2O3
Description: Occurs as small, shiny masses in schist near its hanging wall.
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Description: Occurs in vein wall rocks.
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Description: In decomposed pegmatite dike.
ⓘ 'Limonite'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Description: Occurs in pegmatite dikes cutting gneiss.
ⓘ Magnetite var. Lodestone
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Description: Occurs in pegmatite dikes cutting gneiss.
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Description: Small, irregular masses in vein quartz.
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Description: Coarse-grained, in altered schist nr pegmatite dike.
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)
Formula: YFe3+Nb2O8

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘvar. Lodestone4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘvar. Specularite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘSamarskite-(Y)4.DB.25YFe3+Nb2O8
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAndalusite9.AF.10Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘBeryl9.CJ.05Be3Al2(Si6O18)
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘKaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Limonite'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
BeBeryllium
Beⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
CCarbon
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ Samarskite-(Y)YFe3+Nb2O8
Oⓘ Hematite var. SpeculariteFe2O3
Oⓘ Magnetite var. LodestoneFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ BerylBe3Al2(Si6O18)
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
SSulfur
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ Samarskite-(Y)YFe3+Nb2O8
Feⓘ Hematite var. SpeculariteFe2O3
Feⓘ Magnetite var. LodestoneFe2+Fe23+O4
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
YYttrium
Yⓘ Samarskite-(Y)YFe3+Nb2O8
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ Samarskite-(Y)YFe3+Nb2O8
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu

Localities in this Region

USA
USA

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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

Blake, William P. (1897), The Fortuna gold mine, Engineering and Mining Journal: 63: 26.
Blake, W.P. (1898) Distribution of metallic wealth in Arizona, in Report of the Governor of Arizona to the Secretary of the Interior for fiscal year ending June 30, 1898: Washington, D.C.: 19-86.
(1933) Geology and Mineral Deposits of Southern Yuma County, Arizona. University of Arizona Bulletin 134. Arizona Bureau of Minespp.181-202
Wilson, E.D., Cunningham, J.B., and Butler, G.M. (1934), Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining (revised 1967), Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 137: 151-156.
Keith, Stanton B. (1978) Index of Mining Properties in Yuma County, Arizona. University of Arizona Bulletin 192. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology p.150 - Table 4
(n.d.) ADMMR Mines Database, Arizona Geological Survey.
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