MINERAL INVESTIGATION of a PART of the NEW WATER MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (AZ-020-125), LA PAZ COUNTY, ARIZONA I by Michael E

I I IMLAIs.86 i Mineral Land Assessment Open File Report/1986

| Mineral Investigation of a Part of the New Water i Mountains Wilderness Study Area (AZ-020-125), i La Paz County, Arizona

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! I I BUREAU OF MINES I UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I MINERAL INVESTIGATION OF A PART OF THE NEW WATER MOUNTAINS 1 WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (AZ-020-125), LA PAZ COUNTY, ARIZONA I I I !iI by Michael E. Lane I

MLA 57-86 I 1986 I I

Intermountain Field Operations Center I Denvert Colorado I I UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I Donald P. Hodel, Secretary BUREAU OF MINES I Robert C. Horton RECEIVED JUN 0 5 1987

I DEPT. OF MINES MINERAL RESOURCES I PREFACE

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-579)

I requires the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to conduct I • mineral surveys on certain areas to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present. Results must be made available to the public and be submitted I to the President and the Congress. This report presents the results of a mineral survey of a part of the New Water Mountains Wilderness Study Area

I (AZ-020-125), La Paz County, Arizona. I, I

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!I ¸ This open-file report summarizes the results of a Bureau of Mines wilderness study. The report is preliminary and has not been edited or reviewed for conformity with the Bureau of Mines editorial standards. This study was conducted by personnel from the Branch of Mineral Land Assessment (MLA), Intermountain Field Operations Center, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. CONTENTS

I Summary ...... 1 I Introduction ...... 1 Geographic setting ...... 2 I Methods of evaluation ...... 2 Acknowledgments ...... 4

I Geologic setting ...... 4 I Mining history ...... 5 Energy resources ...... 5 I Appraisal of sites examined ...... 5 Conclusions ...... 7

I References ...... 8

I ILLUSTRATIONS Plate I. Mine and prospect map showing sampled localities, New Water at I Mountains Study Area, La Paz County, Arizona ...... back I EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS FOR FIGURES 2-15 ...... 9 Figure i. Index map of the New Water Mountains Study Area, La Paz County, Arizona ...... 3

I 2. Mine map showing sample localities 1-3 ...... 11

3. Surface map showing workings and sample localities 9-26 in I the Poorman Mine area ...... 12

4. Surface map showing workings and sample localities 33-74 I in the Apache Chief Mine area ...... 13 5. Mine map showing sample locallties 34-39 ...... 14

I 6. Mine map showing sample localities 49-63 ...... 15 I 7. Mine map showing sample localities 68-70 ...... 16

I ii I i ILLUSTRATIONS--Continued

Figure 8. Mine map showing sample localities 71-73 ...... 17

I 9. Surface map showing sample localities 76-101 taken in the Black Mesa Mine area ...... 18

I 10. Mine map showing sample localities 85-97 ...... 19 I ii. Mine map showing sample localities 98-99 ...... 20 12. Surface map showing sample localities 111-144 taken in the Eagle Eye Mine area ...... 21

I 13. Mine map showing sample localities 117-126 ...... 22 I 14. Mine map showing sample localities 133-134 ...... 23 15. Mine map showing sample locality 148 ...... 23 I TABLES

Table . Sampled areas in and near the New Water Mountains Study I Area, La Paz County, Arizona ...... 24

I UNIT OF MEASURE ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT I ft foot mi mile I OZ ounce oz/st troy ounce per short ton (2,000 pounds)

I % percent I °C degree Celsius I I I i iii MINERAL INVESTIGATION OF A PART OF THE NEW WATER MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (AZ-020-125), LA PAZ COUNTY, ARIZONA I by Michael E. Lane, Bureau of Mines

I SUMMARY I In April and June 1985, the Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral investigation of 24,120 acres of the 40,375-acre New Water Mountains I Wilderness Study Area in La Paz County, southwestern Arizona, as authorized by Public Law 94-579, October 21, 1976. Prospecting has occurred in and near the

I study area, but, there was no mining activity at the time of this I investigation. One hundred and fifty-one samples were taken; two were from within the I boundary. Field and sample data did not indicate any identifiable resources; however, just outside the boundary, silver and gold occurrences were found at

