Helvetia Gone to Hell

The Helvetia Mining District in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson used to be generally accessible to all who desired to explore the many sites of historical or geological interest, or make the climb to the notch at Gunsight Pass.  Not any more.

Now the formerly public roads east and north through the area all bear the stamp of private property concerns, put in place by Hudbay Minerals, a Canadian company who is now the principle developer behind the proposed open-pit Rosemont mining operation.

You can read more about the mining operation from two different points of view:

For: http://www.hudbayminerals.com/English/Our-Business/Arizona/default.aspx

Against: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/rosemont/

The former site of the Helvetia smelter is still accessible at least:

Concrete, adobe, and timber foundations set into the canyon wall.

The slag pile forms an unnatural cliff (and sometimes waterfall) in the canyon.

Despite the new restrictions, I still managed to collect some great specimens:

Botryoidal mat of chrysocolla. FOV = ~2.5"

Gemmy chrysocolla (glossy royal blue) with another mineral, possibly rosasite. 2.75"x2.5"

Close-up of the above specimen.

Ice - A Rare Arizona Mineral

Water is classified as a mineral only when it occurs as a naturally formed crystalline solid.  One January morning these rocks in my backyard were covered with clusters of needle-like ice crystals, thanks to a perfect mix of atmospheric moisture and temperature.  Certainly a rare enough mineral in Tucson.  Thirty minutes after these photos were taken the air temperature had risen just four degrees, and all the ice crystals had melted.

Ice crystals with azurite, malachite, chrysocolla, limonite, and hematite.

Ice crystals on serpentine and marble.

Ice crystals on mimetite.

For more information about ice as a mineral: https://www.mindat.org/min-2001.html

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock moth caterpillar (Halysidota davisii) crawling on a rock face. 

Esoterizona Stones 46

Massive quartz bedding over quartzite, exposed in a pit mine operation.

The cut had exposed crystalline pockets within the quartz.

There were also a number of adits ...

... one of which led to a large stope that contained exploratory drill holes, side adits, fallen timbers, exposed crystalline faces, packrat nests, and a slickensided ceiling.

First side of a nicely terminated pair of quartz crystals.

Second side of the same pair.  Base= 1".

Double-terminated floater quartz crystal.  0.75"

Terminated floater quartz crystal. 1"

Cluster of terminated quartz crystals. Base=1.75"

Arizona Fall Colors

Tree leaves changing color in a canyon of the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona.

Mining History

I recently had the good fortune to acquire these beautiful pieces of mining history...

From left to right:

One foot section of ore cart rail and a rail spike from same track, AZ, ca. 1940

Koehler Miner's Safety Lamp, ca. 1919-1940

DuPont blasting cap tin

Trojan blasting cap tin

Mar-Delta Gold Mining Company stock certificate, AZ, 1919

Adamantine miner's candle, ca. 1880 - found in an abandoned mine

Tommy stick candle holder from the Comstock Lode, NV, ca. late 1800s

Justrite carbide lamp model 844 with original box

Painted Sherds

Fragments of red-painted pottery sherds, most likely Hohokam, roughly 1000 years old.