Magma Chief Copper Mine

The Magma Chief Copper Mine is a silver mine located in Pinal county, Arizona at an elevation of 3,599 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: Magma Chief Copper Mine
Secondary: Magma Chief Mine

Commodity

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

Location

State: Arizona
County: Pinal
District: Pioneer 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: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Magma Copper Co.

Owner Name: K. Pomeroy (1940'S)

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1940
Year Last Production: 1947
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: LENSES

Structure

Type: R
Description: Ew Trending Faults Cutting N-S Trending Fault Systems, Ew Conley Springs Fault Is 1/4 Mile N Of Mine

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Dacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Wad
Ore: Pyrolusite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Location): THE ORIGINAL BALTIMORE SHAFT OF THE MAGMA CHIEF WAS LOCATED IN SECTION 24 SW. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1979)

Comment (Development): CLAIMS INCLUDED BALTIMORE, WATSON, PICKETPOST, LONEWEDGE, PALACE, TUNA, GERALD CANLSER; MAGMA CHIEF COPPER CO. DUG WATSON AND BALTIMORE TUNNEL AROUND 1917. SAME MAGMA CHIEF COPPER COMPANY ALSO OWNED THE MAGMA CHIEF MINE IN BUNKER HILL DISTRICT

Comment (Workings): OLDEST WORKINGS IS BALTIMORE TUNNEL; LARGEST WORKINGS IS WATSON TUNNEL, RUNNING EAST-WEST; THERE ARE TWO SHORTER TUNNELS ON PICKET POST CLAIM

Comment (Geology): FAULTING AND INTRUSIONS AT SILVER KING 1 MILE NE ARE CRET-PALEO IN AGE.

References

Reference (Deposit): AZ DEPT MIN RESOURCES FILE DATA

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT CLIPPINGS FILES

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT-USBM FILE DATA

Reference (Deposit): SHORT, M.N., GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE SUPERIOR MINING AREA, ARIZONA, 1943ABM BULLETIN 151, PLATE I

Reference (Deposit): FARNHAM,L.L., MANGANESE ORE DEPOSITS IN ARIZONA, 1930, ABM BULLETIN 127 P84

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.