Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D. Consulting Geologist, Tucson Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com • Complex geologic history • Mineralization related to orogenic episodes • Precambrian = orogenies added to fringes • of continent • Paleozoic = AZ on trailing edge - Eastern orogenies • Mesozoic-Cenozoic = AZ on leading edge – Cordilleran • Latest Cenozoic = subduction cutoff by San Andreas • AZ has rich mineral specimens and ore deposits Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Plate Tectonics Paleozoic = West-dipping subduction, Volcanoes, Appalachian Mountains Continent- continent Sea floor spreading collision and and mid-ocean ridge very tall volcanism mountains Mesozoic- Cenozoic east-dipping subduction, Volcanoes, Mountains Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Hieroglyphic Mountains (Pikes Peak) Hematite-Magnetite Taconite, north-central Maricopa County - Iron Age, Pig Iron, and Bessemer BIF (Jerome Historical museum) Paul Lindberg sample Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jerome VMS Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jerome Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide 3D model of Bornite, chalcopyrite Verde deposit by Copper iron sulfides Paul Lindberg, United Verde mine, Jerome, AZ Jerome Historical AzMMM sample museum Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Deposition of Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide ore Black smoker, modern seafloor Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Chalcopyrite, copper iron Tennantite, chalcopyrite sulfide, United Verde mine, - Copper iron sulfides - Jerome, AZ, AzMMM specimen United Verde mine, Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 Jerome, www.janrasmussen.com AZ, AzMMM sample Gold from Big Bug mine - Sugar White photo, Ed Huskinson sample Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com The Old Dick (Bruce) mine is a Hillside mine, Eureka dist., • former underground Zn-Cu- Yav. Co.; source: Baird, Ag-Au-Pb-As-Co-Cd mine mindat.org • located 2¾ miles SSW of Bagdad. • volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit • stratiform ore bodies hosted in the Brindle Formation and the Dick Rhyolite The Old ore lenses consist of resinous yellowish-brown and black sphalerite • pyrite concentrated in irregularly spaced, narrow bands • chalcopyrite in minute stringers and wide • galena in local pods • disseminated tiny euhedral arsenopyrite crystals • sphalerite veinlets • some gold and silver JanInformation C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., source: R.G. MinDat.org January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Euxenite, White Picacho pegmatites Oracle Granite, Santa Catalina Mts. Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Amethyst, Four Peaks mine, Mazatzal Mts., Maricopa Co., AZ Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Grand Canyon supergroup (Unkar Gp. (incl. Cardenas basalt - 1070 Ma Rb-Sr), Nankoweap Fm., Chuar Gp.) Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Apache Group Chrysotile Apache Gp. ,Tohono asbestos, Salt Chul Park, Tucson River Canyon Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Apache Gp., serpentine Asbestos, Salt R. Canyon Diabase in Apache Gp. ,Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Laramide orogeny Unconformity bounded Nevadan orogeny Continental assembly Alleghenian orogeny Caledonian orogeny Taconic orogeny Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Tonto Group, Grand Canyon (Tapeats Ss. Ledge, overlain by Bright Angel Shale slope, and Muav Ls. Ledge) Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Bolsa Quartzite on skyline, Rosemont Copper, Santa Rita Mts. Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com All paleogeographic paintings from Blakey & Ranney Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Rillito Cement plant Redwall Limestone Escabrosa Limestone Clarkdale Cement plant Sahuarita Marble Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Sedona – Supai Group Government Butte, S. of Tombstone Jan on Permian Colina Ls. 1967 Goosenecks of the San Juan R., Hermosa Fm. Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Arizona’s position w.r.t. plate tectonics in Paleozoic vs. Mesozoic Mesozoic – Arizona was on leading edge of N. American continent = mountain building, volcanoes, earthquakes, igneous intrusions Paleozoic – Arizona was on trailing edge of N. American continent = calm seaways Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Petrified Forest Member, Chinle Fm., Petrified Forest National Park Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Breccia pipe in Grand Canyon Source: Wenrich Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com South North Source: Wenrich Source: Wenrich Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Grandview mine; cyanotrichite on antlerite AzMMM specimen Ridenour mine; Carnotite in tyuyamunite, petrified Wenrich photo wood, Coconino Co. AzMMM Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.comspecimen All paleogeographic paintings from Blakey & Ranney Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Santa Rita Mts., Mt. Wrightson South end of Mustang Mts., East of Sonoita, AZ Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Lavender Pit, Bisbee chalcopyrite bornite sphalerite Pyrite - gangue Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Primary - sulfides Secondary Enrichment – carbonates “oxides” Weathering leaches copper from top, leaving reddish iron oxides -iron hat Hematite – limonite, Bisbee Copper is precipitated at the water table, enriching deposit with chalcocite, copper, azurite, malachite, chrysocolla Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Bisbee azurite Copper carbonate Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com malachite malachite Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com chalcotrichite cuprite calcite Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com turquoise Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com chalcocite cuprite covelite Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com copper copper Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Early and Middle Jurassic age dates Defiance mine, wulfenite, Donor: Les Presmyk Silver Bill mine, wulfenite Courtland area = possible Quartz Alkalic; Gleeson Ridge = possible Alkali-calcic Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Constant dip subduction – Magmatism mostly in California Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Mural Ls. (Bisbee Group) E. of Bisbee Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com N Arizona – coal in Wepo Fm. at Black Mesa Photo from Peabody Coal (Freeport-McMoran) Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines, 1991 Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Tombstone Hills – Uncle Sam Tuff Tucson Mts. - Cat Mountain Rhyolite – 74 Ma ignimbrite (rhyolite ash flows) Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Alabandite MnS Silver, Lucky Cuss m. Emmonsite, Empire m. Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Dugganite – Empire mine. Emmonsite, Peter Megaw specimen and Megaw Sugar White photograph specimen, Sugar White photo Megaw specimen, Sugar White photo Chlorargyrite – John Betts photo & specimen MinDat.org Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Argentiferous galena, sphalerite, small amounts of pyrite, chalcopyrite & quartz Deposited in permeable zones at the intersection of a bedding plane fault and favorable beds in Permian Naco Limestone Extensive solution of the limestone and deep oxidation concentrated cerussite, anglesite, wulfenite, & smithsonite in the leached caverns as sand carbonate ore Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Miami-Globe Ajo San Manuel Bagdad Morenci Ray Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Ray mine Ray shovel, haul truck Dave Briggs photos Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Silver Bell mine Mission mine Photos courtesy of ASARCO (Grupo) Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G. January 16, 2014 www.janrasmussen.com Bornite – peacock copper – copper iron sulfide Chalcopyrite – copper fools gold Copper-iron-sulfide Jan C. Rasmussen, Ph.D., R.G.