The Courtland-Gleeson Mining District (also known as the Turquoise Mining District), located in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, about 14-15 miles east of Tombstone on the east flank of the Dragoon Mountains, has a rich history tied to copper, turquoise, lead, silver, and gold mining.
Early History and Native American Use
Indigenous peoples, particularly Native American groups, mined turquoise in the area long before European-American settlement. The district derives its alternative name, Turquoise Mining District, from these early operations, especially on the west side of Turquoise Hill northwest of Courtland.
Prospecting and small-scale mining in the broader region began in the late 19th century. The area was initially known as Turquoise, with early activity in the 1870s–1880s.
Development of Gleeson
In the 1880s, mines near what became Gleeson (such as the Gleeson and Tejon) produced oxidized ores carrying gold, silver, lead, and copper from Carboniferous limestone deposits east of the site. Production declined by around 1902 as higher-grade oxidized ores were depleted.
In 1896 (or around 1900 according to some accounts), Irish prospector/miner John Gleeson from nearby Pearce discovered and developed significant copper deposits. He opened the Copper Belle Mine (his namesake claim) and others. The town of Gleeson was established downhill from the older Turquoise site for better access to water. A post office opened on October 15, 1900, and the population reached about 500.
John Gleeson sold the Copper Belle to the Shannon Copper Company around 1901 for a substantial sum (reported as $100,000 in one account). The extension of railroads (branches of the El Paso & Southwestern) later enabled profitable mining of lower-grade ores.
Rise of Courtland and Peak Mining Activity
Courtland was founded in 1909 by the Young brothers (from Clinton, Iowa), owners of the Great Western Copper Company, and named after Courtland Young. It grew rapidly as a mining camp along the road from Gleeson to Pearce, divided into multiple sections or “townsites” (including Great Western, McFate, and others farther north known for saloons and the “tenderloin” district due to alcohol restrictions in mining areas).
At its peak, Courtland had a population of around 2,000, supporting two newspapers, stores, a Wells Fargo office, an assay office, a jail (built 1909 of reinforced concrete—the only such building, which still stands), a power plant, and other businesses. Unlike typical company towns, it was not fully controlled by mining companies, with independent merchants and operations.
Major companies active in the district included:
- Great Western Copper Co. (Mary Mine and others)
- Calumet & Arizona Co. (Germania and Leadville claims)
- Phelps Dodge
- Shannon Copper Co. (Copper Belle)
Key mines included the Mary, Germania, Mame, Humbot, Copper Belle, and various turquoise operations. Production involved oxidized copper ores, pyritic ores, and some replacement deposits in limestone and along fault zones. The geology is highly complex due to faulting, overthrusts, and igneous intrusions (quartz monzonite porphyry).
In 1907–1908, there was intense activity and prospecting. By 1911, operations like the Mary Mine were shipping significant ore (e.g., nine 50-ton cars per week). Turquoise mines were productive but later idled.
Decline and Ghost Town Status
The boom was relatively short-lived. Courtland’s peak faded by around 1920, and the town was largely abandoned by the 1940s, though a few residents remained (the last, Eugene Yoakem, died in 1974). Gleeson persisted longer with ongoing production, especially during World War I when copper demand was high, but it too declined into a semi-ghost town.
Minor gold placers were worked in the 1930s. Later exploration continued intermittently into the mid-20th century and beyond, with drilling programs in the 1950s onward. The Arizona Geological Survey has digitized extensive drill core data from the area.
Today, both Gleeson and Courtland are ghost towns or semi-ghosts with scattered ruins, including the Courtland jail. The area attracts historians, rockhounds (turquoise collecting at pay-dig sites), and off-road enthusiasts. Some private land and mining claims remain.
Significance
The Courtland-Gleeson District exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of Arizona’s mining towns in the early 20th century. It contributed to regional copper production during a time of expanding railroads and industrialization, while its turquoise heritage links back to prehistoric activity. The structural complexity of the geology (faults, intrusions, thrust sheets) has made it a subject of geological study.
The district highlights the interplay of prospectors like John Gleeson, corporate investment, and the harsh realities of desert mining life. Remains of mines, foundations, and the enduring jail serve as tangible links to this history.