Orogrande Mining District

Region West, Southwest
States
Mineral systems
Deposit types
Commodities
Critical minerals
Other minerals

Information leading to the delineation of this focus area

Basis for focus area Mining district outlines from McLemore (2017).
Identified resources Historical production of copper, gold, iron, silver, and tungsten.
Production Iron deposits were extensively mined about 1913–1929. Estimated district production from 1879 until 1966: 16,500 oz Au, 50,000 oz Ag, 5.7 million lbs Cu, 158,000 lbs Pb and 259,000 long tons Fe. Past W production, but amount unknown.
Status Past mining; exploration, permits in process.
Estimated resources Unknown.
Geologic maps New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (2003), scale 1:500,000.
Geophysical data Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage.
Favorable rocks and structures Eocene alkaline intrusions and skarns in limestones.
Deposits Cinco de Mayo mine (MRDS dep_id: 10014011), Iron Duke, Iron King (NMOt0026, NMOt0038, NMOt0039), Iron Queen (NMOt0041), Iron Mask, Laura (NMOt0040, NMOt0042), Cinnamon Bear (NMOt0071), B.O.W.
Evidence from mineral occurrences MRDS; New Mexico Mines Database (McLemore and others, 2005).
Geochemical evidence Geochemical analyses indicate moderate to high values of Au Ag, Mo, W, Te and other metals are present (New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources and others, 1998).
Geophysical evidence Aeromagnetic and gravity data needed.
Evidence from other sources No data.
Comments Bismuth, Sc, Mn, and PGE listed as potential critical commodities, but their enrichments have been inferred from the mineral system/deposit type table (Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020).
Cover thickness and description Unknown.
Authors Virginia T. McLemore, Joshua M. Rosera.
New data needs Alteration mapping, detailed mapping of the plutons and dikes in terms of lithology, geochemistry and mineralogy of the veins and skarns.
Geologic mapping and modeling needs Additional detailed mapping is needed.
Geophysical survey and modeling needs High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric survey.
Digital elevation data needs Lidar in progress.