COPPER OXIDE RESOURCES Open-File Report 92-10 July, 1992
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COPPER OXIDE RESOURCES Open-file Report 92-10 July, 1992 by Nyal J. Niemuth and Ken A. Phillips Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resourses 1502 West Washington Phoenix, Arizona 85007 This is a preliminary report, silbject to technical and editorial revision. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . 1 Arizona Copper Deposits 1 Figure 1. Map showing copper oxide resources in Arizona 2 Figures 2-4. Maps showing the distribution of Arizona's principal copper-producing metallic mineral districts for the following deposit types: Figure 2. Porphyry copper . .. 3 Figure 3. Stratabound volcanogenic massive sulfide .. 3 Figure 4. Stratabound copper, veins, and replacement ....... 3 Table 1. Arizona copper oxide deposits Cochise County . 4 Coconino County 6 Gila County . 7 Graham County . 7 Greenlee County 8 La Paz County . 8 Maricopa County 9 Mohave County 10 Navajo County 11 Pima County. 11 Pinal County. 13 Santa Cruz County 16 Yavapai County 16 Yuma County . 18 Commodity Abbreviations AU - gold F - flourine AG - silver FE - iron CU - copper PB - lead BA - barium U - uranium SI - silicon V - vanadium W - tungsten HG - mercury MN - manganese MCA-mica STN - stone ASB - asbestos ZN - zinc MO - molybdenum COPPER OXIDE RESOURCES Open File Report 92-10 July, 1992 by Nyal J. Niemuth and Ken. A. Phillips Exploration and mining companies are showing renewed interest in Arizona copper deposits. Strong copper prices, averaging more than $l.(X)/pound since the late 1980's, are the primary reasonfor the increased activity. Another factor is the widespread recognition ofthe advantages of the solvent extraction-electrowinning process (SX-EW). Copper oxide deposits, and certain sUlfide deposits, are amenable to treatment by heap ,leaching and SX-Ew. In this process the ore is mined and placed in heaps and treated with a dilute aqueous solution of SUlfuric acid. The copper minerals are dissolved as a soluble copper sulfate. These solutions are then mixed with an organic reagent to which the copper is transferred. The stripped aqueous solution is separatedjrom the organic reagent in a settling tank and returned to the ore heaps. The copper-carrying organic reagent is mixed again, this time with a small volume of aqueous, highly acidic solution to which the copper is transferred. This mixture is allowed to settle and separate. The now barren organic reagent is reused by returning it to the first mixing tank to repeat the process. The acidic solution containing a high concentration of copper is transferred to the electro winning tank house where an electric current is used to deposit copper from the solution onto cathodes. The resulting copper cathodes aTe ofhigh purity, ready for marketing. The advantages of SX-EW, compared to the conventional flotation and smelting process, include lower capital cost, the absence of grinding cost, the absence ofsmelter treatment charges, and low labor and operating costs. These benefits allow smaller and lower grade deposits to be economically developed. Copper oxide deposits are also generally ameanable to the production of cement copper by leaching and precipitation, but the cement copper produced must be sold to and treated by a copper smelter, resulting in less revenue per unit of copper produced. This report on copper oxide prospects