Black Knife Group 1880's

The Black Knife Group 1880's is a lead, zinc, copper, and silver mine located in Sierra county, New Mexico at an elevation of 7,100 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

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Site Name

Primary: Black Knife Group 1880's
Secondary: Prospectors Delight Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Sierra
District: Sierra Cuchillo District

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: C. H. Laidlaw
Years: 1933 -

Owner Name: Sierra Minerals And Milling Corp.
Home Office: Box 13 Cuchillo, N.M
Years: 1961 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Year Last Production: 1961
Discovery Year: 1885
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

Structure

Type: L
Description: Slightly Folded Sedimentary Rocks Strike N 20 W And Dip 25 Ne. Axes Of Small Folds Pitch Down Dip.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicified Limestone Along Contact With Porphyry, Sometimes Garnetized.

Rocks

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

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Cerargyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Location): MAIN SHAFTS ARE LOCATED ON THE EASTERN FLANK OF CUCHILLO MOUNTAIN ABOUT 3 MILES DUE EAST OF WINSTON.

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSITS OCCUR AS PODS AND SHOOTS ALONG LIMESTONE-PORPHYRY CONTACT IN CROSS FRACTURES LOCATED MAINLY IN THE TOPS OF SLIGHTLY FOLDED LIMESTONE. ORE SHOOTS ARE GENERALLY ABOUT 2 FT. WIDE, FROM 3 FT. TO 20 FT. LONG, AND PITCH DOWN THE DIP OF THE BEDS. 3 PATENTED CLAIMS COVERING ABOUT 60 ACRES.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1934 CONSISTED OF THREE INCLINED SHAFTS FROM 50 FT. TO 175 FT. DEEP, A TUNNEL 100 FT. IN LENGTH, ABOUT 50 FT. OF DRIFTING AND A VERTICAL WINZE 30 FT. DEEP.

Comment (Geology): FOR REGIONAL GEOLOGY SEE SIERRA CUCHILLO DISTRICT.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1880'S

References

Reference (Deposit): HARLEY, G.T., 1934 NMBMMR BULL 10, P. 114, P. 119-120

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

Reference (Deposit): JONES, F.A., 1904 NEW MEXICO MINES AND MINERALS, SANTA FE, N.M., P. 101

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