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Esperanza

Past Producer in Pima county in Arizona, United States with commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Silver, Gold, Lead, Zinc
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10039594
MRDS ID M050391
Record type Deposit
Current site name Esperanza
Alternate or previous names Esperanza Sierrita, Old New Year's Eve Shaft, West Esperanza, Sierrita, Amargosa, Matt Mcgee

Comments on the site identification

  • NO MINING WAS BEING DONE AT THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THE VISIT IN 1978, EXCEPT THE LEACH OPERATION. PROPERTY UPDATE JUL 1987 PROPERTY COMBINED WITH SIERRITA AUGUST 1988. WHEN CYPRUS PURCHASED THE SIERRITA-ESPERANZA MINE & MILL COMPLEX THEY COMBINED THE TWO PROPERTIES AS ONE COMPLEX CALLED SIERRITA. THE RESERVES HAVE BEEN COMBINED AND THE ESPERANZA PIT IS NOW CALLED THE EAST PIT AND THE SIERRITA PIT IS CALLED THE WEST PIT. HISTORICAL DATA SETS HAVE BEEN RETAINED IN THIS DATA BASE. OPERATING PARAMETERS AND COST DATA ARE NOW PART OF THE SIERRITA DATA BASE, SEQUENCE NUMBER 0040190004. ALL ESPERANZA FILE DATA HAS BEEN TRANS- FERRED TO THE SIERRITA FILE. ONE ESPERANZA FILE HAS BEEN RETAINED TO EXPLAIN WHERE ALL OF THE ESPERANZA DATA IS LOCATED.
  • *****SEE Sierrita Deposit ID 10137918

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -111.12541, 31.86984 (WGS84)
Elevation 1280
Relative position 4.5 MI SW OF TWIN BUTTES, 48 KM S OF TUCSON.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pima(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Batamote Hills(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Sells(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Nogales(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Santa Cruz(hydrologic unit)

Santa Cruz(hydrologic accounting unit)

Middle Gila(hydrologic subregion)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Arizona Pima

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Gila and Salt River 018S 012E 16,08,09,;17 NW4 (16) Arizona

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Molybdenum Primary
Silver Secondary
Gold Secondary
Lead Secondary
Zinc Critical Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Copper Ore
Covellite Ore
Cuprite Ore
Ferrimolybdite Ore
Galena Ore
Malachite Ore
Melaconite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Silver Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Tenorite Ore
Torbernite Ore
Goethite Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Jarosite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Magnetite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Clay (Moderate To Intense), Quartz-Sericite-K Feldspar Argillation, Silication, Biotite

Analytical data

Result ORE GRADE HAS AVERAGED 0.5% CU AND 0.028% MO SINCE THE START OF OPERATIONS

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
    Rock unit name Ruby Star Quartz Monzonite Porphyry;Ox Frame Volcanics
    Rock description Ruby Star Quartz Monzonite Porphyry;Ox Frame Volcanics
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Tuff > Welded Tuff
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -111.12541, 31.86984
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure description Broad Nw Trending Shear Zone. Faults Trending Ne-Ene, Dip Nw & Se; Nw-Nnw, Dip Ne & Sw; N-S, Dip E & W

Ore body information

  • General form OVATE, MASSIVE
    Thickness 128.02M
    Length 1280.16M
    Width 701.04M
    Depth to top 30.48M
    Depth to bottom 158.5M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Faults Controlled Upward Movement Of Hypogene And Downward Movement Of Supergene Metallization.

Comments on the geologic information

  • AROUND CU-MO ORE ZONE IS AUREOLE OF VEIN DEPOSITS WORKED FOR PB, ZN, AG IN EARLY 1900'S.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1895
Discoverer P.H. Chambers (1895)
Year of first production 1959
Year of last production 1986

Mining district

District name Pima District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Sierrita Corp.
    First year 1988

Production statistics

  • Year 1968
    Material MO
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.036% Mo
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1968
    Material CU
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.35% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Copper Copper 0wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary CU Copper Copper 4907000mt
  • Year 1977
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary CU Copper Copper 3564000mt
  • Year 1978
    Material ore
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 6519mt
  • Year 1979
    Material ore
    Ore mined 4445000mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ore
    Ore mined 5613000mt
  • Year 1981
    Material ore
    Ore mined 5687000mt
  • Year 1982
    Material Copper Recovered From Leach Operation
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 4243mt
  • Year 1983
    Material Copper Recovered From Leach Operation
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 2888mt
  • Year 1984
    Material Copper Recovered From Leach Operation
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 3856mt
  • Year 1985
    Material Copper Recovered From Leach Operation
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 4536mt
  • Year 1986
    Material Copper Recovered From Leach Operation
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 4101mt

