| Basis for focus area |
Paleozoic carbonates. |
| Identified resources |
Indicated resources and historical production for copper, gold, lead, manganese, and silver from the Patagonia Mountains, New Mexico and the Tombstone mining district area, Arizona (Keith, 1973; Chatman, 1994). |
| Production |
New Mexico: the Chloride Flat district (Silver City) produced 1.6 million long tons of Mn (11.7-16%). The Little Florida Mountains district produced 19,526 longs tons of ore with Mn grades from 19-21%, resulting in 21,393 long tons of Mn concentrates. Arizona: between 1879 and 1970 the Tombstone mining district produced 15,000 tons Cu, 22,500 tons Pb, 9,000 tons Mn, 590 tons Zn, 240,000 oz Au, and 30,000,000 oz Ag (Keith, 1973). |
| Status |
Past mining, active exploration. |
| Estimated resources |
The Hermosa project east of Sunnyside has >12 billion lbs Mn at grades >9% (Methven and others, 2018). Resources remain in New Mexico deposits. |
| Geologic maps |
Cetinay (1967), scale 1:12,000; Denney (1968), scale 1:24,000; Ferguson and others (2006), scale 1:24,000; Gilluly and others (1956), scale 1:62,500; Graybeal and others (2015), scale 1:48,000; Kluth (1982), scale 1:24,000; Moore (1993), scale 1:50,000; Pearthree and others (2006), scale 1:24,000; Rabasso Vidal (1971), scale 1:12,000; Nutt and others (1998, plate 1), scale 1:24,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Adequate Rank 2 aeromagnetic coverage and inadequate aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Carbonates for in situ oxidation of manganese; post-mineral basin deposits for exotic mineralization. |
| Deposits |
Arizona: Hardshell mine (MRDS dep_id: 10103551), Hermosa mine (MRDS dep_id: 10037094), Mowry mine (MRDS dep_id: 10109889); New Mexico: Chloride Flat, Little Florida Mountains, Lake Valley (MRDS dep_id: 10105528). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Psilomelane and braunite in the Hardshell mine occur with pyrolusite, manganite, and wad, with a gangue of Ag-bearing Pb minerals. McLemore and Nutt (2002) have samples >20% Mn with additional trace element chemistry for Lake Valley district. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Exotic manganese horizons have been documented east of Hermosa (Methven and others, 2018) towards San Rafael Valley. Manganese occurrences have been noted in the Canelo Hills (Chatman, 1994). |
| Comments |
Many more individual deposits and districts could fall into this category, but a focus on the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills, and Tombstone due to known potential is suggested. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Variable, and in many cases unknown at present. |
| Authors |
Carson A. Richardson, Virginia T. McLemore. |
| New data needs |
Detailed geologic mapping of the eastern flanks of the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley, Tombstone area, and Courtland-Gleeson area. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Detailed geologic mapping of the eastern flanks to the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley, Tombstone area, and Courtland-Gleeson area. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution, Rank 1 aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage (proposal submitted). |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar variable across a large area, with some complete, in progress, and inadequate. |
