White Mesa Mining District, Coconino County, Arizona, USAi

Regional Level Types
White Mesa Mining District	Mining District
Coconino County	County
Arizona	State
USA	Country

A Cu mining district located in northern Coconino County.

Many operations in the White Mesa District were first attempted by Mormon settlers, who, in the latter part or the last century, located the mining claims and opened many of the known ore bodies. An unknown. but relatively small tonnage of high grade ore was recovered during the early period of discovery and initial development.

In 1917, operations on the Little Dick and Copper World claims were attempted by the Navajo Copper Company. Two open cuts were developed, and 290,000 pounds of copper, as well as a small quantity of silver were reported to have been recovered. The operations were not profitable, and were discontinued.

in 1918, The Coconino Copper and Chemical Company began operations in the western part of the district in 1939 and suspended them in 1940. Their activities were mainly on the Copper World and Dutchman claims. Complete records of production are not available. However, in 1940 they treated 584 tons of 3.13% ore from which 797,878 pounds of copper sulfate were produced and shipped.

The Mardun Company, which was formed in 1941, milled 3000 to 3500 tons of ore which yielded about 150 tons of concentrates estimated to contain 15 to 20% copper. This Company operated on a mining lease obtained from the Navajo Indian Service. In 1943 an option on the Mardun lease was acquired by the Coronado Copper & Zinc Company. An intensive prospecting program, begun by the M organization, has been continued in an effort to locate large low-grade ore bodies on the property. It was reported that the Mardun Company drilled 17,000 feet of test holes with an average depth of 24 feet or less.

In 1926 the Shattuck-Denn Mining Corporation acquired tax title on 9 patented claims in the White Mesa District. More recently they acquired options on the unpatented claims, and in 1942 undertook a drilling and prospecting program in the Old Fort Hill area. About 4700 feet of core holes were drilled and assayed.

Copper ore reserves are broken down as follows: 14,000,000 tons of inferred ore in concealed ore bodies, 1,645,000 tons of indicated ore in probable extensions, and 615,000 tons of indicated ore being reasonably assured. This total is representative of the whole White Mesa District.

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