East Helvetia

The East Helvetia is a copper and silver mine located in Pima county, Arizona at an elevation of 5,446 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

Name: East Helvetia

State: Arizona

County: Pima

Elevation: 5,446 Feet (1,660 Meters)

Commodity: Copper, Silver

Lat, Long: 31.8325, -110.75810

Map: View on Google Maps

Satelite View

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Satelite image of the East Helvetia

East Helvetia MRDS details

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Arizona
County: Pima
District: Helvetia-Rosemont District

Land Status

Land ownership: Military Reservation
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: Fee Ownership
Type: Patented
Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 1988
Years: 1988 - 2004

Owner Name: Anaconda Mining Company
Percent: 100.0
Years: 1963 - 1973

Owner Name: Anamax
Percent: 100.0
Years: 1973 - 1988

Owner Name: Augusta Resource Corporation
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Vancouver, Canada
Info Year: 2009
Years: 2006 -

Production

Year: 1969
Time Period: 1877-1969
Mined: 402000.000 mt
Year: 1951
Time Period: Start-1951
Mined: 227300.000 mt
Material type: Ore
Year: 1959
Time Period: 1900-1959
Year: 1952
Time Period: 1882-1952
Year: 1944
Year: 1902
Time Period: 1899-1902

Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Porphyry Cu, Skarn Related
Operation Type: Unknown
Mining Method: Open Pit
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1890
Discovery Year: 1870
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Sonoran Desert

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu, skarn-related

Orebody

Form: Irregular Lenticular Zones, Bedded, Stringers and Pockets

Not available

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Thrust & Normal Faulting-Fracture Zones

Type: R
Structure: Homoclinal; Reg Trends: Tilting & Broad Open Folds S, Extensive Faulting N

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Silification

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Thermal and Metamasomatic Alteration

Rocks

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age in Years: 56.000000+-
Age Young: Tertiary

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: Cores Yielded 0.01-0.014% M

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Tenorite
Ore: Azurite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Scheelite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Diopside
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Wollastonite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Magnetite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Evaluation In April 1979by I.F.O.C., Denver, Colorado. Evaluation Update Done In Sept 1983

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Includes Oxide Resource Of 21 Million Mt @ 0.78 % Cu.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): M2c1 = R2 Gold And Silver Grades Estimated On Basis Of District Metal Production Ratios Of Au:Cu And Ag:Cu.

Comment (Development): Rosemont will begin production in 2012 at 221 million lbs (100 tonnes) Cu per year, about 10% of the US capacity. (Augusta Resource Corp website, 8/12/2010) http://www.augustaresource.com/section.asp?catid=2051

Comment (Deposit): Some Disseminated Cu Mineralization In Shattered Pal Quartzite; Most Ore In Lime Silicate Zones Controlled By Faults And Fractures.

Comment (Geology): Major.Units: Basin And Range ; Geol.Desc: Age Of Mineralization Believed To Be That Of The Quartz Latite Intrusive Of Drewes - 1971 ; Reg.Com: Structure In District Is Thrust Faulting And High Angle Normal Faulting And Folding

Comment (Deposit): Ore Zone In Limestone At Granite-Limestone Contact; Lime Silicate Zones Controlled By Faults And Fractures

Comment (Geology): Ore Gen In Lime-Silicate Zones Controlled By Faults And Fractures. ; Geol.Desc: Age Of Mineralization Believed To Be That Of The Quartz Latite Intrusive Of Drewes - 1971. ; Reg.Com: Structure In District Is Thrust Faulting - High Angle Normal Faulting And Folding.

Comment (Deposit): All Figures Calculated From A.A. Mathews Capital And Operating Cost Estimating System Handbook. Mo, Ag, And Au Are Possible Trace Elements In Ore. No Grade For Mo, Ag, Or Au Found In Literature. Pit Location Based On Literature And Assumptions. Due To Lack Of Information Or Mng Plan Cost Could Vary.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Assumed To Feed Helvetia East Mill To Help Supplement Feed. Oxide Resource Is 9.1 Million Mt @ 0.72 % Cu. Assume Also Known As Peach Elgin.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Assume R-Reserve Entry Is Sulfide Plus Oxide.

