| Basis for focus area |
Study area includes normal faults associated with basin & range extension that bound the western side of Cooke's range. Historical mining in the Fluorite Ridge district is located along a northwest-trending normal fault. To the north, fluorite mines are associated with a northeast striking normal fault. The focus area was drawn with an approximate 2 km buffer along the footwall of these two faults to include Cookes Peak, Northern Cooks Range, Old Hadley and Fluorite Ridge districts. |
| Identified resources |
Identified resources for fluorite; historical production of fluorite and manganese. |
| Production |
Estimated 94,279 tons fluorite produced in Fluorite Ridge and Cooks Peak district (McAnulty, 1978). Small manganese production from Stareky (Ruth) mine in Cooks Range manganese district. |
| Status |
Past mining. |
| Estimated resources |
White Eagle vein (northern part of focus area): approximately 80,000 tons of 60% CaF2 proven and another 56,000 tons of 40% CaF2 probable. |
| Geologic maps |
Clemons (1982), scale 1:24,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate Rank 4 or 5 aeromagnetic and Rank 5 aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Normal faults, especially near monzonite-conglomerate contact in the footwall. Monzonite is cut by ~ 37 Ma rhyolite dikes, which in turn are cut by fluorite mineralization. |
| Deposits |
Fluorite: Greenleaf mine (MRDS dep_id: 10150247), Grattan mine (MRDS dep_id: 10151121), Green Spar (MRDS dep_id: 10013936), Sadler mine (MRDS dep_id: 10069413), White Eagle mine (MRDS dep_id: 10069411); Manganese: Doubtful Group (MRDS dep_id: 10062659), Starkey (MRDS dep_id: 10014012). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS; New Mexico Mines Database (McLemore and others, 2005). |
| Geochemical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Fluorite + manganese association in close proximity to young rhyolite dikes and Basin and Range-style faulting throughout region. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Potential for buried or eroded deposits in fault-bounded basin. |
| Authors |
Joshua M. Rosera, Virginia T. McLemore. |
| New data needs |
Geophysics, geologic mapping. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Mostly covered by the Massacre Peak 1:24,000 map. Northwest part of study area (Goat Ridge quadrangle) is not mapped. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete. |
