The Backbone Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Pima county, Arizona at an elevation of 3,950 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: 3,950 Feet (1,204 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Lat, Long: 31.61444, -111.34111
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.
Backbone Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Backbone Mine
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc
Location
State: Arizona
County: Pima
District: Amado District
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Year: 1945
Time Period: 1930 - 1945
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^0.5 Oz Au/Ton, 0.8 Oz Ag/Ton, Trace Cu, 1 % Pb
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1932
Year Last Production: 1942
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 LENSES
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): NEAR SURFACE ENRICHMENT
Comment (Workings): SHAFT WORKINGS
Comment (Location): CENTRAL SECTION 8 .
Comment (Production): PRODUCTION FROM 1930'S INTO 1940'S. ZINC NOT RECOVERED
References
Reference (Deposit): KEITH, S. B., 1974 , INDEX OF MINING PROPERTIES IN PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA: ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 189 , P. 104
Reference (Production): ( 8 ) ABM BULLETIN 189 , P. 104 .
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.
