Sanchez Copper Deposit

The Sanchez Copper Deposit is a copper mine located in Graham county, Arizona at an elevation of 3,599 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

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MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Sanchez Copper Deposit
Secondary: Safford Inspiration
Secondary: Carpenter
Secondary: Safford Deposit
Secondary: Esperanza
Secondary: Inspiration Sanchez Project
Secondary: Bellmon
Secondary: Bob Carresco
Secondary: Arichise Copper Co.
Secondary: United Nuclear
Secondary: Nancy Group
Secondary: McBride
Secondary: Azco

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Arizona
County: Graham
District: Lone Star District (Safford, Sanchez)

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.

Holdings

Type: Located Claim
Type: Fee Ownership

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: Freeport-McMoran and Gold Inc
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 2009
Years: 1999 -

Owner Name: Azco Mining Inc.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Lakewood, Co.
Info Year: 1995
Years: 1989 - 1995

Owner Name: Phelps Dodge Corp
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 2009
Years: 1995 - 1999

Owner Name: Butte Resources
Percent: 100.0
Info Year: 1987
Years: 1987 - 1989

Owner Name: Cerro and Superior Corp
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 1966

Owner Name: Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 1969

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Porphyry Cu
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Open Pit
Milling Method: Leach-Solvent-Extract-Precipitation
Year First Production: 1899
Discovery Year: 1899
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Mexican Highland

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu
Model Name: Porphyry Cu-Au

Orebody

Form: Disseminated massive orebody, fissure vein and breccia fill.

Form: PIPE

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Potassic, quartz sericite, propylitic. Potassic alteration in tmp -1 consists of quartz-magnetite-biotite-bornite-chalcopyrite veinlets, stockwork quartz-biotite +/- kspar +/- chalcopyrite +/- bornite veins/veinlets, and pervasive, disseminated quartz-kspar-chalcopyrite-bornite adjacent to veins. Alteration most intense within 200 ft of monzonite porphyry (tmp-1) in andesite forming a hornfels of biotite-kspar-plagioclase-magnetite-quartz cut by dense network of biotite-magnetite-kspar-plagioclase (?)-chalcopyrite bornite veinlets. Quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration occurs throughout orebody in nw trending fracture zones. Pervasive quartz-sericite-pyrite-chalcopyrite alteration also occurs in core of the breccia pipe. Outside the limits of the orebody, andesite is altered to epidote, chlorite, albite, calcite, pyrite, and zeolites. Chlorite and epidote also occur in potassic altered tmp-1; their relationship to potassic alteration is unclear.

Rocks

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Brochantite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Atacamite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Chalcanthite
Ore: Tenorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Copper
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Delafossite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Cuprite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Jarosite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Goethite
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Plagioclase
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (General): MAS Column # : 1Type of Orebody #1 : DISSEMINATEDShape of Orebody #1 : MASSIVEType of Orebody #2 : FISSURE VEINType of Orebody #3 : BRECCIA FILLPrimary mode of Origin : HYDROTHERMALSecondary mode of Origin : OXIDATIONType of Wallrock Alter. #1 : UNKNOWNMinimum Depth to Top : 0Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. : 0Total Surface Area (HA) : 526Date of Last Modification : 920224

Comment (Development): Shaft Sunk By Carpenter On Oxide Cu Ore Outcrop About 1910. Porphyry Cu Potential Recognized By Bear Creek Mining Co. (Kennecott) 1950'S. First Hole Cut About 1000 Ft 1% Cu. Subsequently Explored By Several Uranium, Oil And Mining Companies Of Which Inspiration Did The Most Work. Inspiration (Late 60'S To Early 70'S) Identified Sulphide Copper Mineralization Below The Oxide Zone, But Azco Was Not Pursuing The Sulphide Mineralization In 1989. In 1993, Blm Approved The Project After Azco Completed A Full Environmental Impact Statement Process. ; Total$: 45. A Total Of 150 Holes Have Been Drilled With 190,000 Ft Total Footage. ; Econ.Com: Ore For At Least 20 Years Of Operation; Plans To Leach 100,000 To 150,000 Tons/Wk

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Within The 250,000,000 St Oxide Reserve (1988) Is An Open Pit Minable Block Of 120,000,000 St At A Grade Of 0.37% Cu.

