Rickardite Mine

The Rickardite Mine is a lead and zinc mine located in Dona Ana county, New Mexico at an elevation of 5,899 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: Rickardite Mine
Secondary: Rickardite Claim
Secondary: Jim Fisk Claim
Secondary: Jim Fisk Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Tellurium

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Dona Ana
District: Organ District: San Augustin Mountains

Land Status

Land ownership: Military Reservation
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: White Sands Missile Range

Owner Name: Cooperative Mines, Inc.
Home Office: La Madera, N.M.
Years: 1940 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1950
Year Last Production: 1945
Discovery Year: 1895
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Mexican Highland

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: PODS AND SHOOTS

Structure

Type: L
Description: Axes Of Minor Folds Plunge Northwest And Dip About 30 Degrees.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Silurian

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Rickardite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): DEPOSIT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUGARLOAF PEAK QUARTZ MONZONITE PORPHYRY WHICH IS THE MOST VOLATILE-RICH AND ONE OF THE LATEST PHASES OF THE ORGAN BATHOLITH.

Comment (Production): DUNHAM, P. 238, REPORTED ABOUT 2000 DOLLARS WORTH OF OXIDIZED ZINC ORE WAS PRODUCED IN 1915.

Comment (Deposit): ONE CLAIM.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1935 CONSISTED OF AN INCLINED TUNNEL ABOUT 200 FT. LONG, A VERTICAL SHAFT, MANY SHALLOW PITS AND SEVERAL OPEN STOPES.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1890'S

References

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, W., GRATON, L.C., AND GORDON, C.H., 1910 USGS PP 68, P. 205-213

Reference (Deposit): DUNHAM, K.C., 1935 NMBMMR BULL 11, P 238

Reference (Deposit): ALBRITTON, C.C., JR., AND NELSON, V.E., 1943 USGS OFR-43, 39 PAGES

Reference (Deposit): SEAGER, W.R., 1981 NMBMMR MEM 36, P. 83-90

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

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