Excelsior Mine

The Excelsior Mine is a copper mine located in Dona Ana county, New Mexico at an elevation of 5,226 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: Excelsior Mine

Commodity

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

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Dona Ana
District: Organ District

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: G. W. Cameron
Years: 1929 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1929
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: The Shaft Is Sunk On A Northeast-Striking Fault.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Tetradymite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Garnet

Comments

Comment (Production): DUNHAM, 1935, REPORTED THAT PRODUCTION VALUE WAS 60000 DOLLARS, PRINCIPALLY FROM COPPER ORES.

Comment (Deposit): SEVEN CLAIMS MINERAL SURVEY NUMBER 1896.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1935 CONSISTED OF A 175 FT. INCLINED SHAFT LEADING TO LARGE AND INACCESSIBLE STOPES.

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION IS FOR THE MAIN WORKINGS OF THE EXCELSIOR MINE.

References

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, W., GRATON, L.C., AND GORDON, C.H., 1910 USGS PP 68, P. 205-212

Reference (Deposit): DUNHAM, K.C., 1935 NMBMMR BULL 11, P. 230-231

Reference (Deposit): ALBRITTON, C.C., JR., AND NELSON, V.E., 1943 USGS OFR-43, P.30

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

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