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| Mule Mountains | |
|---|---|
 Mule Mountains, viewed from nearHereford, Arizona | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Ballard |
| Elevation | 7,374 ft (2,248 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 21 mi (34 km) North to South |
| Width | 33 mi (53 km) East to WestExtent includes low land hills and valleys[2] |
| Area | 500 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
| Geography | |
  Mule Mountains  Mule Mountains | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Region | Madrean Sky Islands |
| County | Cochise |
| Range coordinates | 31°29′N109°52′W / 31.483°N 109.867°W /31.483; -109.867 |
TheMule Mountains are a north/south runningmountain range located in the south-central area ofCochise County, Arizona. The highest peak,Mount Ballard, rises to 7,500 ft (2,300 m). Prior to mining operations commencing there, the mountains were heavilyforested with largeRocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca) and other conifers, but these were all cut down for housing needs and to feed theoresmelting furnaces inDouglas, Arizona, approximately 20 miles due east. Now, the primary vegetation of the Mules consists ofmanzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) brush,juniper, lowlandoaks andpines, and variousgrasses. To the east of the mountain range liesSulphur Springs Valley, and theSan Pedro River andValley to the west.
The terrain is very rough, with very steep slopes descending into deep canyons. Common wildlife species include desertmule 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 hardbrecciatelimestone, and it is very common to findfossils of clams and snails imbedded in them.
Immediately to the east central area of the Mules lies theLavender Pit, a large and very deepopen pitcopper mine dug and mined by thePhelps Dodge Corporation between 1951 through 1974. Over a billion tons of copper were extracted from the mine, along with significant quantitiesgold,silver andlead. Also, as a by-product of the mining operations, high qualityturquoise (locally known asBisbee Blue) was also discovered.
On the east central slope of the Mule Mountains can be found theCopper 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 ofBisbee, Arizona to prosper. Under this part of the Mule Mountains are manymining 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.
