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Lechuguilla Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Eddy County, New Mexico, USAi
Regional Level Types
Lechuguilla CaveCave
Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNational Park
Eddy CountyCounty
New MexicoState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 11' 26'' North , 104° 30' 11'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
32.19066,-104.50329
GRN:
N22W63
Type:
Cave
Köppen climate type:
BSk : Cold semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Livingston Wheeler609 (2017)35.9km
Carlsbad28,957 (2017)36.3km
La Huerta1,246 (2011)38.6km
Loving1,409 (2017)39.8km
Malaga147 (2011)40.7km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Carlsbad Gem and Mineral SocietyCarlsbad, New Mexico36km
Mindat Locality ID:
21775
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:21775:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0


This site is located within the boundaries of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Mineral collecting is not allowed, under penalty of federal law. The inclusion of this site is for its scientific reference value only.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


33 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Alunite
Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Celestine
Formula: SrSO4
ⓘ Dickite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Gibbsite
Formula: Al(OH)3
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Greigite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2S4
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Halloysite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Huntite
Formula: CaMg3(CO3)4
ⓘ Hydromagnesite
Formula: Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Lepidocrocite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Lithiophorite
Formula: (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
ⓘ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
ⓘ Metatyuyamunite
Formula: Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
ⓘ Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
ⓘ Natroalunite
Formula: NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Nordstrandite
Formula: Al(OH)3
ⓘ Palygorskite
Formula: ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Ranciéite
Formula: (Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
ⓘ Svanbergite
Formula: SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
ⓘ Todorokite
Formula: (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
ⓘ Tyuyamunite
Formula: Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
ⓘ Witherite
Formula: BaCO3

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘGreigite2.DA.05Fe2+Fe3+2S4
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘTodorokite4.DK.10(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
ⓘGibbsite4.FE.10Al(OH)3
ⓘNordstrandite4.FE.10Al(OH)3
ⓘLepidocrocite4.FE.15Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘLithiophorite4.FE.25(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
ⓘRanciéite4.FL.40(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
ⓘMetatyuyamunite4.HB.25Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
ⓘTyuyamunite4.HB.25Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
ⓘWitherite5.AB.15BaCO3
ⓘHuntite5.AB.25CaMg3(CO3)4
ⓘHydromagnesite5.DA.05Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘCelestine7.AD.35SrSO4
ⓘAlunite7.BC.10KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘNatroalunite7.BC.10NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘvar. Selenite7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘSvanbergite8.BL.05SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘMontmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘDickite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘKaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘHalloysite9.ED.10Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘPalygorskite9.EE.20◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ GibbsiteAl(OH)3
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ HalloysiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ LepidocrociteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Hⓘ MetatyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ NordstranditeAl(OH)3
Hⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Hⓘ Ranciéite(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
Hⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Hⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Hⓘ TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
Hⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
LiLithium
Liⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4
Cⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Cⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CelestineSrSO4
Oⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ GibbsiteAl(OH)3
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HalloysiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4
Oⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ LepidocrociteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ MetatyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ NordstranditeAl(OH)3
Oⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ Ranciéite(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
Oⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Oⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Oⓘ TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
Oⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
Oⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
NaSodium
Naⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Naⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4
Mgⓘ HydromagnesiteMg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ GibbsiteAl(OH)3
Alⓘ HalloysiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alⓘ NordstranditeAl(OH)3
Alⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Alⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Alⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ HalloysiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
SSulfur
Sⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ CelestineSrSO4
Sⓘ GreigiteFe2+Fe23+S4
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ Native SulphurS8
Sⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Sⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
KPotassium
Kⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4
Caⓘ MetatyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
Caⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ Ranciéite(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
Caⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Caⓘ TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
Caⓘ Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
VVanadium
Vⓘ MetatyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
Vⓘ TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O
MnManganese
Mnⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Mnⓘ Ranciéite(Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O
Mnⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
FeIron
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ GreigiteFe2+Fe23+S4
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ LepidocrociteFe3+O(OH)
SrStrontium
Srⓘ CelestineSrSO4
Srⓘ SvanbergiteSrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Srⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Baⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Baⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
UUranium
Uⓘ MetatyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
Uⓘ TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Davis, Donald G. (2000) Extraordinary features of Lechuguilla Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 62 (2). 147-157
Foos, Annabelle M. (2000) Detrital Origin of a Sedimentary Fill, Lechuguilla Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. Clays and Clay Minerals, 48 (6) 693-698 doi:10.1346/ccmn.2000.0480610
Turin, H. Jake; Plummer, Mitch A. (2000) Lechuguilla Cave Pool Chemsitry, 1986-1999. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 62 (2). 135-143
Wisshak, Max; Barton, Hazel A.; Bender, Katey E.; DuChene, Harvey R. (2020) Active growth of non-hydrothermal subaqueous and subaerial barite (BaSO4) speleothems in Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico, USA). International Journal of Speleology, 49 (1). 11-26 doi:10.5038/1827-806x.49.1.2280
Wisshak, Max; Birkenstock, Johannes; Schröder-Ritzrau, Andrea; Frank, Norbert; Barton, Hazel; DuChene, Harvey (2026) Exceptional variety of baryte-celestine-series speleothems in Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico, USA). International Journal of Speleology, 55 (1). doi:10.5038/1827-806x.ijs2585
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