The Questa Mine is a molybdenum mine located in Taos county, New Mexico at an elevation of 8,999 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: 8,999 Feet (2,743 Meters)
Commodity: Molybdenum
Lat, Long: 36.71667, -105.51667
Map: View on Google Maps
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MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.
Questa Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Questa Mine
Commodity
Primary: Molybdenum
Location
State: New Mexico
County: Taos
District: Red River
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Molycorp
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1923
Discovery Year: 1916
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: VARIOUS ORE SHELLS
Structure
Type: R
Description: South Margin Of Questa Caldera
Type: L
Description: Rio Grande Rift
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: K-Feldspar, Biotite
Rocks
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Molybdenite
Comments
Comment (Geology): SOURCE PLUTONS MAY BE YET UNIDENTIFIED. DEPOSIT FORMED AT LEAST 3 MILLION YEARS AFTER ERUPTION OF AMALIA TUFF FROM QUESTA CALDERA.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): FIGURE IS A COMPOSITE, ROUNDED ESTIMATE FOR ALL DEPOSITS IN RED RIVER AREA, INLUDING SOUTHWEST ZONE, NORTHEAST ZONE, WESTERN EXTENSION, AND GOAT HILL GULCH DEPOSITS.
Comment (Development): OPEN-PIT TECHNOLOGY REVIVED MINE IN 1962-1964. OPEN-PIT CLOSED IN 1982. JOINT MOLYCORP-KENNECOTT EXPLORATION IN 1975-1977 DELINEATED PRESENT RESERVES. MINE RE-OPENED IN 1989.
Comment (Deposit): ORE BODY SHAPES ARE LESS SYMMETRIC THAN MOST CLIMAX DEPOSITS
Comment (Workings): A LONG DECLINE IS THE ACCESS TO PRESENT BLOCK-CAVING OPERATION.
Comment (Deposit): FLUORINE ABUNDANCE, AND DEGREE OF EVOLUTION OF GRANITIC MAGMAS IS LESS THAN FOR MOST CLIMAX DEPOSITS. TRACE-ELEMENT ANOLALIES ARE BISMUTH, TIN, AND TUNGSTEN.
Comment (Location): LOCATION IS FOR SULPHUR GULCH OPEN-PIT; OTHER ORE BODIES ARE TO WEST. CADASTRAL: UNSURVEYED.
Comment (Commodity): TIN, TUNGSTEN GRADES UNKNOWN, BUT < 100 PPM.
References
Reference (Deposit): LEONARDSON, R.W., DUNLAP, G., STARQUIST, V.L., BRATTON, G.P., MEYER, J.W., OSBORNE, L.W., ATKIN, S.A., MOLLING, P.A., MOORE, R.F., AND OLMORE, S.D., 1982, PRELIMINARY GEOLOGY AND MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITS AT QUESTA, NEW MEXICO; IN THE GENESIS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN ORE DEPOSITS: CHANGES WITH TIME AND TECTONICS; EXPLORATION GEOLOGISTS SOCIETY SYMPOSIUM, DENVER REGION, NOVEMBER 1982, PP. 151-155.
Reference (Deposit): CLARK, K.F., AND READ, C.B., 1972, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF EAGLE NEST AREA, NEW MEXICO; NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES BULLETIN 94.
Reference (Reserve-Resource): UNPUBLISHED COMPANY REPORTS
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