De Soto Mine - Yavapai County

 

Where:  Located in the Bradshaw Mountains North of Phoenix

 

Travel Conditions:  Requires High Clearance Vehicle with 4WD

 

Operation Dates:  1890 to 1972

 

Description:  Owned by George Middleton, the De Soto copper mine supported a small town with an assay office, a boardinghouse, cookhouse, blacksmith, warehouse, corral, and residences all overlooking the town of Middleton. Over 100 people lived here and the post office at Middleton served De Soto. The post office in Middleton was established May 8, 1903 and was discontinued in 1908. The company operating the De Soto went bankrupt. Then, the post office was reestablished in 1916 and was called Ocotillo. World War I brought an increased demand for copper and the total production was $3,250,000 in copper ore. The post office was again discontinued in 1925. There are still a few tramway towers left from the tram that went from the De Soto to Middleton. The bottom of the main De Soto mine is covered in water as can be seen in the picture. Air blows out of the mine year round at almost frostbiting temperatures, even in the summer!

 

A Cu-Ag-Au mine located in the NW¼ sec. 20, T.11N., R.1E. (Battle Flat 7.5 minute topo map), 2 miles NE of the Peck Mine, about 4 miles South of Mayer, at an approximate altitude of 5,800 feet. Ultimately closed in 1922. Owned by the Southwest Metals Co. (1926).

 

Mineralization is a pyritic schist deposit with 7 overlapping lenses of tapering form, most coming to a point 900 feet down from the outcrop. Yavapai chloritic schists strike N.23ºE. at the mine and dip 70ºNW. Orebodies contained in the schist. Gangue is fine-grained quartz.

 

Workings include a main tunnel 600 feet below the outcrop; a total of 4 tunnels (1928). Production was 180,000 tons of ore averaging 3.75% Cu & 1 oz. Ag/T plus 0.02 oz. Au/T.

 

What you will see today:  Today there are old tailings piles around and some concrete footings.  There is a mine tunnel at the lower part of the mountain with a chain link fence in front of it.  Cold air blows out from the mine and feels good on a hot summer day.  At times I have seen water in the bottom of the tunnel.  At the upper levels of the mine there are a couple large sink holes which you can pear into the lower levels of the mine tunnels from the edge.  Beautiful views from the upper area of the mine across the valley.  There is evidence of an old cable system to transport ore down the mountain.

 

Comments: 

 

Minerals Mined:  Copper was the primary with Gold, Silver, and Tungsten as secondary

 

Acknowledgement:  http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/desoto.html

http://www.mindat.org/loc-47133.html