Comment (Production): About 50,000 St Bulk Smaples Mined From Open Pits By Inspiration From 1969 To 1972. Azco Mined Additional Bulk Samples From The Same Pits.

Comment (Workings): Proposed Open Pit-Heap Leach Operation. Development To Begin In 1995.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): (1) At 0.2% Cu Cog, 1.08:1 Strip Ratio, Leachable; (2) At Lower Cog. Includes Item (1); (3) Additional Leachable Material, 0.15% Cu Cog; (4) Additional Leachable Material, 0.10% Cog, 1.3:1 Strip Ratio Available For Low-Grade Stockpile. (5) Total Resource Including Ore Grade Material Outside Pit Limits. Ore Grade Material Not Fully Delineated, Particularly At Depth. Deepest Hole Still 0.3% Cu Material At 3500 Ft Depth. No Data Collected On Mo Content. Au Grade Mostly 0.01 Optav.

Comment (Geology): Ore Centered On Oldest Of Four Monzonite Porphyry Intrusive Phases But Mostly Hosted By Andesite.

Comment (Location): Lat-Long Is For Approximate Central Point Of Mineralized Area-- The Old Shaft In Section 26 Is At 32-52-57n, 109-32-43w; Prospect In Section 25 Is At 32-52-53n, 109-32-02w.

Comment (Deposit): Associated Rocks Include: monzonite porphyry, quartz monzonite porphyry, tonalite porphyry; granodiorite, quartz diorite;agglomerate, andesite, andesite breccia, basalt, dacite, dacite tuff, rhyolite, tuff

Comment (Workings): Mining Record # : 1Status of Mining Method : PROPOSEDMining Method : OPEN PITSwell Factor : .6Percent Waste Rock : 52Primary Material Cover : SAND, GRAVELHardness of Ore : M-HARD ROCKSAvg. Bench Height (meters): 12.2Max. Pit Slope (degrees) : 50Capacity : 28235Capacity Units : MT ORE/DAYPreprod. Stripping Vol. : 940000Unit Production Cost : .98Units of Production : $/MT OREOperating Days per Year : 365Operating Shifts per Day : 3Year of Information : 1992

Comment (Economic Factors): K1 Rec 330 Is An Expenditure For The Contruction Of The Second Heap Leach Pad A Year Or So After Operations Have Begun. Equipment Replacement Costs Include Costs For Additional Equipment That Will Be Purchsed During The Life Of The Operation.

Comment (Production): Recovery Shown Is For The Sx-Ew Plant Only. Total Recovery (Heap Leach And Sx-Ew) Is 82%.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): World Mining Sept 1977, V. 30, No. 10, P. 110. Reserves Are Open Pit Oxide Copper. Grade Is In Terms Of Acid- Soluble Grade. [Pay Dirt Magazine (Southwestern Edition), April 1993, Pp. 4a-9a.] Property Is Currently Being Developed, Will Began Operating By Mid-1995. Davy International Inc Is Constructing Sx-Ew Plant. Includes 41 M Mt Low Grade Leachable Material. Sold To Phelps Dodge Corp. '95.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): M1c1=M9c4. Reserves Were Provided By Azco And Are Based On A 1990 Feasibility Study And Previous Exploration By Inspiration Copper Corp.

