The Capitan Mine is a mica mine located in Rio Arriba county, New Mexico at an elevation of 7,890 feet.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Elevation: 7,890 Feet (2,405 Meters)
Commodity: Mica
Lat, Long: 36.48333, -106.03722
Map: View on Google Maps
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Capitan Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Capitan Mine
Commodity
Primary: Mica
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Thorium
Tertiary: REE
Tertiary: Beryllium
Location
State: New Mexico
County: Rio Arriba
District: Petaca District: Cribbenville Group
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Minerals Engineering Co. (Meco)
Home Office: Grand Junction, Co.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1675
Year Last Production: 1955
Discovery Year: 1675
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: OTHER DIKE
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Monazite
Ore: Beryl
Ore: Mica
Gangue: Albite
Gangue: Bismutite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Columbite
Comments
Comment (Production): JAHNS REPORTS PRODUCTION OF MICA FROM THE CAPITAN SINCE THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. NO PRODUCTION RECORDS WERE KEPT (EXCEPT DURING 1928-29). JAHNS ESTIMATED PRODUCTION FOR THE LAST CENTURY AT 1,500 TONS OF SCRAP AND 1,200 POUNDS OF SHEET AND PUNCH MICA.
Comment (Location): LOCATION IS ACCURATE FOR THE MAIN WORKINGS. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1979
Comment (Development): THE EARLY SPANISH SETTLERS FIRST MINED THE CAPITAN IN THE LATE 1600'S. THE MINE HAS BEEN WORKED INTERMITTENLY SINCE.
Comment (Deposit): THE MINE IS LOCATED ON THE EAST END OF THE DIKE. THE BLANCA MINE IS LOCATED ON THE WEST END.
Comment (Workings): JAHNS (1946) REPORTED WORKINGS CONSISTED OF TWO OPEN CUTS, SEVERAL ADITS, AND DECLINES. MCLEMORE (1983) REPORTS A 30 FT SHAFT IN ADDITION.
Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSIT OCCURS IN THE PETACA SCHIST MEMBER OF THE ORTEGA QUARTZITE.
Comment (Deposit): SEE ALSO: CRIBBENVILLE GROUP ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1600'S
References
Reference (Deposit): JUST, E., 1937, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 13, P. 63-70
Reference (Deposit): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 25, P. 190-192
Reference (Deposit): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P. 33
Reference (Deposit): LESURE, F.G., 1965, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 87, P. 278
Reference (Deposit): BINGLER, E.C., 1968, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 91, P. 122
Reference (Deposit): MCLEMORE, V.T., 1983, NMBMMR OFR OF-183, APPENDIX 1
Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA
Reference (Production): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL 25, P. 190
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