and deposits was prepared to encourage and facilitate exploration for sites amenable to SX-EW. Arizona Copper Deposits Arizona is abundantly endowed with copper deposits. The 829 deposits listed in Table 1 of this report were compiled from the AzMILS database of over 3,000 deposits that list copper as a commodity. Only the copper records with oxide as the modifier are listed in this report. Each listing includes the mine name, the primary commodity, legal description, and the topographic map on which it occurs. Figure 1 shows the distribution of these deposits. Other deposits that have either copper and/or copper sulfides listed as the commodity could also contain copper oxide minerals or leachable amounts of copper sulfides such as chalcocite, but have not been listed in this report. Three mineralizing episodes, each with a distinctive deposit type, are responsible for the majority of Arizona's copper deposits. Stratabound volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits formed during the Proterozoic; the economically important porphyry copper deposits were emplaced at the Cretaceous - Tertiary boundary; and deposits associated with detachment faults formed during the middle Tertiary. Copper oxides are also found in Arizona in other types of deposits including stratabound, replacements, and veins. Figures 2-4 show the distribution of these deposit types for metallic mineral districts with known production. The complete AzMILS' copper deposit database, including oxide and sulfide deposits, is available on PC disk and in hard copy. Additional information on many occurrences, which may include drill log information, . assay reports, maps, and production data, is provided by the Department's mine files. Detailed reserve and resource infonnation for major deposits is published annually in the The Primary Copper Industry ofArizona. We welcome further research of the mines and prospects using our file, database, and reference material. o o o o o o o o o 00 ~ O~o 0 o ; o 0 o o 00 o .. 0 0 $ 00 ~o o o 0 0 o 0 0l><;P ~ o 0 o o o o 0 o s o 4> 0 ~o 0 0 <DO o 0 o <l> .. o o m ogrn o 0 0 ~o 0 0 0 0 0 s 0 0 0 0 " ~ 0 00 00 \. 0 0 0 0 ~ 0 ...,0 0 o~ 0 00 0 0 0 0 <>~ 0 00 0 ~• 0 oo~ 0 0 <> 0 0 o p $~~'~~~ <> 0 0 0 . u·I! ~, 0 0 o ~ o<l> • 1 0 • CbCHISE page 2 Copper Oxide Resources Figures 2-4 are maps showing Arizona's prin cipal copper-producing metallic mineral districts by deposit type. Produced with data from Welty, J. W., Reynolds S. J. , and Spencer J. E. , 1989, AZMIN, a Digital Database Compilation for Arizona's Metallic Mineral Districts, Arizona Geological Survey OFR-89-8, 42 p. 1 disk. Figure 2. Porphyry copper districts . • • Figure 3. Stratabound volcanogenic Figure 4. Stratabound copper, vein, and massive sulfide districts. replacement districts. Copper Oxide Resources page 3 Table 1. Arizona Copper Oxide Deposits Cochise County Mine Commodity Legal Description Topographic Map ALKEY MINE PB 21 S 22 E 6 SW FAIRBANK - 7.5 MIN ANTELOPE GROUP CU 19 S 25 E 4 SW TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN APRIL FOOL MINE CU 19 S 25 E 16 SW TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN ARIZONA GROUP PB 18 S 24 E 19 C PEARCE - 15 MIN ARMSTRONG MINE CU 19 S 25 E 17 SW TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN -7.5 MIN BARNEY RANCH PROSPECTS CU 14 S 19 E 18 SW HAPPY V ALLEY - 7.5 MIN BEACON LIGHT CLAIMS CU 16 S 19 E 16 NE GALLETA FLAT WEST - 