Empire Mine

The Empire Mine is a silver, lead, copper, and zinc mine located in Cochise county, Arizona at an elevation of 4,600 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

Satelite View

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: Empire Mine
Secondary: Empire Shaft

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Secondary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite

Location

State: Arizona
County: Cochise
District: Tombstone District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Tombstone Mill And Mining Co., Tombstone Consolidated Mines Co., Bunker Hill Mines Co., Tombstone De

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR, BEDDED

Structure

Type: L
Description: Ne Fissures, Brecciated Limestone

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Limestone Recrystallized, Silicification

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Fluorspar
Ore: Lead
Ore: Copper
Ore: Wulfenite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Stromeyerite
Ore: Jarosite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): ORE IN IRREGULAR PIPES AND BEDED DEPOSITS IN LIMESTONE ALONG A SERIES OF ANTICLINAL ROLLS CUT BY A STRONG DIKE-FILLED FAULT AND "NORTHEAST" FISSURES.

Comment (Workings): SHAFT

Comment (Deposit): ONE OF TOMBSTONE'S FIRST PRODUCERS, FROM BOTH EMPIRE AND TOUGHNUT SHAFTS ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Commodity): GREEN AND PURPLE FLUORSPAR

Comment (Location): INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1979)

Comment (Production): OVER 10,000 TONS OF ORE PRODUCED IN THE LATE 1880'S, OUTPUT INCLUDED WITH TOUGHNUT AND EMPIRE, AND TOMBSTONE GROUP

References

Reference (Deposit): ARIZ. B. OF M. BULL. 143, 1938, PL. 3, 4.

Reference (Deposit): KEITH, S.B., 1973, ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 187, P. 75.

Reference (Deposit): CHURCH, 1903, AIME TRANS, V. 33, P. 3-37.

Reference (Deposit): PHILLIPS, K.A., 1987, ARIZONA INDUSTRIAL MINERALS: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES MINERAL REPORT 4, 185 P.

Reference (Other Database): CIMRI

Reference (Production): KEITH, 1973, ARIZ. BUR. OF MINES BULL. 187.

Arizona Gold

"Where to Find Gold in Arizona" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in Arizona. Read more: Where to Find Gold in Arizona.