I the Black Mesa Mine and copper minerals were found at the Moore patented

claims. Gold and silver were found in limestone at the Black Mesa Mine and

I copper minerals were found in andesite at the Moore claims. Although these I rock units occur inside the boundary and could be mineralized, no prospects were found. I INTRODUCTION In April and June 1985, the Bureau of Mines, in a cooperative program

I with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), studied the mineral occurrences of a I part of the New Water Mountains Wilderness Study Area, La Paz County, Arizona, on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Phoenix, I Arizona. The wilderness study area comprises 40,375 acres; the Bureau studied the 24,120 acres deemed preliminarily suitable for inclusion in the National

I Wilderness Preservation System. "Study area", as used in this report, refers

I 1 ~I~ only to the smaller area. The Bureau surveys and studies mines, prospects, and mineralized areas to appraise reserves and identified mineral resources. i The USGS assesses the potential for undiscovered mineral resources based on I regional geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys. This report presents the results of the Bureau of Mines study that was completed prior to I the USGS investigation. The USGS will publish the results of their studies. A joint USGS-Bureau report, to be published by the USGS, will integrate and

I summarize the results of these surveys. I Geographic setting The Mew Water Mountains Study Area is in south-central La Paz County in I southwestern Arizona about ~ mi south of Interstate 10 and about 10 mi southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona (fig. 1). The study area encompasses most of

I the New Water Mountains and includes Black Mesa, a prominent geomor-phic I feature. Terrain is typical of the desert southwest and consists of steep I mountains and sandy washes; the highest elevation is 3,639 ft on Black Mesa and the lowest elevation is about 1,800 ft along the periphery in the alluvial

I washes. Sparse vegetation, where present, consists mostly of cacti, mesquite, I palo verde, and small shrubs. Access is by unpaved roads south from Interstate 10 and north from the I pipeline road in the Kofa Game Range. Methods of evaluation

I Bureau personnel reviewed literature concerning mining and geology of the I region. In addition, BLM records were reviewed for mining claim information, and oil and gas leases and lease applications. I I 114°15' R, 19W. R. IBW. R.17W. 114000' R. 16W. R. 15W. 115°45':53045 , 33 °45' I ~ T. 5 ] N. / °~ ~

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K 0 F A G A M E R A N G E I

T. I I N. I KOFA MOUNTA INS I I I14° 15~ 114°00' 113" 45 I

MAP LOCATION EXPLANATION I INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ~ U.S.HIGHWAY I STATE HIGHWAY UNIMPROVED ROAD I -GAME RANGE BOUNDARY Figure l.--Index map of the ~ew Water Mountains Study Area, La Paz County, Arizona. 3 I I Two geoloEists spent 20 days examining mines and prospects inside and within approximately 1 mi of the boundary. Surface workinBs and accessible

I mines were surveyed by compass and tape method, mapped, and sampled.

A total of 151 samples was taken; 2 samples were from within the study i area (pl. I, fig. 9). Chip samples were taken across geologic structures and I grab samples were taken from dumps. All samples were fire assayed for Eold and silver; selected samples were analyzed by semi-quantitative optical

I emission spectrographic methods for 40 elements and by atomic absorption

spectrometry for copper. Sample data are summarized in table 1 and complete

I analytical data for all samples are available for public inspection at the I Bureau of Mines, Intermountain Field Operations Center, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Bureau of Mines thanks Robert Muller, claim owner, Mammoth, Arizona,

I for assistance and information concecnin~ the Moore patented claims and the I Eagle Eye Mine area. The Bureau also appreciates information concerning these areas provided by Don Hammer, Newmont Exploration, Ltd., Tucson, Arizona. I GEOLOGIC SETTING The northwest-trending New Water Mountains, which make up most of the

I study area, are in the Basin and Range physiographic province and are composed I of Precambrian to Quaternary age rocks. The area is underlain primarily by Quate~ary basalt and Cretaceous rhyolite and andesite; smaller amounts of I Paleozoic and Mesozoic limestones, shale, sandstone, and quartzite also exist (Wilson, 1960). Quaternary sand and gravel covers the mountain periphery and

I washes; Quaternary basalt caps Black Mesa. Limestone and andesite are I mineralized at the Black Mesa Mine and the Moore claims, respectively. I MINING HISTORY