Comment (Deposit): Associated Rocks Include: quartz latite porphyry, quartz monzonite, skarn;andesite, chert;arkose, conglomerate, dolomite, granodiorite, limestone, quartzite, sandstone, shale, siltstone

Comment (Commodity): Scheelite Traces Disseminated Throughout Mineralized Zone; Small Pockets Of Molybdenite; Malachite, Azurite, Cuprite Probably Secondary After Chalcopyrite

Comment (Deposit): Ore Bodies Tend To Associate With The Lime-Silicate Zone

Comment (Geology): The Rosemont-Helvetia district mineralization lies in skarned Palaeozoic carbonate rocks associated with Laramide age quartz latite prophyry stocks, both controlled by Laramide folds and thrust faults, and disturbed by later Middle Tertiary normal faults. (Hardy 2000)

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Resources described on adjacent properties - Broadtop Butte, Copper World and Peach-Elgin. (Huss, Conrad, 2009, NI 43-101 p 44-45)

References

Reference (Deposit): Anzalone (1995), Long and others (1998), Niemuth (1994), Titley (1993), Titley and Anthony (1989)

Reference (Geology): Titley, S.R., and Anthony, E.Y., 1989, Laramide mineral deposits in Arizona, in Jenney, J.P., and Reynolds, S.J., eds., Geologic evolution of Arizona: Tucson, Arizona Geological Society Digest 17, p. 485?514.

Reference (Geology): Titley, S.R., 1993, Characteristics of porphyry copper occurrence in the American Southwest, in Kirkham, R.V., Sinclair, W.D., Thorpe, R.I., and Duke, J.M., eds., Mineral deposit modeling: Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 40, p. 433-464.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Niemuth, N.J., 1994, The primary copper industry of Arizona, 1992: Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources SR-20, 58 p.

Reference (Deposit): Pfleider, E. P. Surface Mining. A.I.M.E., New York, 1968, 1061 Pp.

Reference (Geology): Huss, Conrad, 2009, NI 43-101 Technical Report For The Rosemont Copper Project Updated Feasibility Study, Pima County, Arizona, USA, for Augusta Resource Corporation, M3-PN08036; January 14, 2009, Amended March 17, 2009, 138 pages plus appendices.

Reference (Deposit): Rampacek, C., And J.T. Dunham. Copper Ore Processing --U.S. Practices And Trends. Min. Cong. J., February 1976, Pp. 43-50.

Reference (Deposit): Schwartz, G. M. The Nature Of Primary And Secondary Mineralization In Porphyry Copper Deposits. Chapter In Geology Of The Porphyry Copper Deposits - Southwestern North America, S. R. Titley And C. L. Hicks, Editors, University Of Arizona Press, 1966, Pp. 41-50.

Reference (Deposit): Randol Mining Directory 1996/97, P. 136.

Reference (Deposit): Anzalone And Brown, 1992, Geology Of The Helvetia Copper Deposit, Sme Preprint 92-61.

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

Reference (Deposit): World Mining. Copper Deposits To Be Developed. August 1970, P. 47.

Reference (Deposit): Pay Dirt. Scenes In Old Arizona. August 24, 1970, Pp. 3-4.

Reference (Deposit): Skillings' Mining Review. Anamax Mining Company Acquires Empire Ranch In Arizona. January 18, 1975, P. 16.

Reference (Deposit): Pay Dirt. Anamax Files For Forest Land Swap For Helvetia. June 30, 1975, Pp. 73-74.

Reference (Deposit): Keith, S. B. Index Of Mining Properties In Pima County, Arizona. Arizona Bureau Of Mines Bulletin 189, 1974,

Reference (Deposit): Hopkins, W. R., And A.J. Lynch. The Twin Buttes Ozide Project. A.I.M.E. Reprint, 1976 Sme-Aime Fall Meeting, 1976, 30 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Lovering, T. G., J. R. Cooper, H. Drewes, And G. C. Cone. Copper In Biotite From Igneous Rocks In Southern Arizona As An Ore Indicator. U.S. Geological Survey Research 1970 (Professional Paper 700-B), 1971, Pp. B1-B8.

