Saddle Mountain Mine group (Lola claims; Gila Copper Sulphide Co. property; Dye vein), Lee Mountain area, Saddle Mountain District, Dripping Spring Mts, San Carlos Indian Reservation, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA

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A former underground Au-Ag-Zn-Cu-Mo-Pb mine group located in sec. 35, T4S, R16E, and in sec. 2, T5S, R16E, on 15 patented and 1 unpatented claim (1923), about 1¾ miles SW of Lee Mountain, about 3¼ miles NNW of Saddle Mountain, and about 3¼ miles SE of Christmas, on the ridge between Ash and Deer Creeks, on Indian Reservation land. Discovered 1900. Claims extend into sec 34, T4S, R16E. The Saddle Mountain Mining Co. was organized in 1900 by G.B. Chittenden. The claims include the Lola claims. Gila Copper Sulfide Co. was past operator.

Mineralization is in brecciated zones of E-W shears and NE-tension fractures near a dike swarm, hosted in andesite. The ore zone is 1.22 meters wide, strikes N50E and dips 60-90. One vein is on the side of a quartz mica diorite dike, which is also mineralized in places. The second vein (Big Rock vein) is exposed east of the main vein. Alteration is prophyllitic and shallow. Associated rock unit is Williamson Canyon volcanics-andesite and diorite. Volcanics are folded into Deer Creek Syncline with tension fractures paralleling the axis of the syncline. Pyrite favored diorite porphyry-quartz diorite. Pb-Ag-Zn favored volcanics and contacts of intrusions.

Workings included 5 shafts. A portable concentrating mill was erected at Ash Creek in 1900 - the ruins are now known as Old Mill. Most workings are inaccessible.

Assay data: 5% disseminated pyrite.

References

Ross, Clyde P. (1925) Ore Deposits of the Saddle Mountain and Banner Mining Districts, Arizona, USGS Bulletin 771: 43.

Galbaith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of Arizona: 50, 58.

Willden (1964), USGS Bulletin 1161-E.

Bartlett (1972) MS thesis, University of Utah.

Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 112, 378.

Arizona Bureau of Mines Saddle Mountain group file.

USGS Christmas Quadrangle map.

MRDS database Dep. ID #10026864; MRDS ID #M000645; and Dep. ID #10161678, MAS ID #0040211060.

Mineral List

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

Acanthite Anglesite Baryte Bornite Calcite Cerussite Chalcocite

Chalcopyrite 'Chlorite Group' Chrysocolla Covellite Cuprite Galena 'Garnet'

Gold Gypsum Hematite var: Specularite Limonite Magnetite Malachite Muscovite var: Sericite

Pyrargyrite Pyrite Quartz Silver Sphalerite

28 entries listed. 21 valid minerals.

Localities in this Region

USA Arizona Pinal Co. San Carlos Indian Reservation Dripping Spring Mts Saddle Mountain District Lee Mountain area Saddle Mountain Mine group (Lola claims; Gila Copper Sulphide Co. property; Dye vein) Saddle Mountain Mine