Two pits were found within the study area, located in the New Water

I mining district; many workings were found within 1 mi of the boundary (pl. I 1). Little or no production came from these workings; no recent mining activity has taken place. I BLM records indicate few mining claims are in the study area; however, about 200 unpatented mining claims are on the periphery (pl. 1). Twenty-three

I patented claims, the Moore claims, are adjacent to the northern boundary and I cover the Eagle Eye Mine. Keith (1978, p. 165) states that about 518 tons of ore containing 175 tons of copper and 514 oz of silver was produced from the I New Water Mountains. Production and mining activity are summarized in table 1. ENERGY RESOURCES

I Oil and gas leases exist about 1 mi to the northeast, but do not extend I into the study area. The area is considered to have low to zero potential for hydrocarbons (Ryder, 1983, p. C19-20). I No evidence of geothermal occurrences was found durin~ the field investigation; the nearest geothermal well is 8 mi north (Arizona Bureau of I Geology and Mineral Technology, 1982). An "...area of significant lateral extent favorable for discovery and development of local resources of low

I temperature (90°C) geothermal water..." (Sammel, 1979, map 1) is about 2 mi I north of the study area. APPRAISAL OF SITES EXAMINED I TWo small pits were found in the study area; analyses of samples 101 and 110 showed no significant metal content and no mineral resources were

I identified. Sample data are summarized in table 1. I I !!I

!i~, With the possible exception of the Black Mesa Mine and the Moore patented claims, no significantly mineralized occurrences or structures outside the

I area extend inside the study area. At the Black Mesa Mine, the deposit is a I limestone replacement type (Keith, 1978, p. 167). Samples taken at the mine (83-101) (fig. 9) outside the study area contained silver and gold. Fifteen I samples contained silver from 0.2 oz/st to 16.1 oz/st and eight samples contained gold values between 0.01 oz/st and 0.58 oz/st (table 1). Similar

I mineral occurrences could exist in the limestone within the boundary, but no I evidence of past mining activity exists in the study area. Near the Eagle Eye Mine, at the west end of the Moore patented claims, I secondary copper minerals, mostly chrysocolla, are abundant in fractures and faults in andesite and rhyolite. The andesite extends into the study area and

I could be mineralized but no evidence of past mining activity was found. I Mapping, sampling, and drilling would be needed to determine the extent of any possible mineral resources. I Of the 18 samples taken at the west end of the Moore claims, only one contained a trace of gold and 11 contained silver between 0.1 oz/st and 1.6

I oz/st. All samples contained copper and averaged 1.1%; the highest value was

2.85%.

I Keith (1978, p. 63) states, "Known mineralization in the New Water I Mountains is restricted to spotty, scattered, oxidized, copper mineralization associated with limonite, and to some local, small, high-grade chimneys of I copper ore, in fracture veins and pipes in the andesitic volcanics. No I continuous bodies of economic ore have been found." I

I 6 CONCLUSIONS

Two small pits were found in the study area, but no mineral resources

I were identified. Mineralized rocks found outside the boundary may extend into I the study area near the Black Mesa Mine where gold-bearing limestone exists and near the Moore patented claims where copper-bearing andeslte and rhyolite I exist. These rock units may occur in the study area, but there is no evidence of past exploration of these units in the area. I I I I

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iii :i¸ ii~i~i i il REFERENCES

Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology, 1982, Geothermal resources of Arizona: map, scale 1:500,000.

Keith, S. B., 1978, Index of mining properties in Yuma County, Arizona: Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Bulletin 192, 185 p.

Ryder, R. T., 1983, Petroleum potential of wilderness lands in Arizona, i__n_n Petroleum potential of wilderness lands in the western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 902 A-P, p. C1-C22.

Sammel, E. A., 1979, Occurrence of low-temperature geothermal waters in the United States, i__nnAssessment of geothermal resources of the United States-1978: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 790, 163 p.

Wilson, E. D., 1960, Geologic map of Yuma County, Arizona: Arizona Bureau of Mines, University of Arizona, scale 1:375,000.

