Flux Mine

Ownership

Goshen, Richardson, Arizona Gold & Copper Co., Patagonia Mg. Co., Sterling Development Co., Flux Mg. Co., Allen & Kolberg, Alverez, Miller & Assoc., Encinas, Mining and Commercial Corp., Am. Smltg. & Refg. Co., Nash & McFarland⁵

Location

31.48847, -110.75485⁴

22S 16E SW¼ 30.⁵

Mineral Products

Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au-⁵

Geology

Intersecting quartz-lode veins containing irregular ore shoots of rich argentiferous cerrusite with minor copper oxides and silicate in the upper oxidized zone and galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite in depth. Veins are along a complex fault zone involving blocks of Jurassic-Triassic volcanics, Paleozoic limestone, and Cretaceous shale. Strong brecciation and silicic, kaolinite - montmorillonite, chloritic, and propylitic wall rock alteration. Pyritic gossan at surface. ⁵

Type of Operation

Extensive shaft and tunnel operations. Work by Mexicans as early as 1850's and mined up to 1963. Total estimated and recorded production would be some 850,000 tons of ore averaging about 8% Zn, 5% Pb, 2.5% Cu, 5 oz. Ag/T, and minor Au⁵.

Mineralogy

Cerussite

Cerussite

Halotrichite

Pyrite

Cerussite (also known as lead carbonate or white lead ore) is a mineral consisting of lead carbonate (PbCO₃), and is an important ore of lead⁸.

References

1. Mineral Appraisal of Coronado National Forest, Part 12, Santa Rita Mountains Unit, MLA11-94 (1994). SR 591-609
   http://repository.azgs.az.gov/sites/default/files/dlio/files/nid1813/usbm_mla_011-94.pdf
2. Mining in the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains of Arizona, U.S. Department of Interior, 1915. Republished 2014 by Kerby Jackson.
3. Mike Bertram, 11/21/23
4. USGS Mineral Resources Data System - possibly using NAD72 (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/map-commodity.html#home)
5. Index of Mining Properties in Santa Cruz County by Staton B. Keith, bulletin 1991, Arizona Geological Survey, 1975
6. Geology of the Three R Mine, Palmetto Mining District, Santa Cruz County, Arizona by Paul Handverger, MS thesis 1963, University of Arizona
7. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/show-mrds.php?dep_id=10046338
8. Wikipedia
9. https://tucson.com/news/local/three-r-mine-contributed-to-arizonas-rep-for-copper-production/article_2a25e1e1-7280-5fd5-be97-a40732a39b1b.html
10. mindat.org