Aztec Mine
Arizona
Find: Malachite, chalcocite, chalcanthite, sericite, and more
GPS: 31.51000,-110.74833
Nearest city: Nogales, AZ
Recommended Vehicle: High clearance 4x4 with offroad tires.
Season: Year round, Winter best for temperature.
Summary:
This site is an abandoned mine. It is not recommended for families. Explore this location with caution.
The Aztec Mine is located near the small mining town of Patagonia, near the Southernmost portion of Arizona. It is one of the most picturesque regions I have had the chance to visit.
The mine is within a region that contained gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. I specifically visited to look for copper minerals such as malachite and chrysocolla in the tailings pile. The material I found was all very decayed or faint in color. I believe part of that may be from exposure to water in the tailings pile over time.
The entry to the mine appears to be nearly collapsed but documentation online suggests the tunneling within is extensive. I did not enter this mine and would recommend against it.
Video
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
3 Helpful Tools
Geology Pick
A geology pick was helpful to overturn tailings piles and pry out buried stones.
Classifier
I found running water and used a 1/4” classifier clean up and sort my finds before leaving.
Hiking Boots
Hiking boots were extremely helpful for navigating the steep slopes of tailings piles.
This is the road in. I would highly recommend something a little more hardy than my all-season Firestones. (But they made it)
Here's what it looks like just after the little parking loop. You cross a small stream and walk up this path.
Here is what's left of the mine entrance.
Slightly green, maybe a very low-grade malachite.
More of the same material.
A different material. This one I cut on a lapidary saw years later. It wasn't noticeably soluble and really soft to cut. Still unsure on what it is.
There was actually running water here at the time I visited, which I was surprised by.