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Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Harquahala Mining DistrictMining District
La Paz CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
02479370017658407532780.jpg
Dioptase, etc.

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
00078140017656295044395.jpg
Pseudomalachite

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
02826140017272076187153.jpg
Dioptase

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
07109570017658407484938.jpg
Dioptase, etc.

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
00078140017656295044395.jpg
Pseudomalachite

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
02826140017272076187153.jpg
Dioptase

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
02479370017658407532780.jpg
Dioptase, etc.

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
00078140017656295044395.jpg
Pseudomalachite

Harquahala Mining District, La Paz County, Arizona, USA
Latitude & Longitude:
33° North , 113° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~101km
GRN:
N23W68
Type:
Mining District
Mindat Locality ID:
48469
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:48469:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A Au-Ag-Pb-Cu-W-Fe-Mn-Zn-Ti, gypsum, marble, quartzite mining area located in T4 & 5N, R10-13W, in the Harquahala and Little Harquahala Mountains.

Mineralization is variable: (1) Pockety & irregular deposits containing gold with variable amounts of Ag-Cu-Pb & Zn, associated with iron oxides and gypsum where oxidized and auriferous pyrite in depth, in brecciated, lenticular, quartz-jasper veins along faults and shear zones cutting tilted, folded, and faulted Paleozoic and possibly Mesozoic and Precambrian metamorphosed formations. Intrusions of laramide granitic bodies and aplitic and more basic dikes. Strong deformation; (2) Spotty, and mostly minor, tungsten mineralization associated with discontinuous quartz lenses and veins in altered granite and metamorphosed rocks; (3) Gold placer deposits, mainly in gulches in the Little Harquahala Mts, near the Bonanza (Harquahala) Mine; (4) Seams and irregular replacement bodies of manganese oxides, often associated with iron oxides, along fracture zones in metamorphosed Paleozoic or Mesozoic limestone; (5) Titaniferous magnetite sand in alluvium on southwest peneplain of the Little Harquahala Mts (T.4N., R.14W.); (6) Marble and quartzite deposits in metamorphosed Paleozoic formations; and, (7) An irregular, lensing, white, crystalline bed, 1 to 12 feet thick, of gypsum in folded Permian (?) limestone (SW¼ T.5N., R.11W.).

Workings include numerous large to small mines and prospects worked from shafts, tunnels, adits, and open cuts. Operations date back to the 1880's and continued intermittently to recent times. Total estimated and recorded production of precious and base metals would be some 160,000 tons of ore containing about 130,582 oz. Au, 89,500 oz. Ag, 45 tons of Cu, 61 tons Pb and minor Zn. About 615 oz. of placer gold with some silver was produced, mostly prior to 1900. Some 1,100 short ton units of tungsten oxide has been reported shipped from the district as well as a few lots of sorted 20% manganese ore. For many years marble and quartzite, mainly for crushed stone, has been quarried. The titaniferous magnetite sand has not been exploited. Some gypsum was produced for agricultural use.

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

18 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
Habit: Sparse
Colour: Very light-colored
Description: Coarse masses with sparse crystals along contact zones.
ⓘ Dioptase
Formula: CuSiO3 · H2O
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Description: Occurs as bedded deposits.
ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ 'Limonite'
Description: Abundant
ⓘ Minium
Formula: Pb3O4
Description: Described as yellow lead oxide.
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
References:
Dale (1959): 7-8.
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Pseudomalachite
Formula: Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrite var. Gold-bearing Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Description: Vuggy.
ⓘ Scheelite
Formula: Ca(WO4)
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Habit: Crystals to 4 cm long
Description: Occurs in a large outcrop of crystalline material.

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite
var. Gold-bearing Pyrite		2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘ2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘFluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMinium4.BD.05Pb3O4
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘPyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘvar. Selenite7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘScheelite7.GA.05Ca(WO4)
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘPseudomalachite8.BD.05Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘDioptase9.CJ.30CuSiO3 · H2O
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Unclassified
ⓘ'Limonite'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ MiniumPb3O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Oⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
FFluorine
Fⓘ FluoriteCaF2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
SSulfur
Sⓘ Pyrite var. Gold-bearing PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
KPotassium
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Caⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
MnManganese
Mnⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Feⓘ Pyrite var. Gold-bearing PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Cuⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
WTungsten
Wⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ MiniumPb3O4

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

Bancroft, H. (1911) Reconnaissance of the ore deposits in northern Yuma County, Arizona. Bulletin 451. US Geological Survey p.104-115. doi:10.3133/b451
Farnham, L. L.; Stewart, L. A. (1958) Manganese Deposits of Western Arizona. Information Circular 7843. Bureau of Mines p.83-84.
Dale, V.B. (1959) Tungsten deposits of Yuma, Maricopa, Pinal, and Graham Counties, Arizona. Report of Investigations 5516. United States Bureau of Mines p.3-11.
Wilson, Eldred D. (1961) Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona. University of Arizona Bulletin 168. Arizona Bureau of Minesp.32
Townsend, R.C. (1962) Stone in Arizona, an economic study. Arizona Development Board 50pp.p.18
Funnell, J.E.; Wolfe, E.J. (1964) Compendium on nonmetallic minerals of Arizona. Southwest Research Institute.p.191
Harrer, C.M. (1964) Reconnaissance of Iron Resources in Arizona. Information Circular 8236. US Bureau of Minesp.137
Wilson, Eldred D.; Cunningham, J. B.; Butler, G. M. (1967) Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining. University of Arizona Bulletin 137. Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology p.128-133.
Keith, S.B. (1969) Mineral and Water Resources of Arizona. Bulletin 180. Arizona Bureau of Minesp.37
Varga, R.J. (1976) Bureau sponsors geologic study in Harquahala Mountains. Fieldnotes Vol. 6 (2). Arizona Bureau of Minesp.15
Keith, Stanton B. (1978) Index of Mining Properties in Yuma County, Arizona. University of Arizona Bulletin 192. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Pages 114 (Table 4) and 151.
Keith, Stanton B. (1978) Index of Mining Properties in Yuma County, Arizona. University of Arizona Bulletin 192. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology 189pp.
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