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EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS FOR FIGURES 2-15 I APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY OF THE NEW WATER MOUNTAINS STUDY AREA I 0 148 SAMPLE LOCALITY AND SAMPLE NUMBER LITHOLOGY AND STRUCTURE I Limestone I Siltstone, sandstone

I Andesite

I •.--~- 34 o Decline showinE dip

I Trace and mapped shape of vein--Showing strike and dip; ==~ dashed where approximate I 29 X Strike and dip of rock strata

I Fault--Showin~ dip; dashed where approximate

I Vertical fault

I UNDERGROUND OPENINGS I I Winze I Raise (bottom)

Shaft I

9 I I i ~~ EXPLANATION FOR FIGURES 2-15--Continued

I SURFACE OPENINGS--SHOWING SAMPLE NUMBER(S) I Portal of adit with open cut I X42 Prospect pit rl15, 16 I Shaft 1~. 48 Inclined shaft I >-14 Adit I >_

I ~2200~ CONTOUR--SHOWING ELEVATION IN FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

I UNIMPROVED ROAD 1 1

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10 I hematite zone I I I

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Figure 2.--Sample localities 1-3 taken in the Six Pcice Mine acea.

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I I00 200'(1" I I I CONTOURINTERVAL 40'f't I Figure 3.--Worklngs and sample localities 9-26 in the Poorman Mine area. I See plate 1.

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I 43, I~'~,45 I ~ 46,47 I I I I I I I I

0 I00 200 300~ I i I I I CONTOUR INTEF~AL. 4Of'f" I

Figuce 4.--Wockings and sample localities 33-74 in the Apache Chief Mine acea. I See plate 1.

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Figure 5.--Sample localities 34-39 taken in the Apache Chief Mine area. See figure 4 for location.

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.° Figure 6.--Sample localities 49-63 taken in the Apache Chief Mine area. See figure 4 for location.

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i ¸ Figure 7.--Sample localities 68-70 taken in the Apache Chief Mine area. See figure 4 for location.

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~i:~.~, I Figure 8.--Sample localities 71-73 taken in the Apache Chief Mine area. See figure 4 for location.

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% ,J STUDY AREA

0 1,000 2,000 ft I I I i CONTOUR INTERVAL 200ff I I

Figure 9.--Sample localities 76-101 taken in the Black Mesa Mine area. See plate 1.

18 ite- silica zone

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-95

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Figure 10.--Sample localities 85-97 taken in the Black Mesa Mine acea. See figure 9 for location.

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Figuce 11.--Sample localities 98-99 taken in the Black Mesa Mine acea. See figuce 9 foc location.

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i ° Figure 12.--Workings and sample localities 111-144 in the Eagle Eye Mine acea. I See plate 1. I 21 I I 6~ "=" I 2o~ r,. ~,=

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Figure 13.--Sample localities 117-126 taken in the Eagle Eye Mine area. i See figure 12 for location.

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I ¢~1. ,i¢.q t" "1 q=~=~' ' r 0 • I0 20 ft I I I I I FiEure 14.--Sample localities 133-134 taken in the Ea~le Eye Mine area. I See fiEure 12 for location. I I

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0 I0 201"1" w' i..~ v ~.¢. I I I I I Figure 15.--Sample locality 148 taken near the New Water Mountains Study Area. I See figure 12 for location. I 23 m m m m m m m m m m m m m mm m m m m m

Table l.--Sampled areas in and near the New Water Mountains Study Area m La Paz County, Arizona.

[Au, gold; Ag, silver; Cu, copper; Mn, manganese; Pb, lead; ppm, part per million; Tr, trace.]

Sample nos. Locality .~,,,~,,ry Workings Sample and production data

1-8 Six Price Mine Sampled areas consist of limestone, siltstone, Inclined shaft, three Samples were taken on faults and/or quartz veins. area. quartzite, and granite country rock. NE. to pits, two shafts, Highest Au content was 0.04 ozlst in a 1.9-ft ~g. striking faults and quartz veins were one caved and one chip sample and four samples contained trace sampled and mapped, and contained visible about 25 ft deep. Au. All samples were about 1/4 mi outside the hematite, limonite, and calcite. study area.

