East Helvetia Deposit

The East Helvetia Deposit is a copper sulfide and copper oxide mine located in Pima county, Arizona at an elevation of 6,558 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: East Helvetia Deposit
Secondary: Rosemont

Commodity

Primary: Copper Sulfide
Primary: Copper Oxide
Secondary: Molybdenum

Location

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

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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.
Administrative Organization: Coronado National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
Years: 1988 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1875
Year Last Production: 1959
Discovery Year: 1961
Discovery Method: Other
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: L
Description: Flat Thrust Fault Separating Paleozoic Limestones From Overlying B Isbee Group

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Skarnification, Pyritization, Silicification, Argillization

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 0.016-0.017% MO

Materials

Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Bornite
Gangue: Biotite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): OVERLAIN BY 300 FT OF CRET SEDIMENTS ON WEST AND BY 1200 FT ON EAST. PORPHYRY IS NOT VERY MINERALIZED.

Comment (Deposit): THIS REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM RECORD M000917 OF JAN WILT IN MOLYBDENU M FILE, CONTACT PERSON T.G. THEODORE, USGS ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Location): INFO FROM LAND.ST :1964

Comment (Development): ASARCO INC. ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY AS A 'LONG-TERM COPPER RESERVE" AND HAS NO IMMEDIATE PALNS TO DEVELOP IT.

References

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 (Other Database): CIMRI

Reference (Reserve-Resource): SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.

Reference (Deposit): DREWES, 1971, USGS MAP I-613.

Reference (Deposit): JIM KELLY, ANAMAX MINING CO (PERSONAL COMMUN. TO JAN WILT).

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.