‡Ref.: Richard, K.E. & J.H. Courtright (1954), Structure & Mineralization at Silver Bell, AZ, Mining Engineering, Vol. 6(11): 1095-1099 (AIME Transactions, 1954 - Vol. 199 (1955); Richard, K.E. & J.H. Courtright (1966), Structure & Mineralization at Silver Bell, AZ, in Titley, S.R. and Hicks, C.L., eds., Geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: 157-163 (Univ. AZ Press); Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 107, 118, 126, 128, 193, 213, 262, 276, 277, 286, 296; Kerr, P.F. (1951), Alteration features at Silverbell, AZ, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull.: 62: 451-480; Roe, A. (1980), Micromounting in AZ, Min.Rec.: 11: 261-265; Stewart, C.A. (1912)The geology and ore deposits of the Silverbell mining district, AZ, AIME Bull. 65: 455-505 (AIME Transactions, Vol. 43: 240-290; Engineering Mining Jour. (1904), The Silverbell Camp, AZ: 77: 639; Keith, Stanton B. (1974), AZ Bur. of Geol. & Min. Technology, Geol. Survey Br. Bull. 189, Index of Mining Properties in Pima County, AZ: 143 (Table 4); Galbraith, F.W. (1947), Minerals of AZ, AZ Bur. Mines Bull. 153: 9; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 87; Niemuth, N.J. & K.A. Phillips (1992), Copper Oxide Resources, AZ Dept. Mines & Min. Resources Open File Rept. 92-10: 13 (Table 1);
Hardwick, W.R. (1963) Open-pit copper mining and concentrating methods and costs, Silver Bell unit, American Smelting and Refining Co., Pima County, Ariz.: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular I.C. 8153, 72 p.
Arizona Bureau of Mines file data.
A Cu-Ag-Mo-Au mine located in the NW ¼ sec. 4 & the center of sec. 11, T.12S., R.8E. (Vaca Hills 15 minute topo map). Owned by the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO). This mine is the open pit continuance of the former El Tiro and Oxide underground mines.
Mineralization is supergene enriched deposits of chalcocite with minor copper carbonates and silicates derived from sheeted, closely spaced, veinlets and seams of quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and minor molybdenite in hydrothermally altered Laramide dacite porphyry and monzonite.
Workings include two open pit operations since 1954. Up through 1972, production has been some 59,800,000 million tons of ore averaging about 0.8% Cu, 0.06 oz. Ag/T, 0.004% Mo, and minor Au & Pb.
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Map Reference: 33°10'34"N , 111°9'26"W
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