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Blue Bell Mine (Blue Bell Mine and Quarry; Patented claims 1528; Blue Coat vein; Blue Buck claim), Mayer, Big Bug Mining District, Bradshaw Mountains (Bradshaw Range), Yavapai County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Blue Bell Mine (Blue Bell Mine and Quarry; Patented claims 1528; Blue Coat vein; Blue Buck claim)Mine
MayerTown
Big Bug Mining DistrictMining District
Bradshaw Mountains (Bradshaw Range)Mountain Range
Yavapai CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
03889140017395875225715.jpg
Cuprite

Blue Bell Mine, Mayer, Big Bug Mining District, Bradshaw Mountains, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA
03889140017395875225715.jpg
Cuprite

Blue Bell Mine, Mayer, Big Bug Mining District, Bradshaw Mountains, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA
09127260017395875224026.jpg
Cuprite

Blue Bell Mine, Mayer, Big Bug Mining District, Bradshaw Mountains, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
34° 20' 21'' North , 112° 14' 25'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
34.33917,-112.24055
GRN:
N23W67
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSk : Cold semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Mayer1,497 (2011)6.5km
Spring Valley1,148 (2011)7.5km
Cordes Lakes2,633 (2011)13.1km
Dewey-Humboldt3,894 (2011)21.2km
Prescott41,899 (2017)30.6km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Prescott Gem & Mineral ClubPrescott Valley, Arizona31km
Black Canyon City Rock ClubBlack Canyon City, Arizona31km
Mingus Gem & Mineral ClubCottonwood, Arizona49km
Verde River RockhoundsCottonwood, Arizona49km
Mindat Locality ID:
44356
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:44356:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A former underground Cu-Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-As mine and surface stone quarry located in the NE¼ sec. 34, T.11.5N., R.1E. (Cleator 7.5 minute topo map), 4 miles South of Mayer at 4,500 feet of altitude. Discovered 1895. Closed and then reopened in 1922. Produced 1896-1959. Owned by the Consolidated Arizona Smelting Co.; and, Southwest Metals Co. Claims extend into the E½SE¼NW¼, E½NE¼SW¼, SE¼SW¼, and NW¼SE¼ of sec. 34.

Mineralization is a number of thin, in part overlapping, lenses followed down to a depth of 1,500 feet and traceable for 1,600 feet horizontally. Schists are calcareous and contain small lenses of limestone. Pyritic copper ore. The most common country rock is a chlorite-biotite schist. Ore control was stratigraphy and igneous activity. Ore concentration was oxidation at near surface. Alteration included chloritization and sericitization.

Area structures include massive sulfide lenses parallel to foliation. The foliation and transposed bedding in metavolcanics trends N20E to N30E.

Workings include a 1,400 foot deep vertical shaft (1922), with almost 30,000 feet of underground workings both North & South of the shaft. There are also 5 smaller shafts. Production was 800,000 tons of copper oree through 1921; 900,000 tons since 1906.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


20 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Anorthite
Formula: Ca(Al2Si2O8)
Description: Component of a persistent dike, partly idiomorphic (camptonite-like rock).
ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite
Formula: (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Description: Component of a persistent dike, partly idiomorphic (camptonite-like rock).
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Description: Component of a persistent dike, partly idiomorphic (camptonite-like rock).
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Description: Component of a persistent dike, partly idiomorphic (camptonite-like rock).
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Colour: Dirty-green
Description: In schist (1,400 foot level).
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Description: Veinlets; abundant in the mine.
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Description: Occurs in lower part of oxidized zone (400 to 500 feet down).
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Description: In ore with pyrite in schist.
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
Description: In schist (1,400 foot level).
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Description: In a 2 foot wide vein on 500 level with cuprite.
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
Description: In a 2 foot wide vein on 500 level with chrysocolla.
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Description: Component of a persistent dike, partly idiomorphic (camptonite-like rock).
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Description: In schist (1,400 foot level).
ⓘ Microcline
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Orthoclase
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Description: Component of micro-crystalline groundmass with quartz.
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
ⓘ Zoisite
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Description: In schist (1,400 foot level).

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
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
ⓘ'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘCuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZoisite9.BG.10(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘMicrocline9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘOrthoclase9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘAnorthite9.FA.35Ca(Al2Si2O8)
ⓘvar. Labradorite9.FA.35(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
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ⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
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
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
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ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Alⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Siⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Caⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

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

U.S. Bureau of Mines - Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mining Technology file data.
Arizona Department of Mineral Resources Blue Bell Mine file.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Mining District Sheet 12.
USGS Cleator Quadrangle map.
Big Bug Mining District claim map.
MRDS database Dep. ID #10027880, MRDS ID #M004325; and, Dep. ID #10283543, MAS ID #0040250246.
Yavapai Magazine (1918) March, 1918: 4-6
Lindgren, W. (1926), Ore deposits of the Jerome and Bradshaw Mountains quadrangles, Arizona, USGS Bull. 782: 29, 32, 36, 50, 143-145.
Tenney, J.B. (1928), The Mineral Industries of Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 125: 71.
Blacet (1968) Ph.D. thesis, Stanford University.
Anderson, C.A. (1972) Precambrian Rocks in the Cordes Area. USGS Bull. 1345.
Dewitt (1976) M.S. thesis, University of Arizona.
Niemuth, N.J. (1987), Arizona Mineral Development 1984-1986, Arizona Department of Mines & Mineral Resources Directory 29, 46 pp.
Niemuth, Nyal J., Phillips, Ken A. (1992, July) Copper Oxide Resources. Open-file Report 92-10. Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resourcesp.16 - Table 1
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