Comment (Identification): SEE Associated Deposits: Lone Star- Deposit ID 10209543 Dos Pobres Mine- Deposit ID 10096999 San Juan Mine- Deposit ID 10027008 Safford Mine- Deposit ID 10400314 Safford Deposit Deposit ID 10027031

References

Reference (Geology): The Mindat.org webpage for the Safford deposit also describes the geology at Sanchez. Accessed on 8/5/2010. http://www.mindat.org/loc-53634.html
URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-53634.html

Reference (Geology): The Porter GeoConsultancy webpage for Dos Pobres, Safford contains a description of the geology of the Sanchez deposit as of 8/4/2010. http://www.portergeo.com.au/
URL: http://www.portergeo.com.au

Reference (Development): The Metals Economics Group (MEG) Sachez webpage contains information about this deposit as of 8/4/2010. http://www.metalseconomics.com/
URL: http://www.metalseconomics.com/

Reference (Deposit): Azco Mining Inc. Statement Of Material Facts, 3-23-92, P.7.

Reference (Deposit): American Metal Market, V103 N85, 5-3-95, P.2.

Reference (Deposit): Sw Pay Dirt, 6-95, P.3a.

Reference (Deposit): Sw Pay Dirt, 12-95, P.14a.

Reference (Deposit): The Mining Record, V106 N19, 5-10-95, P.7.

Reference (Deposit): Dreier, John (Vice President-Exploration). Azco Mining Inc. Personal Communication, January 1992.

Reference (Deposit): Azco Mining Inc. Feasibilty Study, Azco Sanchez Copper Project, 3 Vol. Wright Engineers Limited, Nov. 1990.

Reference (Deposit): Sw Pay Dirt, 2-95, P.9a.

Reference (Deposit): Azco Mining Inc. Sanchez Copper Project Plan Of Operations Submitted To The Blm, Safford District Office, July 1991.

Reference (Deposit): The Mining Record, V106 N13, 3-29-95, P.1.

Reference (Deposit): Niemuth, N.J., 1987, Arizona Mineral Development 1984-1986: Arizona Department Of Mines And Mineral Resources Directory 29, 46 P.

Reference (Deposit): Tucson Citizen, 1993, Thursday, March 11, P. 5c.

Reference (Deposit): Walenga, Karen, 1989, Azco Reviewing Feasibility Study Of Sanchez Copper Project: Southwestern Paydirt, March 1989, P. 3a.

Reference (Deposit): Dunn, 1978, Az. Geol. Soc. Digest, V. 11, P. 9-15.

Reference (Deposit): Horsnail, 1978, Jour. Geochem. Expl., V. 9, Nos. 2-3, P. 151-153.

Reference (Deposit): Robinson, R.F., And Cook, A., 1966, The Safford Copper Deposit, Lone Star Mining District, Graham County, Arizona, In Titley, S.R. And Hicks, C.L., Eds., Geology Of The Prophyry Copper Deposits, Southwestern North America: Tucson, Ariz., Univ. Of Az. Press, P. 250-266.

Reference (Deposit): Greeley, 1978, Az. Dept. Min. Res., Spec. Rept. No. 2, P. 83-87.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Greeley, 1978, P.85; Walenga, 1989, P. 3a.; Tucson Citizen, 1993; Sawyer And Others, 1992.

Reference (Production): Abm File Data

Reference (Other Database): Cimri

Reference (Deposit): Sawyer, M.B., Gurmendi, A.C., Daley, M.R., And Howell, S.B., 1992, Principal Deposits Of Strategic And Critical Minerals In Arizona: United States Bureau Of Mines Special Publication, 334 P.

Reference (Deposit): Drier, J.E., 1994, Geology Of The Sanchez Porphyry Copper Deposit: Azco Mining Inc., Unpub. Rept., 15 P.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Keith and others, 1983

Reference (Reserve-Resource): John Drier, personal commun. 1993 and 1995

Reference (Deposit): Singer and others, 2008

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Anonymous, 1995, The Northern Miner, April 10 issue, p. 3.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Langton, J.M. and Williams, S.A., 1982, Structural, petrological and mineralogical controls for the Dos Pobres orebody, Lone Star Mining district, Graham County, Arizona; in Advances in Titley, S. R., ed., Geology of the Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southwest North America, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, p. 335-352.

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