Bisbee daily review., 1905-05-14
DRAGoON MINING REVIEW.


 DRAGoON MINING REVIEW.
 The following article, telling of the conditions of the Dragoon mineral country in Cochise county, was writ. ten for the Mining Reporter by F. A. Gowing:
 Plant growth is sparse. consisting of scattered mesquites. junipers. manzanites and a few cacti.
 Geology.
 The earliest rock occurring is met adiorite which forms the core of the range and is exposed in a number of places, largely in a rugged area of 8 few miles known as the Cochise stronghold where Geronimo in the early 'S0s held the federal troops at bay.
 Upon this is a series of quartzites which, with some conglomerate, Of Cambrain age, have a thickness of probably 600 feet Next occur lime stones and reddish lime shales to thickness of over 1000 feet and ex- tending late into the carboniferous. Injected into these rocks in the form of dikes, are some acid prophyries of feleitic type which occur as broad regular dikes where observed. One or two occurrences of diabase were noted. Later formations, especially the Tertiary lavas, so extensive over Arizona, are lacking. The structure of the range is com paratively simple, apparently the whole being due to an uplifting along it's eastern side. Evidences of move ment along the eastern slope are very marked. Minor faulting movements are numerous, and evidences of movement accompanying the dike in- trusions were noticed. Ore Deposits. Ores of copper, silver, lead and tungsten occur.
 Copper occurs at Gleason Copper Belle) in the southern portion. at Black Diamond and Middle March in the center of the range, and at John son in the northern portion.
 The first mentioned deposits occur rather irregularly in lime closely as- sociated with the intrusions of acid porphyry and accompanying move ments. The oXidiZed zone is shallow (practically no carbonate ores oc- curring), followed by enriched sul- phides and large bodies of low grade sulphide in a hematite gangue con- taining little silica. These sulphides carry generally a few ounces in silver and trace of gold, the sIlver rang ing with the copper contents. More or less zinc blende is associated with the ore. Generally speaking, the ore is deficient in silica for smelting pr poses. Gleason ships low grade su!- phides to Globe to be utilized to matte Globes silicious oxidized ores.
 At Johnson camp considerable car bonate ore occurs of good grade, sul- phides coming in between the 100-foot and 200-foot levels. The ore bodies have a pronounced pitch to the east, following apparently shearing planes in the formation. The mineralized zone is several hundred feet in width and extends approximately from the Republic mine northeast a couple of miles to the Peabody mine, including the Arizona Consolidated, the Nam moth and other properties in it's course. The ore seems to follow a inc of movement along the flank Of he mountains accompanied by in .rusions and flanked on the east by ime formation. Wherever prospect loles are sunk upon the hematite cap pings carbonate ores of good grade Ire encountered. The ores in this vii ,inity also carry silver and gold val les. With the exception of the Pea )ody, which has been a successful producer, the properties lack develop nent The advisability of extensive is especially evident from he irregularity of the outcroppings.
 Tungsten occurs in veins and iH Llluvium in the granite near Dragoon Summit and is mined chiefly by washing and screening during the yet seasons. Wolframite and hubne- ite both occur.
 Lead occurs, carrying silver in a ew prospects, chiefly as galena, al- hough wulfenite was noticed in one respect.
 The Commonwealth mine at Pearce 5 a Assuring of acid prophyry and reduced rich oxidized silver ores yith gold values. Two miles east on
 similar hill some like ores have cen found, but as yet these proper les have not been proven.
 Turquoise. is mined near Gleason nd the stones are polished on the round. The property is owned by 'iffany & Co. of New York.