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Chinati Mountains, Presidio County, Texas, USAi
Regional Level Types
Chinati MountainsMountain Range
Presidio CountyCounty
TexasState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
29° 54' North , 104° 28' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
42408
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:42408:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0


25 miles (ca. 40 km) WNW of Presidio.

The Chinati Mountains of Texas are a small range in the high desert of far West Texas near the city of Presidio. There is a pass through the mountains on Ranch to Market Road 2810, also known as Pinto Canyon Road, which connects to Farm to Market Road 170 at Ruidosa, Texas. Some believe the range derives its name from the Apache word ch'íná'itíh, which means gate or mountain pass.

The mountains are primarily composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks, and are believed to be the remains of a number of explosive volcanic caldera-building events in the remote past. The mountains are generally not forested, but rather vegetated with grasses, cactus, and brush typical of the Chihuahuan Desert. The Chinatis were extensively mined for silver from the 1860s through the 1910s.

The highest point in the range is Chinati Peak, with an elevation of 7,728 feet (ca. 2,355 m). Chinati Peak is also the highest point in Presidio County. It serves as a major landmark for the surrounding area, and its dome-shaped hump can be seen rising prominently in the distance to the southwest from US 90 between Van Horn and Marfa. Chinati Peak is encircled by jagged desert peaks and rugged canyons. The summit of Chinati Peak is broad and relatively flat, but it is surrounded by cliffs and brush-filled drainages on all sides. Sierra Parda, at 7,185 feet (ca. 2,190 m), is the second-highest peak in the range.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department received a donation from the Richard King Mellon Foundation of 39,000 acres in the Chinati Mountains in the late 1990s. Texas Parks and Wildlife is in the process of conducting multi-year surveys and development of the Chinati Mountains State Natural Area. As of 2022, access to the land is limited.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

41 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

Acanthite
Formula: Ag2S
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Bixbyite-(Mn)
Formula: Mn3+2O3
Bromargyrite
Formula: AgBr
Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Localities: Reported from at least 10 localities in this region.
Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
Chlorargyrite var. Bromian Chlorargyrite
Formula: Ag(Cl,Br)
Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Clausthalite
Formula: PbSe
Covellite
Formula: CuS
Descloizite
Formula: PbZn(VO4)(OH)
Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
Galena
Formula: PbS
Localities: Reported from at least 16 localities in this region.
'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
Halite
Formula: NaCl
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Hemimorphite
Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
'Limonite'
Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.
Litharge
Formula: PbO
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Native Iron
Formula: Fe
Native Lead
Formula: Pb
Native Silver
Formula: Ag
Naumannite
Formula: Ag2Se
Orthoclase
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Plumbojarosite
Formula: Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Localities: Reported from at least 8 localities in this region.
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Localities: Reported from at least 11 localities in this region.
Smithsonite
Formula: ZnCO3
Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
Localities: Reported from at least 12 localities in this region.
Sylvite
Formula: KCl
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Vanadinite
Formula: Pb5(VO4)3Cl
Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing Vanadinite
Formula: Pb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
'Wad'

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Native Lead1.AA.05Pb
Native Silver1.AA.05Ag
Native Iron1.AE.05Fe
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Acanthite2.BA.35Ag2S
Naumannite2.BA.55Ag2Se
Covellite2.CA.05aCuS
Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Clausthalite2.CD.10PbSe
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Group 3 - Halides
Bromargyrite3.AA.15AgBr
Chlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
var. Bromian Chlorargyrite3.AA.15Ag(Cl,Br)
Halite3.AA.20NaCl
Sylvite3.AA.20KCl
Fluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Litharge4.AC.20PbO
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Bixbyite-(Mn)4.CB.10Mn3+2O3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Smithsonite5.AB.05ZnCO3
Dolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Cerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
Azurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Anhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
Anglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Jarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Plumbojarosite7.BC.10Pb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
Descloizite8.BH.40PbZn(VO4)(OH)
Vanadinite
var. Arsenic-bearing Vanadinite
8.BN.05Pb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
8.BN.05Pb5(VO4)3Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
Hemimorphite9.BD.10Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Montmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Orthoclase9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
'Limonite'-
'Wad'-
'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
H ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
H DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
H HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
H JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
H KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
H PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
H Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
H Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
C AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
C CalciteCaCO3
C CerussitePbCO3
C DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
C SmithsoniteZnCO3
OOxygen
O AnglesitePbSO4
O AnhydriteCaSO4
O AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
O BaryteBaSO4
O Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
O CalciteCaCO3
O CerussitePbCO3
O ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
O DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
O DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
O Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing VanadinitePb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
O HematiteFe2O3
O HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
O JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
O KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
O LithargePbO
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
O OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
O PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
O QuartzSiO2
O SmithsoniteZnCO3
O VanadinitePb5(VO4)3Cl
O Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
O Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
F FluoriteCaF2
F Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Na HaliteNaCl
Na Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
MgMagnesium
Mg DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mg Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
AlAluminium
Al ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Al KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Al Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Al OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Al Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Al Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Si ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Si HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Si KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Si OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
Si QuartzSiO2
Si Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Si Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
SSulfur
S AcanthiteAg2S
S AnglesitePbSO4
S AnhydriteCaSO4
S BaryteBaSO4
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S ChalcociteCu2S
S CovelliteCuS
S GalenaPbS
S JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
S MolybdeniteMoS2
S PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
S PyriteFeS2
S SphaleriteZnS
S Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ClChlorine
Cl ChlorargyriteAgCl
Cl Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
Cl Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing VanadinitePb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
Cl HaliteNaCl
Cl SylviteKCl
Cl VanadinitePb5(VO4)3Cl
Cl Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
K JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
K OrthoclaseK(AlSi3O8)
K SylviteKCl
K Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Ca AnhydriteCaSO4
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Ca FluoriteCaF2
Ca Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Ca Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
VVanadium
V DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
V Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing VanadinitePb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
V VanadinitePb5(VO4)3Cl
MnManganese
Mn Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
FeIron
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe Native IronFe
Fe JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Fe PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Fe PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cu AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
Cu ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cu CovelliteCuS
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cu Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Zn DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Zn HemimorphiteZn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O
Zn SmithsoniteZnCO3
Zn SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
As Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing VanadinitePb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
SeSelenium
Se ClausthalitePbSe
Se NaumanniteAg2Se
BrBromine
Br BromargyriteAgBr
Br Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
MoMolybdenum
Mo MolybdeniteMoS2
AgSilver
Ag AcanthiteAg2S
Ag BromargyriteAgBr
Ag ChlorargyriteAgCl
Ag Chlorargyrite var. Bromian ChlorargyriteAg(Cl,Br)
Ag NaumanniteAg2Se
Ag Native SilverAg
SbAntimony
Sb Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
BaBarium
Ba BaryteBaSO4
PbLead
Pb AnglesitePbSO4
Pb CerussitePbCO3
Pb ClausthalitePbSe
Pb DescloizitePbZn(VO4)(OH)
Pb Vanadinite var. Arsenic-bearing VanadinitePb5[(V,As)O4]3Cl
Pb GalenaPbS
Pb Native LeadPb
Pb LithargePbO
Pb PlumbojarositePb0.5Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Pb VanadinitePb5(VO4)3Cl

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinati_Mountains
Wikidata ID:Q5100127

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality


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