The Contention Mine is a silver, lead, and gold mine located in Cochise county, Arizona at an elevation of 4,731 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
Elevation: 4,731 Feet (1,442 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Lead, Gold
Lat, Long: 31.70139, -110.06222
Map: View on Google Maps
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.
Contention Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Contention Mine
Secondary: Pump Shaft
Secondary: Head Center
Secondary: Flora Morrison
Secondary: Yellow Jacket
Secondary: Contention-Grand Central
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Copper
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: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Cowichan Resources Inc.
Years: 1989 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Discovery Year: 1885
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Mexican Highland
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: L
Description: In Tombstone Basin, Northerly Dikes, Ne Fissures, Nw Trending Faults. Contention Dike Is Faulted By Series On Nw Trending Normal Faults
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Bisbee Liemstone Is Recrystallized
Rocks
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
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Not available
Comments
Comment (Development): OPERATORS INCLUDED HEAD CENTER CO, GRAND CENTRAL MINING CO, CONTENTION MINING CO, TOMBSTONE CONSOLIDATED MINES, BUNKER HILL MINES, TOMBSTONE DEVELOPMENT CO., AND COCHISE SILVER MINES INC. (1987). WORKINGS IN 3 CLAIMS DESCRIBED HERE: FLORA MORRISON, CONTENTION, HEAD CENTER. IN 1987, THIS MINE WAS UNDER DEVLOPMENT TO LEACH DUMP AND TAILINGS MATERIAL.
Comment (Location): 3 SHAFTS IN MINE, CENTRAL SHAFT, THE PUMP, USED FOR UTM 1000 FT NORTH OF GRAND CENTRAL SHAFT. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1979)
Comment (Reserve-Resource): RESERVES ARE FOR OPEN PIT AND DUMP IN 1986, BUT TOTAL TONNAGE IS PROBABLY LARGER.
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1880'S
Comment (Workings): 10 LEVELS OF WORKINGS - WORKINGS DESCRIBED ARE IN CONTENTION, HEAD CENTER, AND FLORA MORRISON CLAIMS ONLY. SEE GRAND CENTRAL FOR GRAND CENTRAL CLAIM WORKINGS. MAIN WORKINGS IN UPPER 500 FT, 6TH LEVEL IS MOST EXTENSIVE. IN 1989, THIS WAS AN OPENPIT-CYANIDE HEAP LEACHING OPERATION.
Comment (Deposit): GRAND CENTRAL MINE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS PART OF THIS MINE DUE TO COMMON OWNERSHIP. SEE GRAND CENTRAL ENTRY FOR DESCRIPTION OF ADJOINING MINE, SOUTH OF CONTENTION. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT
Comment (Production): SEE GRAND CENTRAL FOR PRODUCTION AFTER 1885 IN ABGMT-USBM FILE DATA.
Comment (Deposit): MOST PRODUCTIVE ORE ZONE OF DISTRICT WHEN COMBINED WITH GRAND CENTRAL. ABOVE FIGURES DESCRIBE ENTIRE ORE ZONE.
References
Reference (Deposit): NIEMUTH, N.J., 1987, ARIZONA MINERAL DEVELOPMENT 1984-1986: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINESA ND MINERAL RESOURCES DIRECTORY 29, 46 P.
Reference (Deposit): ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES, 1989, DIRECTORY OF ACTIVE MINES IN ARIZONA, INCORPORATING SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATIONS--1989-90: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES DIRECTORY 36, 14 P.
Reference (Other Database): CIMRI
Reference (Reserve-Resource): NIEMUTH, 1987.
Reference (Deposit): ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 187, P. 74.
Reference (Deposit): ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 143, P. 69-71, PL. 6, 8, 10.
Reference (Deposit): ABGMT-USBM FILE DATA
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.
