The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Tombstone Exploration Corporation (TEC) announced a surprise discovery of an estimated 205 million pounds of manganese from the preliminary results of their recent drilling program outside the town of Tombstone, although the company's Web site doesn't have that news posted. [right, drill rig at TEC property. Credit, TEC]
TEC says it is the largest land holder in the historic Tombstone Mining District with reports of 11,500 to 13,400 acres of mineral rights. The area is famous for silver and it appears the company was expecting to find silver & gold and copper, lead, and zinc deposits.
Manganese is the 4th most consumed metal in the world, behind iron, aluminum, and copper. It is used to strengthen iron and steel and keep them from becoming brittle.