White Cliffs Mine (Oversite claims; Arizite Mine; Nuez claims; Mammoth; Kaolin claims; Arizite Products Mine; Arizona Gypsum Mine), East Bank San Pedro River, Whitlock Wash area, San Pedro Valley, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
A former surface gypsum and diatomaceous earth mine located in secs. 13 & 24, T9S, R17E, and in secs. 17-20, 29 & 30, T9S, R18E on the E bank of the San Pedro River about 2 miles downstream from Whitlock Wash. Produced 1920's to 1940's. The property extends into secs. 17, 18, 20, 29 & 30, and into secs. 13 & 24, T9S, R18E. Owned by the University of Arizona. Operated by Arimetco International, Inc. (1992). Previous operators included the White Cliffs, Inc. (1989).
Mineralization is a lacustrine diatomite and gypsum deposit hosted in the Quiburis Formation (Mudstone, siltstone, chert, diatomite, tuff). The diatomaceous sedimentary sequence, which contains abundant layers of mudstone, siltstone, and tuffaceous material, is at least 140 feet (42.67 meters) thick, 3218.6 meters wide and 4827.9 meters long. These strata have been faulted and folded and are tilted a few degrees to the NE and are truncated at the top by an erosional surface. The erosianal surface also cuts out older units to the SW. Locally, the diatomaceous sediment grades 60% - 80% diatomite.
The ash beds in the central part of the White Cliffs area are not commonly altered, although one bed in Camel Canyon has been altered to bentonite. No zeolites have been identified in the immediate area.
Workings include many small quarries which were put in during the 1960's. Kaiser put in 12 drill holes in 1968 around the periphery of the deposit. There has been "considerable" production in the past. This is the only Arizona deposit with a significant production history. Arimetco planned to begin production in February, 1993. This deposit is selectively mined for 1 foot to 2 feet thick beds of diatomite.
References:
Wilson, E.D. (1944), Arizona nonmetallics: A summary of past production and present operations, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 152: 18.
Peirce, H.W. (1969), Diatomite, in USGS & Arizona Bureau of Mines & U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mineral and Water Resources of Ariaona, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 180 (USGS Bull.871): 337-342.
Elevatorski, E.A. (1980) Arizona Industrial Minerals: 54.
Phillips, K.A. (1987), Arizona Industrial Minerals, 2nd. Edition, Arizona Department of Mines & Minerals Min. Report 4, 185 pp.
Peirce, H.W. (1989) Arizona Geological Survey Industrial Mineral card files.
Phillips, K.A., Niemuth, N.J., and Bain, D.R. (1992) Active Mines in Arizona – 1993: Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources Directory 40, 25 pp.
Shenk, J.D. (1992) Geology of the White Cliffs Diatomite Deposit and Aravaipa Creek Gypsum Deposit, Lower San Pedro Valley, Arizona, in: Houser. B.B., Editor, Industrial Minerals of the Tucson Area and San pedro Valley, Southeastern Arizona: Tucson, Arizona Geological Society Field trip, April 4-5, 1992, Guidebook: 37-47.
Arizona Department of Mineral Resources Whitecliffs Mine file.
Arizona Department of Mineral Resources Mammoth Mining and Minerals Inc. file.
Arizona Department of Mineral Resources Azo Mined Products Co. Inc. file.
Arizona Department of Mineral Resources U file.
USGS Clark Ranch Quadrangle map.
MRDS database Dep. ID #10060239, MRDS ID #TC10208; and Dep. ID #10210795, MAS ID #0040210883.
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Map Reference: 32°37'59"N , 110°31'59"W
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