This article is about the mountain range in Arizona. For the mountain range in California, see Mule Mountains (California).
The Mule Mountains are a north/south running mountain range located in the south-central area of Cochise County, Arizona. The highest peak, Mount Ballard, rises to 7,500 ft (2,300 m). Prior to mining operations commencing there, the mountains were heavily forested with large Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca) and other conifers, but these were all cut down for housing needs and to feed the oresmelting furnaces in Douglas, Arizona, approximately 20 miles due east. Now, the primary vegetation of the Mules consists of manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) brush, juniper, lowland oaks and pines, and various grasses. To the east of the mountain range lies Sulphur Springs Valley, and the San Pedro River and Valley to the west.
The terrain is very rough, with very steep slopes descending into deep canyons. Common wildlife species include desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus), Coues' White-tailed deer (O. virginianus couesi), Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu) (locally known as javalinas), various types of rodents, lizards and a wide variety of birds. The upper ridges of the mountains consist primarily of a very hard brecciatelimestone, and it is very common to find fossils of clams and snails imbedded in them.
Immediately to the east central area of the Mules lies the Lavender Pit, a large and very deep open pitcopper mine dug and mined by the Phelps Dodge Corporation between 1951 through 1974. Over a billion tons of copper were extracted from the mine, along with significant quantities gold, silver and lead. Also, as a by-product of the mining operations, high quality turquoise (locally known as Bisbee Blue) was also discovered.
On the east central slope of the Mule Mountains can be found the Copper Queen Mine. In its days of production, (late 19th century – early 20th century) it was the richest copper deposit ever discovered, causing the accompanying town of Bisbee, Arizona to prosper. Under this part of the Mule Mountains are many mining tunnels dug in pursuit of the rich copper ore. Today, Bisbee (also known as the "mile-high city," at elevation 5,300 ft or 1,600 m) is largely a tourist town and retirement community along the slopes of Tombstone Canyon in the heart of the Mules. There are currently no organized mining operations in effect in the Mule Mountains. Much of the east/southeastern area of the range is private property.
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Mule Mountains
January 01, 1970
mule, mountains, this, article, about, mountain, range, arizona, mountain, range, california, california, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material. This article is about the mountain range in Arizona For the mountain range in California see Mule Mountains California This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mule Mountains news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this message The Mule Mountains are a north south running mountain range located in the south central area of Cochise County Arizona The highest peak Mount Ballard rises to 7 500 ft 2 300 m Prior to mining operations commencing there the mountains were heavily forested with large Rocky Mountain Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca and other conifers but these were all cut down for housing needs and to feed the ore smelting furnaces in Douglas Arizona approximately 20 miles due east Now the primary vegetation of the Mules consists of manzanita Arctostaphylos spp brush juniper lowland oaks and pines and various grasses To the east of the mountain range lies Sulphur Springs Valley and the San Pedro River and Valley to the west Mule MountainsMule Mountains viewed from near Hereford ArizonaHighest pointPeakMount BallardElevation7 374 ft 2 248 m NAVD 88 1 DimensionsLength21 mi 34 km North to SouthWidth33 mi 53 km East to West Extent includes low land hills and valleys 2 Area500 sq mi 1 300 km2 GeographyMule MountainsShow map of ArizonaMule MountainsShow map of the United StatesCountryUnited StatesStateArizonaRegionMadrean Sky IslandsCountyCochiseRange coordinates31 29 N 109 52 W 31 483 N 109 867 W 31 483 109 867 The terrain is very rough with very steep slopes descending into deep canyons Common wildlife species include desert mule deer Odocoileus hemionus eremicus Coues White tailed deer O virginianus couesi Collared Peccary Pecari tajacu locally known as javalinas various types of rodents lizards and a wide variety of birds The upper ridges of the mountains consist primarily of a very hard brecciate limestone and it is very common to find fossils of clams and snails imbedded in them Immediately to the east central area of the Mules lies the Lavender Pit a large and very deep open pit copper mine dug and mined by the Phelps Dodge Corporation between 1951 through 1974 Over a billion tons of copper were extracted from the mine along with significant quantities gold silver and lead Also as a by product of the mining operations high quality turquoise locally known as Bisbee Blue was also discovered On the east central slope of the Mule Mountains can be found the Copper Queen Mine In its days of production late 19th century early 20th century it was the richest copper deposit ever discovered causing the accompanying town of Bisbee Arizona to prosper Under this part of the Mule Mountains are many mining tunnels dug in pursuit of the rich copper ore Today Bisbee also known as the mile high city at elevation 5 300 ft or 1 600 m is largely a tourist town and retirement community along the slopes of Tombstone Canyon in the heart of the Mules There are currently no organized mining operations in effect in the Mule Mountains Much of the east southeastern area of the range is private property References edit Mule NGS Data Sheet National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States Department of Commerce Retrieved 2014 02 06 Peakbagger comExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mule Mountains Arizona Mule Mountains Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mule Mountains amp oldid 1220432152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
