1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Copper Basin

Past Producer in Yavapai county in Arizona, United States with commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc
Map
XML
JSON
KML
A
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. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Reserves and resources
  21. Workings at the site
  22. Links to other databases
  23. Bibliographic references
  24. General comments
  25. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10072137
MRDS ID W016056
Record type Deposit
Current site name Copper Basin
Alternate or previous names Western Copper, Copper Hill, Loma Prieta, Commercial

Comments on the site identification

  • Data merged from:
    Copper Basin, Deposit ID 10259519
    Loma Preita Mine, Deposit ID 10027661
    Commercial Mine, Deposit ID 10048060
    Copper Hill Mine, Deposit ID 10109059

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -112.58408, 34.49172 (WGS84)
Relative position 8 KM N OF WILHOIT, 11 MILES W OF PRESCOTT.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Yavapai(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Wilhoit(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Bradshaw Mountains(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Prescott(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Santa Maria(hydrologic unit)

Bill Williams(hydrologic accounting unit)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic subregion)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Prescott National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Arizona Yavapai

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Gila and Salt River 013N 003W 20,16,17,21 N2SENE Arizona

Comments on the location information

  • INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1992)

Commodities

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

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Copper Ore
Malachite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Tenorite Ore
Azurite Ore
Bornite Ore
Cuprite Ore
Ferrimolybdite Ore
Hematite Ore
Jarosite Ore
Limonite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) Phyllic Core, Potassic, Propylitic, Silicic, Oxidation

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 53
USGS model code 17
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number 4

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
    Rock unit name Copper Basin Stock
    Rock description Copper Basin Stock
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -112.58408, 34.49172
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure description Breccia Around Older Quartz Latite Porphyry, N10-20e Regional Fault
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Foliation of Precambrian rocks

Ore body information

  • General form Pipe, Cylindrical or elliptical, Vertical
    Thickness 106M
    Length 121.9M
    Width 91.4M
    Area 712HA
    Depth to top 20M
    Depth to bottom 126M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Granodiorite-Quartz Diorite Phase Of Stock, Shallow Dipping Fractures, Breccia Pipe

Comments on the geologic information

  • SULFIDE ZONING CORRELATES TO PATTERN OF ALTERATION ZONING-HIGHEST GRADE OF COPPER IS IN POTASSIC ZONE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1890
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1911
Year of last production 1961

Mining district

District name Copper Basin District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Federal Lease
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Joint Venture Operator
    Owner PHELPS DODGE CORP (FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER)
    Interest 85
    Home office 1 North Central Avenue\nPhoenix AZ 85004\nUnited States
    Year 1999
    First year 1988
  • Type Joint Venture
    Owner SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO
    Interest 12
    Home office 11-3 5-chome\nShimbashi, Minato-ku\nTokyo 105-8716\nJapan
    Year 1999
    First year 1998
  • Type Joint Venture
    Owner SUMITOMO CORP
    Interest 3
    Home office Harumi Island Triton Square\n1-8-11, Harumi\nTokyo 104-8610\nJapan
    Year 1999

Comments on the production information

  • SMALL SPORADIC SHIPMENTS OF LARGELY COPPER FLUX WERE MADE UNTIL 1961.
  • Processing method: Solvent-Extraction Electrowinning

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2008
    Total endowment 228000000mt ore
    Remarks Singer, 2008 in PorCuEX2008.xls.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum 0.0145 wt-pct Molybdenum Secondary 2008
    Copper 0.4 wt-pct Copper Primary 2008
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Total resources 79365000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.021 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1981
    Copper Cu 0.55 wt-pct Copper Major 1981
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Indicated 159000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.02 wt-pct Molybdenum Secondary 1989
    Copper Cu 0.55 wt-pct Copper Primary 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Indicated 63500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.53 wt-pct Copper Primary 1996
    Molybdenum Mo 0.021 wt-pct Molybdenum Secondary 1996

