Mined primarily "fossil" wood replacements of chalcocite (logs up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter by 60 feet in length). Had a small amount of silver (2 1/2 - 3 ounces / ton)
Structure: Nacimiento Fault Nacimiento Fault And Two Minor Faults

Tectonics: Nacimiento Uplift

Deposit: Two west-trending faults about 800 ft apart bound most of the mineralized area. The mineralization occurs mainly As chalcocite in fossilized wood and trees or As concretionary nodules.

Geology: The deposit occurs in the agua zarca sandstone member of the chinle formation.

Rock formation(s): Chinle

Ore(s): Carbonized Wood Fragments And Paleochannels.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

Mineral List

6 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

ⓘ Sandstone

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Chalcocite

Formula: Cu₂S

References:

Bull 167 University of New Mexico, December, 1929 Vol. IV. No. 2

Lindgren, Waldemar, Graton, L.C., Gordon, C.H. (1910) The ore deposits of New Mexico. Professional Paper 68. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/pp68

(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.

ⓘ Chrysocolla

Formula: Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1

References:

Lindgren, Waldemar, Graton, L.C., Gordon, C.H. (1910) The ore deposits of New Mexico. Professional Paper 68. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/pp68

ⓘ Malachite

Formula: Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂

References:

(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.

ⓘ Molybdenite

Formula: MoS₂

References:

(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.

ⓘ Native Silver

Formula: Ag

References:

(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.

ⓘ Sphalerite ?

Formula: ZnS

References:

Northrop, Stuart A., LaBruzza, F.A. (1996) Minerals of New Mexico (3rd ed.) University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Silver	1.AA.05	Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Chalcocite	2.BA.05	Cu₂S
ⓘ	Sphalerite ?	2.CB.05a	ZnS
ⓘ	Molybdenite	2.EA.30	MoS₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Malachite	5.BA.10	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Chrysocolla	9.ED.20	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
H	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
O	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Chalcocite	Cu₂S
S	ⓘ Molybdenite	MoS₂
S	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcocite	Cu₂S
Cu	ⓘ Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
Cu	ⓘ Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
Zn	Zinc
Zn	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
Mo	Molybdenum
Mo	ⓘ Molybdenite	MoS₂
Ag	Silver
Ag	ⓘ Native Silver	Ag

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10101378

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent

Rocky MountainsMountain Range

North America PlateTectonic Plate

Colorado PlateauShield
Great Plains DomainDomain

USA

Colorado PlateauPlateau
New Mexico
- Nacimiento Mountains Mining DistrictMining District

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

Soule, J.H., (1956), USBM, Ic 7740, P.42-45.

Elston, W.E., (1967), Nmbmmr Bull 81, P. 25, 28.

Howard, Viet E.; Metalliferous Occurrences in N. M., State Planning Office, Santa Fe, N. M., (1967), P. 170.

Schumacher, Otto L.; Geol. and Ore Dep. of the Sw Nacimiento Range, Sandoval Co. N. M., Unm Masters Thesis, (1972), P. 61-62.

Woodward, L.A., W.H. Kaufman, and O.L. Schumacher, (1974), Sandstone Copper Dep. of the Nacimiento Region, Nmgs Guidebook, 25th Field Conference, P. 295-299.

Green, M.W., Et Al., (1982), Us Doe Report Pgj/f-024(82), Appendix A, B and C.

Mclemore, V.T., (1983), Nmbmmr Ofr-183, Appendix 1

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