Black Chief Claims

The Black Chief Claims is a manganese mine located in Sierra county, New Mexico at an elevation of 4,573 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

Name: Black Chief Claims  

State:  New Mexico

County:  Sierra

Elevation: 4,573 Feet (1,394 Meters)

Commodity: Manganese

Lat, Long: 33.13944, -107.28528

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Black Chief Claims

Black Chief Claims MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Black Chief Claims


Commodity

Primary: Manganese


Location

State: New Mexico
County: Sierra
District: Sierra Caballos 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: Surface


Ownership

Owner Name: K. W. Langford
Home Office: Truth Or Consequences, N.M.
Years: 1960 -

Owner Name: Dave E. Gray
Years: 1950 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1953
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: IRREGULAR


Structure

Type: L
Description: The Broad Zone Of Fracturing And Silicification Occurs Along The Axis Of A S 70 E Plunging, Overturned Syncline.


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicified Limestone


Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Wad
Ore: Pyrolusite
Gangue: Jasper


Comments

Comment (Location): UTM AND GEODETIC LOCATION ARE FOR THE CENTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SEC. 31.

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION IN 1953 WAS REPORTED TO BE 8.3 TONS OF HAND-SORTED ORE AVERAGING 15.5 % MN.

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSITS OCCUR AS IRREGULAR STRANDS AND BUNCHES ALONG THREE SEPARATE VEINS THAT OCCUPY A BROAD ZONE OF FRACTURED AND SILICIFIED LIMESTONE. THE VEINS RANGE FROM 1 FT. TO 5 FT. WIDE AND HAVE KNOWN LENGTHS FROM 40 FT. TO 100 FT. THE VEINS HAVE KNOWN DEPTHS UP TO 12 FT. 2 UNPATENTED CLAIMS.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1961 CONSISTED OF 3 OPENCUTS RANGING FROM 30 FT. TO 100 FT IN LENGTH AND UP TO 12 FT. IN DEPTH.

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


References

Reference (Production): FARNHAM, L.L., 1961 P. 113

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

Reference (Deposit): FARNHAM, L.L., 1961 USBM IC-8030, P. 113

Reference (Deposit): KELLEY, V.C., AND SILVER, C., 1952 U.N.M. PUB. 4, FIG. 2


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