Proto Mine Group

The Proto Mine Group is a copper and silver mine located in Santa Cruz county, Arizona at an elevation of 5,299 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: Proto Mine Group
Secondary: Thesssalia
Secondary: Gladstone-Proto Group
Secondary: Gladstone Mine

Commodity

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

Location

State: Arizona
County: Santa Cruz
District: Patagonia 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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: J. W. Forsythe
Years: 1966 -

Owner Name: Hanna Mining Co
Years: 1966 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1903
Year Last Production: 1942
Discovery Year: 1888
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
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: TABULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Deposits Occur In Form Of Subordinate Veins, Lenses, Stringers, And Seams In Intrusive Fissures, Joints, Sheeting Planes, And Other Fractures In Quartz Monzonite And Diorite

Type: L
Description: Diorite Forms Footwall And Quartz Monzonite Forms Hanging Wall Of Vein System

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Quartz Vein Is Banded, Drusy, And Highly Iron-Stained At Surface; Strong Wallrock Alteration

Rocks

Name: Hornblendite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 58.000000+-5.000000
Age Young: Tertiary

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 58.000000+-5.000000
Age Young: Tertiary

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE VALUES AVERAGED 8% CU, 3 OZ./TON AG, MINOR PB AND AU

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): OPENED BY A SERIES OF TUNNELS AND SHAFTS

Comment (Geology): ABOVE DESCRIBES PROTO MINE; OTHER CLAIMS IN GLADSTONE-PROTO MINE GROUP DESCRIBED UNDER GLADSTONE MINE GROUP

Comment (Deposit): SEE ALSO: GLADSTONE MINE GROUP ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION DATA INCLUDED IN GLADSTONE-PROTO MINE GROUP

Comment (Development): OWNERS AND OPERATORS INCLUDED DALE HIGGENS, PROTO BROTHERS (1910-1918), FULTON (1929), SULLIVAN (1930), GLADSTONE MINING CO. (1903); PROTO AND GLADSTONE PROPERTIES WERE MERGED IN 1930, FORMING TOTAL OF 10 UNPATENTED CLAIMS

Comment (Deposit): GLADSTONE AND PROTO MINE GROUPS COVER CENTRAL-6000 FT. OF 5-MILE LONG FISSURE SYSTEM, WITH KNOWN EXTENT FROM BUENA VISTA GROUP ON SOUTH TO MORNING GLORY MINE ON NORTH

Comment (Location): 1.0 MILE NW OF FOUR METALS MINE; SHAFT LOCATED ON USGS MAP; PROTO MINE LOCATED LESS THAN 1/4 MILE TO NE OF GLADSTONE MINE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1979)

References

Reference (Deposit): SIMONS, FRANK S., 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP AND SECTIONS OF THE NOGALES AND LOCHIEL QUADRANGLES, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, ARIZONA; USGS MAP I-762 (1:48000)

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT FILES, STANTON B. KEITH

Reference (Deposit): TENNEY, JAMES B., 1927-1929, HISTORY OF MINING IN ARIZONA; ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES P. 313

Reference (Deposit): MSBM-ABGMT PRODUCTION DATA; GLADSTONE-PROTO MINE GROUP

Reference (Deposit): SCHRADER, F.C., 1915, USGS BULL 582, P. 316-317

Reference (Deposit): KEITH, S.B., 1975, INDEX OF MINING PROPERTIES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, ARIZONA; ARIZONA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 191, P. 81

Reference (Deposit): ADMR FILE DATA, GLADSTONE (PROTO, INDEPENDENCE) MINE

Reference (Deposit): USBM FILES, PROTO GROUP

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT CLIPPINGS FILE, GLADSTONE MINE

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.