Blackbird Mine

The Blackbird Mine is a fluorine-fluorite mine located in Bernalillo county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,250 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: Blackbird Mine
Secondary: Blackbird Fluorspar Mine

Commodity

Primary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Barium-Barite

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Bernalillo
District: Tijeras Canyon District: Manzanita Mountains 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: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Sandia Military Reservation

Owner Name: J. E. Mock And The American Fluorspar Co.
Years: 1943 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1943
Year Last Production: 1943
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: TABULAR

Structure

Type: L
Description: Deposit Follows A Fault Zone Striking N 30 W.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 0.6% BASO4.
Analytical Data: 1.4% CACO3
Analytical Data: 18.7% SIO2
Analytical Data: A SAMPLE CONTAINED 59.4% CAF2

Materials

Ore: Barite
Ore: Fluorite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION IS FOR THE SHAFT IN THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 17. THE MINE CAN BE REACHED BY TRAVELING 11.6 MILES EAST OF ALBUQUERQUE ON US 66, THEN 4.5 MILES SOUTH, AND 2.4 MILES EAST. IT LIES IN A RESTRICTED AREA ADJACENT TO THE SANDIA MILITARY RESERVATION. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1975)

Comment (Deposit): RECORD # D009814 BY JERRY L. HAUG HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THIS RECORD. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Commodity): ANALYTICAL DATA FROM ROTHROCK AND OTHERS, 1946 NMBMMR BULL 21, P. 41

Comment (Development): MINE IS COMPOSED OF 10 UNPATENTED CLAIMS NAMED THE BLACKBIRD, JAY BIRD, RED HILL, LIMESTONE HILLS NO. 1 AND 2, WHITE HILL, VIRGINIA, LITTLE QUEEN, WHITE EAGLE, AND KEYSTONE. MAIN WORKINGS ARE ON THE JAY BIRD.

Comment (Deposit): FLUORSPAR OCCURS IN A FISSURE VEIN ALONG A N 30 W STRIKING FAULT ZONE. VEIN RANGES FROM A FEW INCHES TO 5 FT. THICK AND CAN BE TRACED AT SURFACE FOR 650 FT. SOUTHEAST FROM THE SHAFT BUT IS COVERED BY ALLUVIUM NORTHWEST OF THE SHAFT. FLUORSPAR IS DENSE WHERE NO BRECCIATION IS PRESENT AND GRANULAR WHEN CEMENTING BRECCIA FRAGMENTS. MINOR WALL ROCK REPLACEMENT. TEN UNPATENTED CLAIMS IN THE 1940'S.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1966 CONSISTED OF AN 85 FT. SHAFT AND 132 FT. OF DRIFTING WITH 55 FT. OF THE DRIFT STOPED TO THE SURFACE.

References

Reference (Deposit): ROTHROCK, H.E., JOHNSON, C.H., AND HAHN, A.D., 1946 NMBMMR BULL 21, P. 40-41

Reference (Deposit): WILLIAMS, F.E., 1966 USBM IC-8307, P. 12

Reference (Deposit): ELSTON, W.E., 1967 NMBMMR BULL 81, P. 12-16

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

Reference (Production): WILLIAMS, F.E., 1966, P. 12.

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