THE RELATIONSHIP OF STRUCTURE AND ALTERATION TO SOME ORE BODIES IN THE BISBEE (WARREN) DISTRICT, COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Nye, Thomas Spencer, 1930- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 09/10/2021 00:53:44 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284997 This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received NYE, Thomas Spencer, 1930- THE RELATIONSHIP OF STRUCTURE AND ALTERATION TO SOME ORE BODIES IN THE BISBEE (WARREN) DISTRICT, COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA. University of Arizona, Ph.D„ 1968 Geology University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan THE RELATIONSHIP OF STRUCTURE AND ALTERATION TO SOME ORE BODIES IN THE BISBEE (WARREN) DISTRICT, COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA by Thomas Spencer Nye A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1968 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE I hereby recommend that this dissertation prepared under my direction by Thomas Spencer Nye entitled T^e Relationship of Structure and Alteration to Some Ore Bodies in the Bisbee (Warren) • District,—Cochise County, Arizona be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy April 23, 1968 Dissertation Directzbr Date After inspection of the final copy of the dissertation, the following members of the Final Examination Committee concur in its approval and recommend its acceptance:- 9/??/ / This approval and acceptance is contingent on the candidate's adequate performance and defense of this dissertation at the final oral examination. The inclusion of this sheet bound into the library copy of the dissertation is evidence of satisfactory performance at the final examination. STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the Univer­ sity Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allow­ able without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permiss­ ion for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: s ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author is indebted to the Phelps Dodge Corp­ oration for permission to conduct the present investigation and in particular to H. E. Metz, Chief Engineer, and W. G. Hogue, Manager, of the Copper Queen Branch for their con­ structive criticism and kindly assistance which made this study possible. The courtesy and assistance of the geology and engineering departments under K. Coke, Chief Geologist, and R. B. Nichols, Chief Mine Engineer, are greatly appre­ ciated. To Dr. W. C. Lacy, the author cannot express enough gratitude for his encouragement and critical review of this study. The author has benefitted from the criticism and discussions of various phases of this investigation with Drs. J. W. Anthony, S. R. Titley, E. B. Mayo, W. C. Peters, and with E. H. Wisser, all of The University of Arizona. Theories and conclusions presented herein, how­ ever, are the responsibility of the author. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vi LIST OF TABLES x ABSTRACT xi INTRODUCTION 1 History 1 Previous Investigations 5 Purpose and Scope 6 Methods of Investigation 7 STRATIGRAPHY 9 Precambrian Formations 9 Pinal Schist 9 Paleozoic Formations 11 Bolsa Quartzite 11 Abrigo Formation 13 Martin Limestone 17 Escabrosa Limestone . 2 0 Naco Limestone 21 Mesozoic Formations 23 Glance Conglomerate 24 Morita, Mural, and Cintura Formations ... 25 Tertiary Formations 26 Cenozoic Formations 26 INTRUSIVE ROCKS 27 Diabase 2.7 Juniper Flat Granite 27 Escabrosa Ridge Rhyolite Porphyry 30 Sacramento Intrusive Complex 31 Underground Feldspar Quartz Porphyry 33 Age of Porphyry Dikes Relative to Sulfide Deposits 35 Intrusive Breccia 36 Rhyolite 3 8 Andesite Porphyry 40 Basalt 41 Ages of Intrusion and Mineralization 41 iv V TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued Page STRUCTURE 45 Regional Structure 45 Copper Queen Graben .............. 73 MINERAL DEPOSITS 90 General Features 90 Structural Control of Ore Bodies 100 Factors Aiding Replacement by Sulfides .... 120 Relationship of Ore Distribution to Structure and Igneous Intrusion 124 Secondary Ore Bodies 129 Characteristics of Ore Bodies According to Formation 137 Naco Formation 141 Escabrosa Limestone 142 Martin Limestone ...... 146 Abrigo Formation 149 MINERAL RELATIONSHIPS 158 Silica 158 Manganese 16 0 Iron Oxide-Iron Sulfide Relationships 160 Pyrite: Copper Sulfide Relationships 163 Source of Pyrite 164 ROCK ALTERATION 167 Calc-Silicate Alteration .... 