Desdemona Group

The Desdemona Group is a silver, copper, gold, lead, and zinc mine located in Luna 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: Desdemona Group
Secondary: Asarco Group
Secondary: Mahoney Group: Desdemona Mine
Secondary: Othello Mine
Secondary: Monte C Risto Mine
Secondary: Suprise Mine
Secondary: Webster Mine: Claims Patented In 1889 and 18 97
Secondary: Desdemona
Secondary: Othello
Secondary: Monte Cristo: Claims Patented In 1957
Secondary: Suprise
Secondary: Webster
Secondary: Bryan

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Luna
District: Cooks Peak District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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: Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
Years: 1950 -

Owner Name: H. E. Mccray
Home Office: Deming, N.M.
Years: 1950 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Year Last Production: 1952
Discovery Year: 1877
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

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Extensive Silicification.

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Silurian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Gypsum
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): MINERALIZATION OCCURS IN IRREGULAR REPLACEMENT BODIES INCLUDING S MALL MANTOS, PIPES, AND FISSURES. SIX PATENTED CLAIMS MINERAL SURVEY N UMBERS 544, 545, 919, AND 2167 COVERING A TOTAL OF 79.342 ACRES.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1870'S

Comment (Location): ACCURATE LOCATION IS FOR THE MAIN WORKINGS ON THE DESDEMONA CLAIM.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF NUMEROUS SHALLOW SHAFTS, ADITS, SMALL OPENCUT S, TRENCHES, AND PROSPECT PITS. EXTENSIVE DRIFTING AND STOPING ALONG S MALL, IRREGULAR OREBODIES. THE JACKSON AND MITCHELL ARE THE MAIN WORKI NGS.

References

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, W., GRATON, L.C., AND GORDON, C.H., 1910 USGS PP 68, P. 2 87-289

Reference (Deposit): JICHA, H.L., JR., 1954 NMBMMR BULL 37, P. 60-66, PLATE 1

Reference (Deposit): GRISWOLD, G.B., 1961 NMBMMR BULL 72, P. 94

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

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