| Basis for focus area |
Focus area based on Saddleback Mountain alunite deposit. Fluorite mines overlap this area and continue into the Steeple Rock district to the southwest. |
| Identified resources |
Identified resources of gold and silver; historical production of copper, fluorite, gold, lead, manganese, silver, and zinc. |
| Production |
Between 1880 and 1993, the Steeple Rock district is estimated to have produced 151,000 oz (4.7 million grams) Au, 3.4 million oz (106 million grams) Ag, 1.2 million lbs (1.5 million kg) Cu, 5 million lbs (2.3 million kg) Pb, and 4 million lbs (1.8 million kg) Zn (McLemore, 1993). In addition, 10,000 tonnes of fluorspar and 1,800 tonnes of ore containing 33,800 kg Mn were also produced (McLemore, 2001). |
| Status |
Past mining. Recent exploration for Au, Ag; mines being permitted. |
| Estimated resources |
In 1992, reserves at the Summit vein (Steeple Rock district) were estimated as 1.3 million tonnes of ore grading 6.14 ppm Au and 35.2 ppm Ag (McLemore, 2001). |
| Geologic maps |
McLemore (1993), scale 1:12,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Fluorite hosted in fissures and veins in volcanic rocks and could be associated with late-stages of localized epithermal systems (McLemore, 1993). Manganese occurs as a byproduct in fluorite mines and locally as veins cutting volcanic rocks. Zinc associated with numerous base metal veins in district. |
| Deposits |
Mohawk Fluorspar mine (MRDS dep_id: 10013277), Bitter Creek mine, Daniels Camp 1 & 2. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS; New Mexico Mines Database (McLemore and others, 2005). |
| Geochemical evidence |
As much as 44.8% Al2O3 (see McLemore, 1993). Weak As anomalies (> 20 ppm) associated with some deposits in the area. Ore shipments reported to contain, on average, 90 ppm As, 190 ppm Sb, and 150 ppm Bi. Surface samples from Alabama Au-Ag mine contain 6 to 24 ppm Ga (average 10.6 ppm; McLemore, 1993). Steeple Rock included in mining districts in New Mexico with reported Te-bearing minerals or with >20 ppm Te in analyzed samples (McLemore, 2016, 2018a). |
| Geophysical evidence |
None. |
| Evidence from other sources |
New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division mine permits. |
| Comments |
Localized acid alteration in Steeple Rock potentially associated with magmatic fluids, with pre-mineral and post-mineral epithermal mineralization (McLemore, 1993). Drill core available at the NMBGMR. More data required to test for potential enrichment of Ga, Ge, and In and abundance of K2SO4. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Variable. |
| Authors |
Joshua M. Rosera, Virginia T. McLemore. |
| New data needs |
Detailed alteration mapping, chemistry, mineralogy, geophysics. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Digitize dissertation map of McLemore (1993), alteration mapping. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution, Rank 1 aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar complete. |
