St. Christopher Columbite Placer

The St. Christopher Columbite Placer is a tantalum, niobium (columbium), mica, and ree mine located in Rio Arriba county, New Mexico at an elevation of 8,051 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

Satelite View

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.

Site Name

Primary: St. Christopher Columbite Placer

Commodity

Primary: Tantalum
Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Primary: Mica
Primary: REE

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Rio Arriba
District: Petaca District

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: St. Christopher Mining And Milling Co. Of America

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1895
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: OTHER DIKES

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Mica
Ore: Monazite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Albite
Gangue: Beryl
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Garnet

Comments

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION FOR MIDPOINT OF CLAIMS. THE PLACER CLAIMS MAY CONFLICT WITH OLDER LODE CLAIMS IN THE AREA.

Comment (Deposit): THE PLACER DEPOSITS ARE DERIVED FROM THREE DEEPLY ERODED PEGMATITES. THE PEGMATITES ARE THE MARY, WERNER AND ETTER. SEE JAHNS (1946) AND REDMON (1961) FOR A COMPLETE GEOLOGIC DESCRIPTION.

Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSIT OCCURS IN THE PETACA SCHIST MEMBER OF THE ORTEGA QUARTZITE

References

Reference (Deposit): BINGLER, E.C., 1968, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 91

Reference (Deposit): WOODWARD, L.A., 1974, NMGS GUIDEBOOK, 25TH FIELD CONFERENCE, P. 123.

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

Reference (Deposit): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013

Reference (Deposit): JUST, E., 1937, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 13

Reference (Deposit): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 25

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