| Basis for focus area |
Mining district outlines from McLemore (2018a). |
| Identified resources |
Historical production of lithium (lepidolite) and tantalum (microlite). |
| Production |
372 tons of lepidolite and 1.5 tons of microlite (a calcium-tantalum oxide) were shipped from the Pidlite pegmatite in the Rociada district in 1946-47 (Sheffer and Goldsmith, 1969). |
| Status |
Past mining; no current activity. |
| 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 |
Lithium-bearing pegmatite dikes crop out in amphibolite. |
| Deposits |
Pidlite Pegmatite mine (MRDS dep_id: 10014821). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Inner zones of the pegmatites composed of quartz and perthite, outer zones are mostly albite, lepidolite, and muscovite. Accessory minerals include amblygonite, topaz, apatite, spessartite and microlite. Anhedral beryl and rhabdophanite have been reported. |
| Geophysical evidence |
None. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Sheffer and Goldsmith (1969) collected samples across the area. |
| Comments |
Sheffer and Goldsmith (1969) concluded that significant production of Ta, Rb or Be from pegmatites of the area is improbable. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Pegmatites exposed at surface. |
| Authors |
Virginia T. McLemore. |
| New data needs |
Updated geologic mapping. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Updated geologic mapping. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
Not useful for deposit type. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar adequate. |
