79 Mine, Hayden Area, Gila County, AZ
Located within the Banner Mining District of Gila County, Arizona, the 79 mine is a former underground mine with 10,000 feet of workings. The now capped shaft featured was a total of 450 feet deep. While its most notable production was in lead and zinc, it produced many different commodities, totaling $3-4 million. The mine’s name derives from its discovery date of 1879.
The 79 Mine was initially claimed within Pinal County in 1879, as Gila County did not exist until 1881. Like many medium and small-sized mining operations, the mine went through many owners and operators throughout its producing years. Now most known for its spectacular copper and lead mineral specimens, mineral collectors most recently mined for these specimens in the late 1990s. The remains of the operation include dilapidated processing and crushing facilities along with a headframe and old ruined house.
The now dilapidated mill at the 79 Mine features multiple crushing and refining systems that turned the mined lead, zinc, copper, and silver ore into shippable concentrate. The left picture illustrates the rake classifier found within the mill. The right picture is a closeup of the Ingersoll Rand logo on the compressor, which supplied air to the mill and mining equipment. These two pieces of machinery are just one of the several machines used to process ore at the 79 Mine during the early 1960s.
