Hilltop Mine

The Hilltop Mine is a lead and silver mine located in Dona Ana county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,201 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: Hilltop Mine
Secondary: Eureka Mine 1900's: Claims
Secondary: Hilltop
Secondary: Hilltop Nos. 2 To 9

Commodity

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

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Dona Ana
District: Organ District: San Augustin Mountains: Black Prince Canyon Area

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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: White Sands Missile Range

Owner Name: Bethesda Mining Co.
Home Office: Las Cruces, 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
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 25 To 35 Degrees Northwest.

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: Gold
Ore: Altaite
Ore: Rickardite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION IS FOR THE EASTERN ADIT OF THE HILLTOP MINE AS SHOWN ON THE ORGAN TOPOGRAPHIC QUADRANGLE

Comment (Production): SEAGER, P. 87, REPORTED TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE OF 50 TO 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF ARGENTIFEROUS GALENA AND GOLD ORE.

Comment (Deposit): NINE CLAIMS.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN THE 1940'S CONSISTED OF THREE TUNNELS WITH DRIFTS, CROSSCUTS AND RAISES TOTALING ABOUT 8000 FT. IN LENGTH.

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

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. 238-239

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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