Christmas Mine

The Christmas Mine is a copper, silver, gold, and lead mine located in Cochise county, Arizona at an elevation of 5,801 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: Christmas Mine
Secondary: Dragoon

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Primary: Lead

Location

State: Arizona
County: Cochise
District: Middle Pass 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.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Britton, Eval
Years: 1979 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1905
Year Last Production: 1979
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Mexican Highland

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Complex Tertiary Faulting Of Paleozoic And Cretaceous Sediments, Tertiary Intrusives

Type: L
Description: East Dipping, Nw Trending Thrust Sheets. Steep Dipping To Overturned Cretaceous Beds

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Pyrometasomatic Replacements

Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Lead
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Galena

Comments

Comment (Location): N CENTRAL SEC 13, UTM EST

Comment (Deposit): ORE IN REPLACEMENTS IN LIMESTONE ALONG A CONTACT WITH A PORPHYRY INTRUSION.

Comment (Geology): ORE IN REPLACEMENTS IN LIMESTONE ALONG A CONTACT WITH A PORPHYRY INTRUSION

Comment (Workings): 4 SHORT TUNNELS AND A 465 FT SHAFT

Comment (Production): A TOTAL OF SOME 250 TONS PRODUCED IN 1905 AND 1948.

Comment (Development): PRODUCED IN 1905-1907, TAILINGS PILE PRODUCTION IN 1979. MINE OPERATORS INCLUDED DRAGOON COPPER MINING, GIACOMA BROS.; 20 CLAIMS

References

Reference (Deposit): KEITH, S B, 1973, ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 187, P 68.

Reference (Deposit): STEVENS, 1906, THE COPPER HANDBOOK, V. 6, P. 460

Reference (Deposit): MARVIN, STERN, CREASEY, MEHNERT, 1973, USGS BULL 1379

Reference (Production): KEITH, 1973, ARIZ BUR OF MINES BULL 187.

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.