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • 1989 RESERVE GIVEN IN PAY DIRT MAG (SW EDITION), APR 1989, P. 6A AS 159 MILLION MT @ 0.55% CU AND 0.020% MO.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 260HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1Mining Record # : 1Status of Mining Method : PROPOSEDMining Method : BENCH (BERM)Percent Waste Rock : 60Avg. Overburden Thickness : 0Primary Material Cover : SAND, GRAVELPercentage : 15Secondary Material Cover : HARD ROCKSPercentage : 85Hardness of Ore : HARD ROCKSAvg. Bench Height (meters): 15Max. Pit Slope (degrees) : 45Capacity : 16300Capacity Units : MT ORE/DAYUnit Production Cost : 1.73Units of Production : $/MT OREOperating Days per Year : 357Operating Shifts per Day : 3Year of Information : 1978
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 356M
    Overall depth 182M

Comments on development

  • ECON.COM: DEVELOPEMENT HINGES ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND ABILITY TO SECURE ADDITIONAL LAND FOR DUMPS, ETC.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Christman, 1978, M.S. Thesis, Univ Of Az.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Jolly, J.L.W. and Edelstein, D.L., 1983, Copper; in Minerals Yearbook 1983, Volume 2, United States Bureau Of Mines, p. 277-319.

  • Deposit

    Johnston, 1955, Ph.D Thesis, Univ Of Utah.

  • Deposit

    Johnston And Lowell, 1961, Geology And Origin Of Mineralized Breccia Pipes In Copper Basin, Arizona: Econ Geol, V. 56, P. 916-940.

  • Deposit

    Anderson, C.A., 1943, Report On A Brief Examination Of The Molybdenite Prospects At Copper Basin, Yavapai County, Arizona: Unpublished Report.

  • Deposit

    Tovote, W., 1917, Loma Prieta Mines: Unpublished Report.

  • 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 Stats Bureau Of Mines Special Publication, 334 P.

  • Other Database

    Cimri

  • Deposit

    1974 Phelps Dodge Annual Report

  • Reserve-Resource

    Sawyer And Others, 1992.

  • Deposit

    Copper Basin Land Exchange Environ. Statement-Prescott N.F.

  • Deposit

    Securities And Exchange Commission, Form 10-K, 1982, Phelps Dodge Corp., P.4.

  • Deposit

    Dept. Of Min. Resources, State Of Az., Table Xxii, Proven Copper Reserves In Arizona, 1978.

  • Deposit

    Sw Pay Dirt, 8-87, P.16a.

  • Deposit

    Sw Pay Dirt, 12-90, P.7a.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Phelps Dodge Corp., Sec Form 10-K Rept, 12/31/93, P. 14.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Phelps Dodge Corp., 1994 10-K, P.14.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Pay Dirt Mag. (Southwestern Ed.). Apr 1989, P. 7a.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Phelps Dodge Corp. 1995 Annual Report, P.23.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MINERALIZATION IS PRIMARILY CONFINED TO BRECCIA PIPES FORMED WITHIN A QUARTZ MONZONITE PORPHYRY STOCK THAT INTRUDED OLDER METAMORPHOSED SEDIMENTS AND INTRUSIVES.
Deposit THIS REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM RECORD W016056 OF JAN WILT IN MOLYBDENU M FILE, CONTACT PERSON T.G. THEODORE, USGS. THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD D000348 OF ROBERT KING, WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT
Deposit DEPOSIT EVALUATED WITH A.A. MATHEWS HANDBOOK PROPERTY VISITED BY R.C. SMITH & M. DALEY ON 3/14/78 ORIGINAL DEPOSIT REPORT BY R. CRAIG SMITH, SEPT. 1978 UPDATED BY R. B. DAVIS, AUG. 26, 1983 THE DEPOSIT IS LOCATED IN SECTIONS 20 AND 21, T 13 N R 3 W, GILA AND SALT RIVER P.M. GOLD,SILVER, LEAD, AND ZINC OCCUR WITHIN THE DEPOSIT BUT HAVE UNKNOWN GRADES. PROPERTY ALSO IN USGS MRDS UNDER NO. W016056.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-APR-83 Peterson, Jocelyn A. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-NOV-93 Orris, Greta J. U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 24-SEP-96 Davis U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • PHELPS DODGE CORP (FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER) — acquired by Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Acquired by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold in 2007 in what was then the largest mining-industry deal ever (~US$26 B).

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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.