| Basis for focus area |
Delineate area of potential placers deposits derived from Petaca pegmatite area. |
| Identified resources |
None. |
| Production |
Unknown. |
| Status |
Recent exploration. |
| Estimated resources |
Unknown. |
| Geologic maps |
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (2003), scale 1:500,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Rank 4 aeromagnetic coverage (U.S. Geological Survey, 1976c); no aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Quaternary gravels (stream and alluvial). |
| Deposits |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
None. |
| Geochemical evidence |
REE-bearing minerals reported from Petaca district pegmatites include monazite, euxenite, columbite, gadolinite, aeschynite, fergusonite, and samarskite (Spilde and others, 2011). These hard rock deposits could be an upslope source for possible heavy mineral placers in Quaternary gravels. |
| Geophysical evidence |
None. |
| Evidence from other sources |
New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division mine permits. |
| Cover thickness and description |
At the surface. |
| Authors |
Virginia T. McLemore. |
| New data needs |
Detailed 1:12,000 mapping, chemistry, alteration mapping. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Detailed mapping. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
None requested at this time. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete. |
