Tip Top Mine

The Tip Top Mine is a copper mine located in Pima county, Arizona at an elevation of 4,199 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: Tip Top Mine
Secondary: Little Helvetia
Secondary: Forbes
Secondary: Copper Duke

Commodity

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

Location

State: Arizona
County: Pima
District: Helvetia - Rosemont 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: Anamax Mining Co.

Production

Year: 1926
Time Period: 1904-1926
Material type: ORE CU
Description: Cp_Grade: ^5% Cu, 0.4 Oz Ag/Ton
Year: 1953
Material type: ORE CU
Description: Ap_Grade: ^6.5% Cu, 3.5% Pb, 2.8% Zn

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1899
Year Last Production: 1956
Discovery Year: 1898
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR POCKETS, STRINGERS, LENSES, PODS

Structure

Type: R
Description: Homoclinal ; Reg.Trends: Tilting And Broad Open Folds In S. And Extensive Faulting In N.

Type: L
Description: Thrust And Normal Faulting-Fracture Zones

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silication

Rocks

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

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CORES ASSAYED 0.01-0.014% MO.

Materials

Ore: Bornite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Cuprite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Diopside
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Deposit): THE STRATIGRAPHIC UNITS USED ARE THOSE OF H. DREWES - 1971, USGS MAP I-613. THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD D003019 BY J. WILLIAM HASLER WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Development): OPERATORS INCLUDED D & P MINING CO., FORBES, TIP TOP MINING CO.

Comment (Deposit): ORE GENERALLY IN LIME-SILICATE ZONES CONTROLLED BY FAULTS AND FRACTURES. DISTRICT IS POSSIBLY NEW PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT.

Comment (Workings): SHALLOW SHAFTS, TUNNELS, OPENCUTS.

Comment (Production): NO AVAILABLE REFERENCE AT 9/28/92 TO CHECK THE CONVERSION OF UNITS FOR ANNUAL PRODUCTION FIGURES.

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

References

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

Reference (Deposit): ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES, 1971, FIELDNOTES, V.1, NO. 2.

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

Reference (Deposit): CREASEY, S.C., 1955, U.S.G.S. BULL 1027F.

Reference (Deposit): KEITH, S.B., 1974, INDEX OF MINING PROPERTIES IN PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA: ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 189, P. 128.

Reference (Deposit): 1909 RECON F.C. SCHRADER, U.S.G.S. BULL. 582.

Reference (Deposit): 1971 DIREXPL ANACONDA-POSSIBLE NEW PORPH CU.

Reference (Deposit): 1971 GEOLMAP H. DREWES U.S.G.S. MAP I-613.

Reference (Other Database): CIMRI

Reference (Production): ANNUAL PRODUCTION FROM BULLETIN 582. CUM. PRODUCTION: (1) KEITH,1974, (2)ELSING,M.J.,1936, ABM BULLETIN 140.

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.