Arizona Commercial Mine, Old Dominion vein system, Black Peak area, Copper Hill, Globe Hills, Globe Hills District, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA

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A Cu-Ag-Au mine located on 2 small groups of claims (Copper Hill group & the Eureka group), on the northwestward continuation of the Old Dominion vein, about 1 mile E of the Copper Hill ghost town site and about 1 mile SSW of Black Peak. The location given is for the Copper Hill Mine shaft; the Eureka shaft is about 1 mile NE of the Copper Hill. The claims were divided into two parts: the Copper Hill group (SW of the Iron Cap property) and the Eureka group (NE of the Iron Cap property). The deposit on the Copper Hill claims is a continuation of the Old Dominion vein along numerous short faults bounded by N-S-trending faults. Previous owners/operators include the Arizona Commercial Co. (owner of the Copper Hill group before 1905); Matamora Co. (owner of part of the Eureka group including the Black Hawk shaft, prior to 1905); Arizona Commercial Copper Co. (1905-1910); the Arizona Commercial Mining Co. (1912-1930); the Old Dominion Co. (1930-1940); Charlie Nichols; Wedebrand and Strobe; Fred Clemo; Clem and Perry; Racine; Brockway; and H.N. Kinsey. In January, 1905, the Arizona Commercial Copper Co. was formed to develop these two groups of claims, developing the Arizona Commercial Mine by consolidation of the Copper Hill group, previously owned by the Arizona Commercial Co., and the workings (Black Hawk shaft) on the Eureka group, previously developed by the Matamora Co. Owned by the Miami Copper Co. (1940 to present) Operated by E.M. Moores (1961).

Mineralization is a vein deposit with linear ore body(ies) hosted in Troy Quartzite, Apache group, and the Precambrian Pinal Schist. Ore control was the ENE-trending Copper Hill vein. Ore concentration was secondary enrichment of chalcocite. Mineralization is probably associated with post-diabase faulting and intrusion, Early Tertiary. The Budget Fault has post-mineralization displacement.

Area structures include many small parallel ENE-trending faults in quartzite. A diabase sill at the mine intrudes at the base of the Troy Quartzite.

Operations ceased late in 1910 due to the financial failure of N.L. Armster, President of the company. The company reorganized as the Arizona Commercial Mining Co.

The mine was reopened in February, 1912. The first work was limited to the 800 level of the Copper Hill shaft. Later the shaft was deepened, and development of lower levels continued. The first ore was found by a drift driven northeast of the shaft on the 1200 level. The mine produced continuously until 1930 when all known reserves were exhausted and the mine was closed. The property was sold to the Old Dominion Co. a few months later and was acquired by Miami Copper Co. in 1940, along with other properties of the Old Dominion Co.

From 1906 to 1930, the two Arizona Commercial companies produced about 92,000,000 pounds of Cu, 17,000 oz. Au, 580,000 oz. Ag.

The main older workings are on the Copper Hill group, including shaft No. 1 (2200 feet deep with drifting at 1900, 2000, and 2100 foot levels and extensive development at 10, 12, 14, 15, and 16 levels. Recent work was being done on a small open pit on the Copper Hill group.

Mineral List

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

Chalcocite Chalcopyrite

Chrysocolla Conichalcite

Malachite

6 entries listed. 5 valid minerals.

Localities in this Region

USA Arizona Gila Co. Globe-Miami District Globe Hills District Globe Hills Copper Hill Black Peak area Old Dominion vein system Arizona Commercial Mine Copper Hill Mine (Copper Hill group; Copper Hill patented claim MS 535) Eureka Mine (Eureka group) Black Hawk Mine (Black Hawk shaft)

References