171 Talc-Serpentine Alteration 183 Quart2:-Sericite Alteration . 185 GENERAL CONCEPTS OF ORE DEPOSITION 191 Control of Ore Deposition by Fracturing .... 192 Hypothesis of Alteration and Ore Deposition 197 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 203 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY 206 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 207 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. Location Map 2 2. Topographic Map of Bisbee Area In Pocket 3. Stratigraphic Column 10 4. Regional Geologic Map 28 5. Geologic Map of Mule Mountains and In Adjacent Areas ....... .Pocket 6. Structural Blocks of Bisbee District In Pocket 7. Structural Map of Bisbee Area ......... In Pocket 8. Structure Sections A-A', B-B', and C-C', Transverse to Bisbee Anticline 46 9. Longitudinal Section D-D' 47 10. Distribution of Ore in Relation to Structure of Copper Queen Syncline 53 11. Stages in Formation, Faulting, and Intrusion of Bisbee Anticline 58 12. Development of Marginal Thrust Faults by Vertical Forces 70 13. Schematic Diagram of Fracture System, Strike of Beds, and Folds in the Copper Queen Syncline 75 14. Schematic Cross Sections of Minor Folds in the Copper Queen Syncline 76 15. Schematic Diagram of Fault and Fracture Trends in Copper Queen Syncline 78 vi vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS—Continued Figure Page 16. Relationship of Folds and Faults to Mineralization on a Portion of 600 In Level, Cole Mine Pocket 17. Relationship of Folds and Faults to Mineralization on a Portion of 1650 In Level, Dallas Mine Pocket 18. Relationship of Folds and Faults to Mineralization on a Portion of 1800 In Level, Dallas Mine Pocket 19. Transition of Bedding Plane Faults to Faults Which Transect Bedding 81 20. Types of Bedding Plane Faulting 88 21. 700 Level Cole. Ore Adjacent to Crosscutting Faults in Massive Pyrite ... 97 22. Ore Associated with Silica Breccia. Section Through Southwest Pipe 101 23. Massive Sulfide Ore Beneath Silica Breccia Cap in Martin Limestone 103 24. Oxide Ore in Escabrosa Limestone Localized Adjacent to Porphyry Dike on 1000 Level . 104 25. Plan and Section Through 69 Stope, 600 Level, Showing Drag on Fault and Localization of Ore 107 26. 90 0 Level. Bedded Pyrite arid Ore in Abrigo Limestone 108 27. Localization of Ore in Abrigo Limestone Between Faults. Due to Opening of Beds by Drag, Formation of Tension Fractures and Shattering of Beds 109 28. Location of Shattering and Ore Relative to Faults 110 viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS—Continued Figure Page 29. Ore Replacing Massive Pyrite Beds in Abrigo Limestone. Section on 3050 N. Look North Ill 30. 1400 Level. Localization of Ore in Abrigo Limestone in Disseminated and Massive Bedded Pyrite 112 31. Location of Ore in Hanging Walls of Faults, Abrigo Limestone . 114 32. Ore Within and Marginal to Massive Pyrite in Sandy Upper Abrigo Limestone 800 Level . 117 33. 700 Cole. Massive Pyrite in Upper Abrigo and Lower Martin in Zone of Folded Beds .... 118 34. Veins and Massive Sulfide in Escabrosa Limestone. 1400 Level 119 35. Section of Right Rib of Crosscut, 1550 Level. Abrigo Shale and Silicified Limestone Partly Replaced by Sulfides 121 36. Inferred Envelopes of Mineralization in Copper Queen Syncline and Theoretical Distribution Relative to an Igneous Stock 127 37. Section Along 267 Crosscut, 900 Level, Showing Ore on Top and Bottom of Pyrite Bed in Abrigo Limestone. Ore is Chalcocite Which Has Replaced Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, and Bornite 135 38. Vertical Section and Plans of General Ore Relationships in Escabrosa Limestone 145 39. En Echelon Distribution of Ore Bodies and Detail of Sulfide Replacement in Abrigo Limestone 152 40. 28 Stope Ore Body in Abrigo Limestone. Faults Dip in Same Direction as Beds 153 ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS—Continued Figure Page 41. Ore Lenses in Chloritic Beds 156 42. 1550 Dallas. Distribution of Epidote- Chlorite Alteration Adjacent to Briggs Dike ........... 175 43. Section Through Epidote and Chlorite Zones, 1550 Level (Modified from Drill Data) .... 177 LIST OF TABLES Table Page .1. Sequence of Magmatic and Tectonic Activity as Related to Alteration and Mineralization .... 49 2. Minerals Associated with Ore at Bisbee 91 3. Comparison of Salient Features of Lithology, Structure, and Mineralization According to Formation 138 4. Chemical Analyses of Paleozoic Formations