Trench and Josephine Mine group (Josephine Mines; Trench group of claims; Lunch Cans prospect), Alum Gulch, Harshaw District, Patagonia Mts, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, USA

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Ref.: Schrader, F.C. (1915) Mineral deposits of the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains, Arizona, with contributions by J.M. Hill: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 582, 373 p., 3 sheets, scale 1:125,000: 253-254.

Kartchner, W.E. (1944) The geology and ore deposits of a portion of the Harshaw district, Patagonia Mountains, Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, Ph.D. dissertation, 100 p.: 88-90.

Simons, F.S. (1972) Mesozoic stratigraphy of the Patagonia Mountains and adjoining areas, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, in Mesozoic stratigraphy in southeastern Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 658-E: E21-E22.

Simons, F.S. (1974) Geologic map and sections of the Nogales and Lochiel quadrangles, Santa Cruz County, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-762, 9 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:48,000.

Keith, Stanton B. (1975) State of Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology, Geological Survey Branch Bull. 191, Index of Mining Properties in Santa Cruz County, Arizona: 59.

U.S. Bureau of Mines - Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology file data.

MRDS database Dep. ID file #10048334, MRDS ID #M899918.

A former small underground Zn-Ag-Pb-Cu-Au-Mn mine group located in the SE¼NE¼ sec. 5, T23S, R16E, 1¼ mile W of Harshaw, on an eastern tributary of Alum Gulch, on National Forest land. Discovered 1855 by Mexicans. Produced 1893-1965. Owned/operated by Mr. J. Nash and E. Mc Farland (1954). Other owners and operators included COL Titus (1859); J.B. Hagan (patented claims prior to 1872); Padrez (1870'S); Hearst Estate (1880-?); Powers and Associates (1899); W.A. Clark (1915); Farrell and Morrison; American Smelting and Refining Co.; Hoy and Coombs; the Trench Consolidated Mining Co.; C.B. Wilson; A.D. Sydenham; the Trench Mining Co.; the Gold Canyon Mining Co. (S.F. Cox, 1937); and, F. Ahlberg.

Mineralization is NW-trending vein systems in a fractured mass of intrusive diabase. The veins and ore are banded, porous, and drusy. The ore zone is narrow and pinches out in places. Ore concentration was secondary enrichment. Mineralization is not uniform and ore beds are intermittent. Alteration is pyrite gossan. The ore zone is 36576 meters long, 1.52 meters wide, with a depth to bottom of 304.8 meters, strikes N57W and dips 60NNE, and plunges SE. An associated rock unit is the Josephine Canyon Diorite. Rhyolite similar to that of Red Mountain is present.

The Josephine Mine ore consists primarily of sulfides. The fissure vein on the Trench claim dips 60NNE and averages 1-5 feet in width. The Josephine Mine is on the NW continuation of the Trench vein. Fairly high-grade material extends to a depth of 450 feet. Two principal veins, the Trench and Josephine, are sub-parallel and are linked by the cross vein, which strikes NE and dips SE.

Fractures in intrusive diabase appear to have localized ore deposits in the Trench area. Veins become unproductive as soon as they pass from diabase into the underlying tuffaceous conglomerate. The width and grade of the Trench vein diminish toward the SE.

Tectonic elements include the Meadow Valley Trachyandesite Flow and thick lava flows of the Harshaw-Trench Camp area.

Workings are 3,962.4 meters long and have a depth of 243.84 meters. Assay values averaged 6% Pb, 5% Zn, 6 oz./ton Ag, minor Cu and Au.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Alabandite Cerussite var: Argentiferous Cerussite Freibergite Galena

Galena var: Argentiferous Galena Hematite var: Specularite Pearceite Pyrite

Pyromorphite Quartz Rhodochrosite Smithsonite

Sphalerite Tetrahedrite

14 entries listed. 11 valid minerals.

Localities in this Region

USA Arizona Santa Cruz Co. Patagonia Mts Harshaw District Alum Gulch Trench and Josephine Mine group (Josephine Mines; Trench group of claims; Lunch Cans prospect) Josephine Mine Trench Mine Haggin shaft