A former fluorspar occurrence/prospect/group of claims located in the SW¼SW¼SW¼ sec. 23, T25N, R3E, NMM, 9.7 km (6.0 miles) S of El Rito, on National Forest land. Owned by Dotson Mineral Corporation, New Mexico (1968). Local rocks include the Dakota Sandstone.

At Small Fry prospect, just off state highway (NM 554) between the communities of Abiquiúa (‘wild choke cherry place’) and El Rito (‘The Ritual’), the amateur geologist can find interesting specimens of fluorite, calcite, and baryte. A prospect is a location on public lands where someone has found signs of valuable minerals and has filed a mining claim. However, not all prospects are developed into commercial mines and Small Fry is an example of an undeveloped prospect. Here, fluorite mineralisation is found near a fault cutting through a buried volcanic cinder cone. Baryte is found in small quantities with the fluorite and calcite, but the deposits of fluorite and baryte at the Small Fry turned out not to be extensive enough to be economical to exploit and the mining claim was abandoned, leaving the area open to mineral collectors. Fluorite from this location typically has a purple tint to it.

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10175508

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References