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Bluebird

Past Producer in Gila county in Arizona, United States with commodity Copper
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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. 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. Production statistics
  21. Reserves and resources
  22. Links to other databases
  23. Bibliographic references
  24. General comments
  25. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10185792
MRDS ID M241238
MAS/MILS ID 0040070007
Record type Deposit
Current site name Bluebird
Alternate or previous names Blue Bird
Related records 10161554

Comments on the site identification

  • The Bluebird property is part of the Cyprus Miami Properties

    ******SEE Cyprus Miami- Deposit ID 10186051 for full record info

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -110.90489, 33.40978 (WGS84)
Elevation 1050
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Gila(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Inspiration(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Globe(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Mesa(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Salt(hydrologic unit)

Salt(hydrologic accounting unit)

Salt(hydrologic subregion)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Arizona Gila

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Gila and Salt River 001 N 014 E 35 Arizona

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Azurite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Malachite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Bornite Ore
Covellite Ore
Curite Ore
Galena Ore
Molybdenite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) Argillization

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 Host
    Rock type
    Rock type qualifier multiple phase-predominantly a porphyritic quartz-monzonite (adamellite), although in the mine area it includes granodiorite, quartz-monzonite and porphyritic quartz-monzonite and later phase granite porphyry.
    Rock unit name Schultze Granite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Schist
    Rock type qualifier sequence of coarse grained quartz-muscovite schist, fine grained quartz-sericite-chlorite schist and some fine grained amphibole schist.
    Rock unit name Pinal Schist
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -110.90489, 33.40978
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Low Angle Bulldog Fault, Miami Fault- Both Cutting Are Into Distinct Pieces

Ore body information

  • Strike N20W
    Dip 40W
    Thickness 150M
    Length 1100M
    Width 160M
    Depth to top 30M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Primary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. SLIGHT
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 OTHER
    Strike And Dip N20W:40W
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 30
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 800425

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Schistosity
  • Lithology

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1900
Year of first production 1961

Mining district

District name Miami District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Miami Mining Corp.
    ID 200158
    Interest 100
    Home office P. O. Box 4444, Claypool, Az
    Year 1992

Production statistics

  • Year 1967
    Description 3488 Mt Cu Prod From Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3488mt
  • Year 1968
    Description 657 Mt Cu Prod From Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 657mt
  • Year 1969
    Description Solvent Extraction Started In 1969 4500 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4500mt
  • Year 1970
    Description 5225 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 5225mt
  • Year 1971
    Description 5650 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 5650mt
  • Year 1972
    Description 6659 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6659mt
  • Year 1973
    Description 6806 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6806mt
  • Year 1974
    Description 6960 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6960mt
  • Year 1974
    Description 4964210 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4964210mt
  • Year 1975
    Description 6859 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6859mt
  • Year 1975
    Description 3969370 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3969370mt
  • Year 1976
    Description 8108 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 8108mt
  • Year 1976
    Description 3129580 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3129580mt
  • Year 1977
    Description 2037680 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2037680mt
  • Year 1977
    Description 7742 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 7742mt
  • Year 1978
    Description 1781 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1781mt
  • Year 1978
    Description 937850 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 937850mt
  • Year 1979
    Description 4969 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4969mt
  • Year 1979
    Description 3428290 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3428290mt
  • Year 1980
    Description 5904 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 5904mt
  • Year 1980
    Description 3622580 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3622580mt
  • Year 1981
    Description 971450 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 971450mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Mine Closed But Leach/Sx-Ew Operating 6045 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6045mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Leach Op/Sx-Ew Plant Closed 10/25/82 1406 Mt Cu Cathode
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1406mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 9070000mt
    Remarks The source reference for this information is unknown.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 0.6 wt-pct Copper Primary 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Total resources 6802000mt ore
    Remarks The source reference for this information is unknown.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    BAER,R,1977, TRIP NOTES FOR THE BLUEBIRD MINE, GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA. (DETAILS ABOUT GEOLOGY, MINE, SOLVENT-EXTRACTION PLANT & MARKETING)

  • Production

    GANT,T L,1971, CERTIFICATE OF SURVEYOR- MINERAL SURVEY 4684A & 4684B, LOCATED IN USBLM MINERAL PATENT FILE A7196 (SIZES OF BUILDING & VALUE OF MINE & LEACH PLANT)

  • Production

    MILLER,A,1967, HEAP LEACHING COPPER ORE AT RANCHERS BLUEBIRD MINE, MIAMI, ARIZONA, AIME PREPRINT 67-B-339 (EXPLORATION GEOLOGY, LEACHING, MINE EQUIP., SOLVENT-EXTRACTION)

  • Geology

    PETERSON,N P, 1962, GEOL. & ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GLOBE-MIAMI DISTRICT, ARIZONA: USGS PROF. PA 342, 146 P. (GEOLOGY)

  • Geology

    POTTER,S C,1972, GEOLOGY & ORE DEPOSIT AT THE BLUEBIRD MINE, GILA COUNTY, ARIZ., UNPUBLISHED REPT FOR RANCHERS EXPLOATION & DEVELOPMENT CORP., 19 P. (GEOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT)

  • Geology

    RANSOME,F L,1919, THE COPPER DEPOSITS OF RAY & MIAMI, ARIZ.: USGS PROF. PA. 115, 157 PP.

  • Geology

    SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, 5/25/68 & 1/14/78.(POWER,PROCESSES)

  • Geology

    The Porter GeoConsultancy webpages for Globe Miami and Miami Inspiration contain descriptions of the geology. Accessed on 9/2/2010.
    http://www.portergeo.com.au/

  • Reserve-Resource

    PAYDIRT,9/27/71, P.387. (RESOURCE CALCULATIONS)

  • Reserve-Resource

    RANCHERS EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT CORP., ANNUAL REPORTS 1964-76. (EXPLORATION, RESERVES, PRODUCTION,MINING COSTS)

  • Workings

    MCCOLLY,R A,1974, MINERAL REPORT FOR BLUEBIRD PATENT APPLICATION, US BLM (DESCRIPTION OF MINE, PLANT, GEOL.,& ENV.)

  • Deposit

    RANCHERS EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT CORP., APPLICATION FOR MINERAL & MILLSITE PATENTS, 22 PP. (EXPLORATION, LANDS)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MILS REF PROPERTY VISITED 9/77. PROPERTY UPDATE JULY 1987 PROPERTY UPDATED JUNE 1992. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN COMBINED INTO THE CYPRUS MIAMI (INSPIRATION) PROPERTY (SEQ NO 0040070008). CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY CONSOLIDATED THIS PROPERTY AND THE OX HIDE (SEQUENCE NO 0040070060) INTO ONE OPERATING UNIT ALONG WITH THE INSPIRATION PROPERTY.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 05-OCT-92 Rlb / Mrd U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 11/04/1982
MSHA mine ID0200158
Mine name (MSHA)Bluebird Mine
Current operatorRanchers Exploration & Development Corp
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

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.