The Old Priest Mine is a beryllium, mica, and niobium (columbium) mine located in San Miguel county, New Mexico at an elevation of 7,500 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: 7,500 Feet (2,286 Meters)
Commodity: Beryllium, Mica, Niobium (Columbium)
Lat, Long: 35.49472, -105.42278
Map: View on Google Maps
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Old Priest Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Old Priest Mine
Secondary: Mine: Old Priest Mica-Beryl Prospect
Secondary: Claims: 73 Unpatented Claims
Commodity
Primary: Beryllium
Primary: Mica
Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Location
State: New Mexico
County: San Miguel
District: Tecolote District- Ribera Subdistrict
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: Benny And Albert Lopez; U. Leon Guy
Home Office: Las Vegas, N.M.
Years: 1961 -
Owner Name: Onega Corp.
Home Office: Uniontown, Pa.
Years: 1961 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1825
Year Last Production: 1960
Discovery Year: 1825
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: IRREGULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Starvation Peak Anticline
Type: L
Description: Starvation Peak Anticline
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: Beryl
Ore: Columbite
Ore: Mica
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Sericite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): THE ORE OCCURS IN A LENTICULAR-SHAPED PEGMATITE BEARING NORTHWEST AND DIPPING STEEPLY SOUTHWEST. THE PEGMATITE CONSISTS OF QUARTZ; ORTHOCLASE AND MICA WITH THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF MICA ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PEGMATITE. NEXT TO THE MICA ZONE A SMALL BERYL-BEARING PORTION IS FOUND THAT AVERAGES 150 FEET LONG AND 40 FEET WIDE. SMALL WHITE AND GREEN BERYL CRYSTALS WERE FOUND INCLUDING ONE CRYSTAL 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND 5 INCHES LONG. THE MICA OCCURS IN SMALL BOOKS UP TO 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE MICA IS MINERAL-STAINED AND BADLY RULED.
Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSISTED OF SEVERAL TRENCHES AND OPEN CUTS.
Comment (Geology): THE PRECAMBRIAN IN THIS REGION IS UNAMED.
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1800'S
Comment (Location): THE LOCATION IS ACCURATE FOR THE MINE SITE SHOWN ON THE VILLANUEVA QUADRANGLE. THE CADASTRAL GRID IS PROJECTED IN THIS AREA. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1979
References
Reference (Production): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P. 76
Reference (Reserve-Resource): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P. 77
Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, E.C., 1956, NMGS GUIDEBOOK, SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE, P. 141
Reference (Deposit): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P. 76-78
Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA
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