Critic Mine (Cunningham Pass Mine), Wenden, Cunningham Pass District, Harcuvar Mts, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA

‡Ref.: Bancroft, H. (1911), Reconnaissance of the ore deposits in northern Yuma County, Arizona, USGS Bull. 451: 116-119.

Tovote, W.L. (1918) Cunningham Pass district, Arizona: Mining and Scientific Press: 117 (July 6, 1918): 19-20.

Elsing, M.J. and Heineman, E.S. (1936) Arizona Metal Production, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bulletin 140: 104.

Keith, Stanton B. (1978) State of Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology, Geological Survey Branch Bull. 192, Index of Mining Properties in Yuma County, Arizona: 144 (Table 4).

Phillips, K.A. (1987), Arizona Industrial Minerals, 2nd. Edition, Arizona Department of Mines & Minerals Mineral Report 4, 185 pp.

Niemuth, N.J. & K.A. Phillips (1992), Copper Oxide Resources, Arizona Department of Mines & Mineral Resources Open File Report 92-10: 8 (Table 1).

Anthony, J.D., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 336.

Arizona Bureau of Mines file data.

MRDS database Dep. ID file #10027634, MRDS ID #M003640; and, Dep. ID #10282576, MAS ID #0040120174.

A former underground Cu-Au-Ag-Fe-Baryte mine located in SE¼ sec. 11, secs. 12 & 13, & the NE¼ sec. 14, T7N, R13W (Salome 15 minute topo map), about 8 miles N of Wenden. Discovered 1865 and produced 1907-1953. Owned at times, or in part, by Bullard; Boone; Cunningham Pass Copper Mining Co.; Stent; Feighton; Ranier Mines Corp.; Nohlcheck; Hatch; Buckanan; and the Edward Brothers. Operated by Rocacco Resources Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada (1986).

Mineralization is in a true fissure cutting directly across the schistosity of the countryside with baryte as a gangue mineral with copper, gold and silver mineralization. Ore is copper sulfides in depth and secondary copper minerals in the oxidized zone, in a gangue of hematite, quartz, barite and brecciated wall rock, in spotty pockets and irregular lenses in a strong NW-striking fissure vein cutting Precambrian metamorphics. Intrusions of granite and diorite. The fissure vein cuts schists and shows post-mineralization faulting. The width of the vein varies from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet (1.22 meters)and the ore-bearing streak is likewise as inconsistant in its dimensions, changing abruptly in places from a barren vein into several inbches of ore and again pinching out as suddenly. This zone strikes N55W and dips 75SW. This circumstance is probably due to post-mineralization longitudinal faulting, both horizontal and vertical, which is very much in evidence on the property. Schists show disseminated pyrite and hematite along walls. Some pegmatite dikes. More quartz and jasper in gangue with depth.

Workings include shaft and tunnel operations with workings down to some 485 feet (121.92 meters). There are 2 main shafts and numerous shallower shafts. Discovered in the 1860's and patented in 1907. The major producer of the district. Mined almost continuously from 1907 through 1953, producing some 4,600 tons of ore averaging about 10% Cu, 0.6 oz. Au/T, and 0.2 oz. Ag/T. This mine was the major producer of the district. Rocacco Resources performed dump sampling and additional exploration during the period 1984-1986.