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Payson Mining District (Green Valley Mining District), Gila County, Arizona, USAi
Regional Level Types
Payson Mining District (Green Valley Mining District)Mining District
Gila CountyCounty
ArizonaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
34° North , 111° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~28km
Mindat Locality ID:
31302
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:31302:2
GUID (UUID V4):
0


This is a gold-copper mining area located in T8-11N, R9-11E, around Payson, and encompassing the easternmost foothills of the Mazatzal Mountains, north of the Tonto Basin District, in northern Gila County. It was started in 1875 and worked until 1886, and intermittently thereafter.

This district is near the northern limit of the Mountain Region, within a few miles of the Mogollon escarpment that here marks the southern border of the Plateau Region. Elevation ranges from 3,400 to more than 5,000 feet. The district features broad valleys floored with Pre-Cambrian granite rocks that alternate with mesas capped by lower Paleozoic sandstone, which farther North, continues under the Paleozoic rocks of the plateau. South and West of Payson dissected slopes descend steeply to the valleys of Tonto Creek and the East Verde River. These slopes, which are floored with a faulted complex of schist and diorite, contain the principal gold-bearing quartz veins of the district.

Veins occur within fault zones that generally range in strike from N15W to 65W and dip northeastward. Oxidized portions of veins consist of rather cellular quartz with considerable hematite and limonite. Locally bunches of oxidized copper minerals, accompanied by free gold, are present.

Wall rocks, which are generally diorite, show alteration for several feet on either side of the veins to chlorite, sericite, and secondary quartz. In places kaolinite, probably derived from the sericite, is abundant.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

37 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Andradite
Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
ⓘ Bismutite
Formula: (BiO)2CO3
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Localities: Reported from at least 11 localities in this region.
Description: Principal ore mineral in the copper deposits.
ⓘ Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
Description: Occurs in altered vein wall rocks.
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ Chrysotile
Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Cinnabar
Formula: HgS
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ Descloizite
Formula: PbZn(VO4)(OH)
Description: Small amounts.
ⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing Descloizite
Formula: Pb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
ⓘ Dioptase
Formula: CuSiO3 · H2O
Habit: Small, prismatic
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
ⓘ Fornacite
Formula: Pb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Description: Occurs in oxidized portions of gold-quartz veins.
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Description: Occurs in altered vein wall rocks.
ⓘ Kyanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'Limonite'
Description: Occurs in oxidized portions of gold-quartz veins.
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Habit: Stout, prismatic
Description: Occurs in porous quartz.
ⓘ Massicot
Formula: PbO
Colour: Yellow
Description: Pulverulent.
ⓘ Mottramite
Formula: PbCu(VO4)(OH)
ⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite
Formula: (Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Description: Occurs in altered vein wall rocks.
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
Localities: Reported from at least 8 localities in this region.
Description: Occurs as free gold with oxidized copper minerals.
ⓘ Native Silver
Formula: Ag
Description: Occurs as wire silver in oxidized ore.
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
ⓘ Quartz var. Agate
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Stibnite
Formula: Sb2S3
Description: Occurs in small amounts in some copper ores.
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Description: Principal ore mineral.
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite'
Formula: (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
Description: Principal ore mineral.
ⓘ Wulfenite
Formula: Pb(MoO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
ⓘNative Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘCinnabar2.CD.15aHgS
ⓘStibnite2.DB.05Sb2S3
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘ'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
ⓘ'var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite'2.GB.05(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘChlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
ⓘFluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘCuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘMassicot4.AC.25PbO
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz
var. Agate
4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Amethyst4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Chalcedony4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘ4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘPyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘBismutite5.BE.25(BiO)2CO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘFornacite7.FC.10Pb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
ⓘWulfenite7.GA.05Pb(MoO4)
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘDescloizite
var. Copper-bearing Descloizite
8.BH.40Pb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
ⓘ8.BH.40PbZn(VO4)(OH)
ⓘMottramite
var. Duhamelite
8.BH.40(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
ⓘ8.BH.40PbCu(VO4)(OH)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘChrysotile9.00.Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘAndradite9.AD.25Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘKyanite9.AF.15Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘDioptase9.CJ.30CuSiO3 · H2O
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘKaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Limonite'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ ChrysotileMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Hⓘ DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Hⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Hⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ Quartz var. AgateSiO2
Oⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Oⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Oⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Oⓘ ChrysotileMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Oⓘ DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Oⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Oⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ MassicotPbO
Oⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ WulfenitePb(MoO4)
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ FluoriteCaF2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ ChrysotileMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
AlAluminium
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Quartz var. AgateSiO2
Siⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Siⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Siⓘ ChrysotileMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CinnabarHgS
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ StibniteSb2S3
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
VVanadium
Vⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Vⓘ DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Vⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Vⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
CrChromium
Crⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
MnManganese
Mnⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Feⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Cuⓘ DioptaseCuSiO3 · H2O
Cuⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Cuⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cuⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
ZnZinc
Znⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Znⓘ DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Znⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
AsArsenic
Asⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
MoMolybdenum
Moⓘ WulfenitePb(MoO4)
AgSilver
Agⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
Agⓘ Native SilverAg
Agⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ StibniteSb2S3
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite(Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
HgMercury
Hgⓘ CinnabarHgS
PbLead
Pbⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Pbⓘ Descloizite var. Copper-bearing DescloizitePb(Zn,Cu)VO4OH
Pbⓘ DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Pbⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)
Pbⓘ FornacitePb2Cu(CrO4)(AsO4)(OH)
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ MassicotPbO
Pbⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Pbⓘ WulfenitePb(MoO4)
BiBismuth
Biⓘ Bismutite(BiO)2CO3
Biⓘ Mottramite var. Duhamelite(Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O)

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