9-26 Poorman Mine . Area consists mostly of quartzite and phyllite. Two inclined shafts, Nine samples contained a trace Au and five samples area. Smaller exposures of ~raywacke(?), shale, and 2 vertical shafts, contained 0.i ozlst Ag. One sample contained 60 sandstone. Country rocks contain faults i0 pits, I adit and ppm Cu. All samples were about 3/4 m£ outside and/or associated quartz veins or stringers. 1 trench. the study area. Worked between 1909 and 1911 Hematite, limonite, calcite and minor chryso- producing about I00 tons of ore averaging 3.8 colla and malachite are found in structures. oz/st Au and 0.8 ozlst Ag (Keith, 1978).

27-75 Apache Chief Mine Apache Chief area consists of limestone, sand- Four inclined shafts, Three samples contained Ag above 1 oz/st; 9.2 area. stone, quartzite, and siltstone containing six vertical shafts, oz/st in a grab sample, 2.3 oz/st in a 1.3-ft faults and quartz veins. Some faults occur six pits, three adits, chip sample, and 7.2 oz/st in a 0.4-it chip along beddinE planes. Visible minerals two trenches. sample. The remainder of the samples contained include malachite, chrysocolla, hematite, less than 0.4 oz/st Ag. The highest Au content bo 4> gFPSum, and limonite. was 0.01 oz/st in a 1.3-it chip sample. The remainder of the samples contained trace or less Au. Three samples contained Cu; 3.2%, 0.36%, and 0.39%. Samples were 1/4 to 1 mi outside the study area.

76-101 Black Mesa Mine Samples 76-82 were taken in fault gouge and One vertical shaft, Of samples (76-82) taken in diabase country rock, area. massive specularite/quartz vein, both in five pits, three all but two samples contained Tr Au; Ag (0.20 diabase. Samples 83-101 were in limestone. adits. oz/st) was detected in only one sample. In Breccia and faults containing hematite, samples 83-101 taken in limestone, the hiEhest limonite, calcite, and rugs. Keith (1978) Au content was 0.58 oz/st in a 5.5-it chip reports presence of cerussite, anglesite, sample and the highest Ag content was 16.1 oz/st galena, chrysocolla, malachite, brochantite, in a 2.4-it chip sample. Fourteen samples con- native Cu and cerarEyrite. tained Tr or more Au, and 15 samples contained 0.3 oz/st or more A$. Sample locallties are just outside the study area. From 1940's to 1964 production was 51 tons of ore averaelng 25% Pb, 13 oz/st AE, 2% Cu, 0.02 oz/st Au (Keith, 1978, p. 167).

102-108 Cave Creek Alluvium in wash along Cave Creek. Shafts are Six shafts, one pit. None of samples contained detectable Au, Ag, or area. about 50 ft deep. other metals.

109-110 Unknown Samples were taken at two isolated pits in Two pits. Do. volcanics and frasmented volcanics. m m m m m m m m m m m m m n m m m m m

Table 1.--Sampled areas in and near the New Water Mountains Study Area, La Paz County, Arizona--Continued

sample nos. Locality Summary WorkinRs Sample and production data

111-144 Eagle Eye Mine Area composed mostly of Cretaceous andesite and Three vertical shafts, Au was detected in three samples (Tr, Tr, 0.01 area (Moore rhyolite. Cu mineralization is associated 2 adits, 13 pits, oz/st). Twenty-five samples contained AS; claims), with NW. trending faults. Mesozoic quartzite, 1 trench. the hishest value was 1.6 oz/st in a 2.5-it shale and siltstone crops out in small ex- chip sample and the lowest was 0.1 oz/st. posures near the EaEle Eye Mine. Cu minerals Cu was detected in all samples, the hiEhest are predomlnantly chrysocolla, azurite, and value was 3.3% in a 2.6-it chip sample and malachite found in fractures, faults, and the lowest was 23 ppm. Keith (1978) reported breccia zones. that 480 tons of 3.7% Cu ore was shipped from 1941-1944.

145-151 Unknown Four samples (145-149) taken across faults Three shafts, three Five samples contained detectable Au (0.01 containing minor chrysocolla in andesite(?) pits. oz/st, four contained Tr) and Ag (6.4 oz/st and one of dump material. Samples 150-151 in a l-it chip sample was the hiEhest and 0.4 were of sandstone dump material. oz/st was the lowest). Four samples contained from 5.8% in a l-it chip sample to 1.48% Cu.

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