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Christmas

Past Producer in Gila county in Arizona, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver, Iron
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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. Workings at the site
  23. Links to other databases
  24. Bibliographic references
  25. General comments
  26. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10234135
MRDS ID M000635
MAS/MILS ID 0040070052
Record type Deposit
Current site name Christmas
Alternate or previous names Christmas Mine, Christmas Mine & Mill
Related records 10209578

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -110.74239, 33.05899 (WGS84)
Elevation 930
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

Christmas(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Globe(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Mesa(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Middle Gila(hydrologic unit)

Middle Gila(hydrologic accounting unit)

Middle Gila(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 004 S 016 E 19 Arizona

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary
Iron Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Ore
Covellite Ore
Malachite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Bornite Ore
Copper Ore
Hematite Ore
Brochantite Ore
Chalcanthite Ore
Cubanite Ore
Dioptase Ore
Galena Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Tenorite Ore
Cuprite Gangue
Magnetite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Epidotization, Silicification, Propylitic
  • (Local) K-Silicate, Quartz-Sericite-Chlorite
  • (Local) Oxidation, Carbonatization

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 58
USGS model code 18a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu, skarn-related
Mark3 model number 9

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granodiorite
    Rock type qualifier granodiorite stock includes quartz-diorite, biotite granodiorite porphyry, and granodiorite.
    Rock unit name Christmas Intrusive Complex
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Chronological age 62
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock type qualifier fossiliferous cherty grey limestone interbedded with calcareous shale and siltstone.
    Rock unit name Devonian Martin Formation, Carboniferous (Mississippian) Escabrosa Limestone and Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) Naco Limestone
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleozoic
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Rock type qualifier basalts and andesites
    Rock unit name Williamson Canyon Volcanics

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -110.74239, 33.05899
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Christmas-Joker Fault Zone: 7.5 Mi Long & 100 Ft Wide Striking NW

Ore body information

  • General form Tabular
    Thickness 90M
    Length 900M
    Width 225M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control BEDDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 CARBONATE SILIC
    Date of Last Modification 800428
  • Area 150HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 150
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Limestone-Diorite Contact, Favorable Limestone Beds
  • Garnetized Areas, Fractures In Garnet Rich Zones

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1880
Mining method Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Tailings
Year of first production 1905
Year of last production 1982
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Banner District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Inspiration Copper Resources
    First year 1966
    Last year 1983
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Minerals Co. 9100 E. Mineral, Littleton Co 80112
    ID 200149
    Interest 100
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1992
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Phelps Dodge Corp
    Interest 100
    Last year 2007
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc
    Interest 100
    Home office Phoenix AZ 85004 \n
    Year 2010
    First year 2007

Production statistics

  • Year 1907
    Period 1905 To 1907
    Description Ore At 2.48% Cu From 1905 To 1907 113300 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 124891.83mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1925
    Period 1916 To 1925
    Description Ore At 2.80% Cu From 1916 To 1925 416800 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 459443.22mt 3wt-pct
  • Year 1932
    Period 1926 To 1932
    Description Ore At 2.16% Cu From 1926 To 1932 549700 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 605940.35mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1938
    Period 1937 To 1938
    Description Ore At 2.50% Cu From 1937 To 1938 35800 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 28439.62mt 3wt-pct
  • Year 1946
    Period 1939 To 1946
    Description Ore At 2.14% Cu From 1939 To 1946 214400 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 236335.47mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1954
    Description Ore At 3.00% Cu 24600 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 27116.85mt 3wt-pct
  • Year 1959
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 1.60% Cu (Estimated) 11100 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 12235.65mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1960
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 1.60% Cu (Estimated) 17100 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 18849.51mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1962
    Period 1961 To 1962
    Description Ore At 1.12% Cu From 1961 To 1962 129600 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 142859.5mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1963
    Description Ore At 1.68% Cu 638800 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 704156.26mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1964
    Description Ore At 1.49% Cu 953200 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1050722.84mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1965
    Description Ore At 1.41% Cu 715700 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 788923.98mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1966
    Description Ore At 1.14% Cu 934800 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1030440.32mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1967
    Description Ore At 0.72% Cu 857000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 944680.52mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1968
    Description Ore At 0.67% Cu 1200000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1322773.2mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1969
    Description Ore At 0.78% Cu 1918600 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2114893.88mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1970
    Description Ore At 0.63% Cu 1829100 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2016237.05mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Description Ore At 0.61% Cu 1537900 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1695244.08mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description Ore At 0.80% Cu 1850000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2039275.35mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.80% Cu (Estimated) 1632000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1798971.55mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.73% Cu (Estimated) 1677000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1848575.54mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.73% Cu (Estimated) 1404000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1547644.64mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.73% Cu (Estimated) 1588000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1750469.86mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description Ore At 0.73% Cu 950000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1047195.45mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description Short Tons
  • Year 1979
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 1.007% Cu (Estimated) 920000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1014126.12mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.72% Cu (Estimated) 1292000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1424185.81mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ore At 0.67% Cu (Estimated) 1911000 Short Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2106516.32mt 1wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2008
    Total endowment 48100000mt
    Remarks Singer 2008 in PorCuEX2008.xls.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver 1 g/mt Silver Secondary 2008
    Gold 0.01 g/mt Gold Secondary 2008
    Copper 1.1 wt-pct Copper Primary 2008
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Indicated 6865000mt ore
    Demonstrated 6865000mt ore
    Total resources 6865000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.63 wt-pct Copper Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Measured 18100000mt ore
    Demonstrated 18100000mt ore
    Total resources 18100000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.82 wt-pct Copper Major 1984

