Sprouse-Copeland Mines

The Sprouse-Copeland Mines is a copper and lead mine located in Grant county, New Mexico at an elevation of 6,900 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: Sprouse-Copeland Mines
Secondary: Mines
Secondary: Sprouse Mine
Secondary: Copeland Mine: Joy Group
Secondary: Claims
Secondary: Joy
Secondary: Dot
Secondary: Mary
Secondary: Ann
Secondary: Oxide Nos. 1 and 2

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Bismuth

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Grant
District: White Signal District: Southern Burro Mountains

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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: Charles Russell, Tyrone, N.M. And C.R. Altman, Silver City, N.M.
Years: 1962 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1900
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: PINCH AND SWELL

Structure

Type: L
Description: Deposits Occur Along The Northeast Striking Sprouse-Copeland Fault.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification Is Common And Monzonite Is Sericitized And Kaolinized.

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Tenorite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION IS FOR THE SHAFT OF THE SPROUSE MINE AS SHOWN ON THE BURRO PEAK TOPOGRAPHIC QUADRANGLE.

Comment (Development): IN THE LATE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S, RUSSELL AND ALTMAN CONDUCTED AN EXPLORATION PROGRAM INCLUDING DIAMOND DRILLING, REHABILITATION OF THE OLD WORKINGS, TRENCHING, DETAILED MAPPING AND SAMPLING.

Comment (Deposit): SIX UNPATENTED CLAIMS MINERAL SURVEY NUMBER 2191 COVERING 122.841 ACRES AND SIX UNPATENTED CLAIMS COVERING ABOUT 120 ACRES.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1964 CONSISTED OF SEVERAL SHALLOW SHAFTS, SHORT ADITS, WINZES AND NUMEROUROUS OPEN CUTS.

References

Reference (Deposit): GILLERMAN, E., 1964 NMBMMR BULL 83, P. 73-76

Reference (Deposit): HEDLUND, D.C., 1978 USGS MISC. FIELD STUDIES MAP MF-1040

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

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