Reference (Deposit): Engineering And Mining Journal. In The U.S.--Arizona. June 1975, P. 301.

Reference (Deposit): Drewes, H.L And T. L. Finnell. Mesozoic Stratigraphy And Laramie Tectonics Of Part Of The Santa Rita And Empire Mountains Southeast Of Tucson, Arizona. Southern Arizona Geol. Society Guidebook Iii, S. R. Titley, Editor; Geol. Society Of America Cordilleran Section, 64th Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, 1968, Pp. 315-324.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): World Mining. Copper: A Future Of Ample And Secure Supply. Sept. 1977, P. 110.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Lowell, J.D. Trends And Techniques In Southwest Porphyry Exploration. World Mining, Oct. 1976, Pp. 56-57.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Asarco Incorporated 1988 Annual Report. P. 6, 8.

Reference (Deposit): Arizona Pay Dirt. Usfs Working On Anamax Land Swap At Rosemont. October 1977, P. 57.

Reference (Deposit): Bennett, H. J., L. Moore, L. E. Welborn, And J. E. Toland. An Economic Appraisal Of The Supply Of Copper From Primary Domestic Sources. Bumines Ri 8598, 1973, 156 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Anamax Mining Company. An Environmental Inventory Of The Rosemont Area In Southern Arizona. Contract Study By University Of Arizona, R. Davis And J. R. Callahan, - Editors, 1977, 2 Volumes, 341 Pp.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): American Metal Market. Asarco Buys Helvetia Deposit As Long-Term Copper Reserve. Aug. 19, 1988, P. 2.

Reference (Deposit): Cummins, A. B., And I. A. Given. Sme Mining Engineering Handbook, A.I.M.E., New York, 1973, 2 Volumes, Pp. 17-1 To 17-180, 18-1 To 18-90.

Reference (Deposit): Caterpillar Tractor Company. Caterpillar Performance Handbook, 9th Edition, Cat Publication, October 1978, 592 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Bowman, A. B. History, Growth, And Development Of A Small Mining Company. Min. Eng., June, 1963, Pp. 42-49.

Reference (Deposit): SCHRADER, F.C., 1915, USGS BULL. 582.

Reference (Other Database): CIMRI

Reference (Deposit): Drewes, H. Structural Geology Of The Santa Rita Mountains, Professional Paper 748, 1972, 35 Pp.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Long, K.R., 1995, Production and reserves of Cordilleran (Alaska to Chile) porphyry copper deposits; in Pierce, F.W. and Bolm, J.G., eds., Porphyry Copper Deposits of the American Cordillera, Arizona Geological Society, Digest 20, p. 35-68.

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: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES SPECIAL PUBLICATION, 334 P.

Reference (Deposit): Mountains, Southeast Of Tucson, Arizonia. U.S. Geol. Survey Professional Paper 658-C, 1971, 81 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Drewes, H. Mesozoic Stratigraphy Of The Santa Rita Mountains, Southeast Of Tucson, Arizonia. U.S. Geol.

Reference (Deposit): Drewes, H. Geochemical Reconnaissance Of The Santa Rita Mountains, Southeast Of Tucson, Arizona. U.S. Geol. Survey Bulletin 1365, 1973, 67 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Drewes, H. Cenozoic Rocks Of The Santa Rita Mountains, Southeast Of Tucson, Arizona. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 746, 1972, 66 Pp.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Southwestern Pay Dirt, 8/95, P.5a.

Reference (Geology): Anzalone, S.A., 1995, The Helvetia area porphyry systems, Pima County, Arizona; in Pierce, F.W. and Bolm, J.G., eds., Porphyry Copper Deposits of the American Cordillera, Arizona Geological Society, Digest 20, p. 436-441.

Reference (Geology): Hardy, J.J., 2000, SUPERIMPOSED LARAMIDE AND MIDDLE TERTIARY DEFORMATIONS IN THE ROSEMONT-HELVETIA DISTRICT, SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA; Denver Region Exploration Geologists' Society abstracts2000. http://www.dregs.org/abs2000.html
URL: http://www.dregs.org/abs2000.html

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