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • OVERALL RECOVERY AFTER THE REFINERY IS 66.4% FOR SURFACE ORE AND 79.2% FOR UNDERGROUND ORE. WITH A 98% SMELTER RECOVERY AND A 99% REFINERY RECOVERY, A VALUE OF 68.44% SURFACE ORE AND 82.46% UNDERGROUND ORE HAS BEEN CALCULATED FOR MILL RECOVERY. A ROUNDED VALUE OF 68% AND 82%, RESPECTIVELY, HA BEEN USED IN THE YIELDS DATA SET. Q-MATRIX 1 SHOWS THE RESERVES OF THE CHRISTMAS SURFACE MINE Q-MATRIX 2 SHOWS THE RESERVES OF THE CHRISTMAS UNDERGROUND MINE R1=M1C1:M1C1=M9C4 R2=M2C1:M2C1=M9C5.
  • CYPRUS MINERALS CO. BOUGHT THE INSPIRATION HOLDINGS IN ARIZONA AND RENAMED THE OPERATING CO. TO CYPRUS MIAMI MINING CORP. TEMP SHUTDOWN STATUS. OPEN PIT : 6,400,000 MT @ 0.63 % CU, 0.147 GM AU, 4.56 GM AG. UNDERGROUND: 18,100,000 MT @ 1.82 % CU, 0.171 GM AU, 5.28 GM AG.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 100HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 83
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 15
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4350
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 4.17
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 357
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1978
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 490M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method HORIZ CUT & FILL W/TAILINGS 10-60
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Percent Recovery 99
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT
    Mine Support Chars. OTHER
    Number of Shafts 5
    1st Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    Capacity 4567.5
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 18.75
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 357
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1978

Comments on the environmental information

  • From an EPA press release 2/19/2003
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $105,000 settlement with Phoenix-based Phelps Dodge for discharging polluted water containing copper and sulfide from the Christmas Mine to a tributary of the Gila River.
    The inactive copper mine near Winkleman, Ariz. discharged pollutants at levels harmful to aquatic life into the Drippings Springs Wash in 2000 and 2001. The company also failed to report monitoring results required by the discharge permit, failed to notify the EPA of discharges endangering the environment and of facility changes that caused the permit violations.

    http://yosemite1.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6427a6b7538955c585257359003f0230/d057bf5d15ab1499852570d8005e1505!OpenDocument&Start=4.5&Count=5&Expand=4.6

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Age

    McKee, E.H., and Koski, R.A., 1981, K?Ar ages for igneous rocks and vein minerals from the Christmas mine area, Arizona: Isochron/West, no. 32, December, p. 7?11.

  • Geology

    Koski R A, Cook D S 1982 - Geology of the Christmas Porphyry Copper deposit, Gila County, Arizona: in Titley S R 1983 Advances in Geology of the Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southwestern North America University of Arizona Press, Tucson pp 353-374

  • Production

    MINING WORLD, 9/62 (MILL)

  • Geology

    Einaudi, M.T., 1982, Description of skarns associated with porphyry copper plutons, in Titley, S.R., ed., Advances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: Tucson, University of Arizona Press, p. 139-183.

  • Production

    E/MJ, 1/63 (MILL FLOWSHEETS)

  • Geology

    PETERSON & SWANSON, 1957,USGS BULLETIN B-1027H (GEOLOGY)

  • Geology

    Eastlick, J.T., 1968, Geology of the Christmas mine and vicinity, Banner mining district, Arizona, in Ridge, J.D., ed., Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933?1967: American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., p. 1191?1210.

  • Geology

    WILLDEN, 1964, USGS BULL 1161-E.

  • Geology

    The Portergeo webpage for the Christmas deposit contains a detailed description of the geology. 7/26/2010
    http://www.portergeo.com.au/index.asp

  • Workings

    INSPIRATION ANNUAL REPORTS, 1966-1976 (LANDS, EXPLORATION,RESERVES, MINING, MILLING, LEACH TESTS)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
General DIMENSIONS OF THE GRANODIORITE STOCK ARE APPROX. 1500 BY 3000 FT ELONGATED IN A N 60 E DIRECTION. DEPOSIT IS ZONED WITH A PYRITE-CHALCOPYRITE CORE, A CHALCOPYRITE-BORNITE INTERMEDIATE ZONE, AND A PYRRHOTITE-SPHALERITE-CHALCOPYRITE MARGIN. MAIN MINERALIZATION IS IN LIMESTONE AND CONTACT AREA, BUT LESSER MINERALIZATION IS PRESENT IN THE DIORITE AND ANDESITE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 02-OCT-96 Tjf 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 03/31/1983
MSHA mine ID0200149
Mine name (MSHA)Christmas Mine
Current operatorInspiration Consolidated Copper Company
Current controller (parent)Terra Industries Inc
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.

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 — 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.