Comments on the production information

  • ITEMS 1-2 SIERRITA OPEN PIT.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1962
    Total resources 23986000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.028 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1962
    Copper Cu 0.51 wt-pct Copper Major 1962
  • Type Leaching
    Estimate year 1962
    Total resources 14767000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.25 wt-pct Copper Major 1962
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1978
    Total resources 9909000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.022 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1978
    Copper Cu 0.42 wt-pct Copper Major 1978
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1974
    Total resources 16326000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.027 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1974
    Copper Cu 0.38 wt-pct Copper Major 1974
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1970
    Total resources 187755000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.036 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1970
    Copper Cu 0.35 wt-pct Copper Major 1970
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1945
    Total resources 11000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.5 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1945
    Copper Cu 1 wt-pct Copper Major 1945
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1973
    Total resources 301096000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.36 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1973
    Copper Cu 0.32 wt-pct Copper Major 1973
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Total resources 22123000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.03 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1981
    Copper Cu 0.27 wt-pct Copper Major 1981

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Overall length 1280.16M
    Overall width 609.6M

Comments on the workings information

  • OPEN PIT. MEASUREMENTS OF MINED AREA ESTIMATED FROM MAP. SHUT DOWN IN EARLY 1972 FOR 1 YEAR TO REMOVE BACKLOG OF STOCKPILED CU CONCENTRATES. LEACHING OF DUMP MATERIALS.

Comments on development

  • PREMINE STRIPPING BEGAN IN 1957. PREVIOUS OWNERS INCLUDE DUVAL CORP. (1979)

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Age

    Ruiz, J. and Mathur, R., 1999, Metallogenesis in continental margins: Re-Os evidence from porphyry copper deposits in Chile; in Lambert, D.D. and Ruiz, J., eds., Application of Radiogenic Isotopes to Ore Deposit Research and Exploration, Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 12, p. 59-72.

  • Deposit

    LYNCH, 1967, IN TITLEY & HICKS, UNIV OF AZ PRESS, P. 267-279.

  • Age

    Shafiqullah, M. and Langlois, J.D., 1978, The Pima mining district, Arizona, a geochronologic update; in James, H.L., Callender, J.F., Wilt, J.C. and Clemons, R.E., eds., Land of Cochise, Southeast Arizona, University of New Mexico, Field Conference Guidebook Number 29, p. 321-327.

  • Deposit

    COOPER, 1960, USGS BULL 1112-C.

  • Deposit

    KEITH, 1974, ABM BULL 189, P. 135.

  • Deposit

    AIKEN & WEST, 1978, AZ GEOL SOC DIGEST, V. 11, P 117-128.

  • Deposit

    SCHMIDT ET AL, 1959, SOUTHERN ARIZONA GUIDEBOOK II.

  • Deposit

    EMJ, 1970, DUVAL DEDICATES THE SIERRITA OPEN PIT: JULY.

  • Deposit

    EMJ, 1970, SIERRITA MAKES IT WITH BIG EQUIPMENT: AUGUST.

  • Deposit

    ANDERSON, C.A., AND KUPFER, D.H., 1943, REPORT ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE AMARGOSA MOLYBDENUM AND COPPER CORP: PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA OPEN FILE REPORT.

  • Deposit

    WAR MINERALS REPORT, 1945, ESPERANZA PROPERTY, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA: WAR MINERALS REPORT 405.

  • Deposit

    SAWYER, M.B., GURMENDI, A.C., DALEY, M.R., AND HOWELL, S.B., 1992, PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS OF STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MINERALS IN ARIZONA: UNITED STATES BUREAU OF MINES SPECIAL PUBLICATION, 334 P.

  • Other Database

    CIMRI

  • Production

    EMJ, JULY, 1970; FIGURE 3 FROM GSA, 1968; SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LYNCH, 1967 (ITEMS 1-4); EMJ, 1970 (ITEM 5); WAR MINERALS REPORT 405, 1945 (ITEM 6); COX, 1973, (ITEM 7); SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit PRIMARY ORE IN QUARTZ MONZONITE, SECONDARY ORE IN ANDESITE PORPHYRY. WEST ESPERANZA BODY IS IRREGULAR SHAPE ABOUT 2000 FT BY 1800 FT. MINERALIZATION IS IN FRACTURES IN QUARTZ.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAR-83 Peterson, Jocelyn A. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-NOV-93 Orris, Greta J. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

External references

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Arizona resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.