7.5 MIN BERNOUDY MINE PB 17 S 31 E 18 NE PORTAL - 15 MIN BISBEE COALITION MINES CU 23 S 24 E 26 C BISBEE - 7.5 MIN BLACK BEAR GROUP CU 23 S 20 E 35 SW MILLER PEAK -7.5 MIN BLACK DIAMOND MINE CU 18 S 24 E 29 NE BLACK DIAMOND PEAK -7.5 MIN BLACK PRINCE MINE CU 15 S 22 E 23 C DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN BLUE MOUNTAIN MINE PB 16 S 31 E 20 S2 BLUE MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN BONANZA MINE GROUP AG 20 S 22 E 16 NE TOMBSTONE -7.5 MIN BOSTON CU 24 S 20 E 3 SE MONTEZUMA PASS - 7.5 MIN BRIGGS MINE CU 23 S 24 E 22 NW BISBEE - 7.5 MIN BROKEN PROMISE CU 23 S 24 E 20 NE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN BUNKER HILL MINE AG 20 S 22 E 14 SW TOMBSTONE - 7.5 MIN BURRITO DE FIERRO MINE PB 17 S 22 E 24 NW KNOB HILL - 7.5 MIN BURRO PIT SI 15 S 22 E 26 SE DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN CAMPBELL CU 23 S 24 E 15 SE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN CASEY MINE CU 19 S 25 E 20 NE TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN CENTURION AREA SMALL MINES W 16 S 22 E 13 N2 DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN CENTURION MINE CU 16 S 22 E 12 SE DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN CHIRICAHUA MINE CU 17 S 30 E 12 SW PORTAL - 7.5 MIN CHRISTMAS MINE CU 18 S 23 E 13 SW BLACK DIAMOND PEAK - 7.5 MIN COCHISE CU 23 S 24 E 9 SE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN COLFORD COPPER MINE PB 20 S 27 E 12 NE SWISSHELM MOUNTAIN -7.5 MIN COLUMBIA MINE PB 17 S 30 E 3 SE PORTAL - 15 MIN CONTENTION MINE AG 20 S 22 E 11 SE TOMBSTONE - 15 MIN COPPER BLOSSOM MINE CU 21 S 22 E 6 C FAIRBANK - 7.5 MIN COPPER CHIEF MINE CU 15 S 22 E 26 N2 DRAGOON " 7.5 MIN COPPER GLANCE MINE CU 23 S 19 E 24 NE MILLER PEAK - 7.5 MIN COPPER GOLD AG 18 S 25 E 4 SW PEARCE - 15 MIN COPPER KING MINE CU 15 S 22 E 26 E2 DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN COPPER ROX CU 19 S 24 E 13 NW PEARCE - 15 MIN CZAR MINE CU 23 S 24 E 9 S2 BISBEE - 7.5 MIN DENN MINE CU 23 S 24 E 15 SE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN DRAGOON PROJECT CU 16 S 22 E 25 N2 DRAGOON -7.5 MIN DRY HILL MINE AG 20 S 22 E 15 SW TOMBSTONE - 7.5 MIN EMPIRE NO. 1 MINE CU 15 S 22 E 27 C DRAGOON -7.5 MIN GALEYVILLE MINES PB 17 S 31 E 18 NW PORTAL - 15 MIN GARDNER MINE CU 23 S 24 E 16 NE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN GERMANIA MINE CU 19 S 25 E 16 SW PEARCE - 15 MIN GLEESON MINE CU 19 S 25 E 32 SW GLEESON - 15 MIN GOLD CAMP MINE CU 20 S 24 E 15 W2 HAY MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN GOLD HILL MN 23 S 25 E 3) SW BISBEE NE - 7.5 MIN GOLD RIDGE MINE AU 14 S 27 E 21 DOS CABEZAS - 7.5 MIN HAMBURG MINE CU 23 S 20 E 17 SE MILLER PEAK - 7.5 MIN HARRIS MOUNTAIN MINE PB 16 S 31 E 28 SW BLUE MOUNTAIN - 7.5 MIN HERRON MINE CU 19 S 25 E 17 SW PEARCE - 15 MIN page 4 Copper Oxide Resources HIGGINS MINE CU 23 S 24 E 8 SE BISBEE - 7.5 MIN HILLTOP EXTENSION MINE PB 16 S 30 E 34 SW RUSTLER PARK - 7.5 MIN HILLTOP MINE PB 16 S 30 E 32 SE RUSTLER PARK -7.5 MIN HOATSON MINE CU 23 S 24 E 15 NW BISBEE - 7.5 MIN HOMESTAKE MINE CU 17 S 31 E 35 C PORTAL - 15 MIN HONEY DEW MINE GROUP AU 14 S 27 E 20 C DOS CABEZAS - 7.5 MIN HOPEFUL CLAIM BA 22 S 23 E 4 NW TOMBSTONE SE - 7.5 MIN HORACE MINE PB 16 S 31 E 32 NE PORTAL - 7.5 MIN 1-10 CU 15 S 23 E 31 SW DRAGOON - 7.5 MIN INGERSOL MINE PB 20 S 22 E 11 SE TOMBSTONE - 7.5 MIN JOE BAILEY PROSPECT CU 22 S 19 E 29 W2 HUACHUCA PEAK