Orphan Mine (Orphan lode; Orphan N.P. 2004; Golden Crown Mining Co. property; Western Gold and Uranium property), Grand Canyon Village, Orphan District, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA

‡Ref.: Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 127, 162, 285, 298, 340, 351, 371, 407, 408, 409; Isachsen, Y.T., et al (1955), Age and sedimentary environments of uranium host rocks, Colorado Plateau, Econ.Geol.: 50: 127-134; Gornitz, V. (1986), Uranium mineralization at the Orphan mine breccia pipe, Grand Canyon, AZ (abs.), Geol. Soc. Amer. Abs. with Progs.: 18: 357; Gornitz, V. (2004), Grand Canyon Uranium: The Orphan Mine, Mineral News: 20(6): 1 & 3-5; Gornitz, V. & P.F. Kerr (1970), Uranium mineralization and alteration, Orphan Mine, Grand Canyon, AZ, Econ.Geol.: 65: 751-768; Gornitz, V., et al (1988), Origin of the Orphan Mine breccia pipe uranium deposit, Grand Canyon, AZ, Process Mineralogy VII: Applications to Mineral Benficiation Technology and Mineral Exploration, A.H. Vassiliou, Hausen, D.M., and Carson, D.J.T., editors, The Metallurgical Society, Warrendale, PA: 281-301; Wenrich, K.J., et al (1989), Uranium in AZ, in: Geologic evolution of Arizona, J.P. Penney and S.J. Reynolds, editors, AZ Geol. Soc. Digest 17, Tucson: 759-794; Wenrich, K.J., et al (1992), USGS Bull. 1683-D: D2; Granger, H.C. & R.B. Raup (1962), Reconnaissance study of uranium deposits in AZ, USGS Bull. 1147-A, A7-A12; Chenoweth, W.L. (1986), The Orphan Lode mine, Grand Canyon, AZ, a case history of a mineralized collapse-breccia pipe, USGS Open File Rept 86-510; Niemuth, N.J. & K.A. Phillips (1992), Copper Oxide Resources, AZ Dept. Mines & Min. Resources Open File Rept. 92-10: 6 (Table 1); Keith (1970) AZ Bur. Mines Bull. 182: 103-159, 202-289; Kofford (1969), Four Corners Geol. Soc. Guidebook: 190-194; Bowles (1977), USGS Circ. 753: 25-27; US Bur. Land Management Mining District sheet 62; US Atomic Energy Comm. Prelim. Rpt. 172-479: 2, 8, 9; AZ Dept. Min. Resources Orphan Mine file; Adler, H., EconGeol.: 58(6): 849-850.

A former underground U-Cu mine with minor & trace commodities of Sb-Pb-Co-Au-Mn-Zn-Ag-Mo & baryte, located in the N½ sec. 14, T.31N., R.2E. (Bright Angel 15 minute topo map), 2 miles west of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of the canyon itself, immediately West of Maricopa Point. Discovered by Daniel L. Hogan in 1893 as a copper claim and dubbed the 'Orphan lode' by him. Converted to an uranium mine in 1956 and closed in 1969. Owned by Western Gold & Uranium, Inc.

Local rocks are Pennsylvanian and Permian. Mineralization involves an ellipsoidal, pipelike body of collapse breccia developed primarily in the Permian Coconino Sandstone (and Mescal limestone) associated with pyrite and other sulfides and sulfosalts of Cu-Pb-Zn-Co-Ni & Mo, and includes secondary copper minerals. Ore is disseminations and stringers on the pipe's periphery. Bleaching, argillization and carbonization extend into sediments as a function of permeablity. Concentration process was bacteriological mobilization and enrichment of deposits from hydrothermal fluids.Strongest mineralization in most permeable areas around the periphery of the pipe.

Workings include 3 small, original workings, including a main adit. The middle working has a main adit about 25 feet long and about 15 feet of workings branching off. The lower working adit is about 45 feet long, turns and goes an additional 25 feet. There is a 1,600 foot deep shaft and crosscut more than 800 feet long.

Production for the period 1956-1969 was 4,260,000 pounds of U3O8, plus 6,680,000 pounds of Cu, 107,000 oz. Ag and 3,400 pounds of V2O5.