By Chance Mine

The By Chance Mine is a copper, gold, and silver mine located in Otero county, New Mexico at an elevation of 4,600 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: By Chance Mine
Secondary: Claims
Secondary: Bonanza
Secondary: By Chance
Secondary: Butterfly
Secondary: Buckeye
Secondary: Stockes
Secondary: Maude S.
Secondary: Gold Dust
Secondary: Bear

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Otero
District: Orogrande District

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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: R. I. F. Mining Co.
Home Office: El Paso, Tx.
Years: 1960 -

Owner Name: Russell Williams
Home Office: El Paso, Tx.
Years: 1960 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1950
Year Last Production: 1960
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

Not available

Rocks

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

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

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

Comment (Deposit): EIGHT UNPATENTED CLAIMS.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF A 120 FT. SHAFT AND A 175 FT. SHAFT WITH ABOU T 600 FT. OF DRIFTS. SEVERAL STOPES ARE CAVED TO THE SURFACE AND THERE ARE MANY SHALLOW PROSPECT PITS.

References

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, E.C., 1957 NMBMMR BULL 39, P. 101-102

Reference (Deposit): SCHMIDT, P.G., AND CRADDOCK, C., 1964 NMBMMR BULL 82, PLATE 1

Reference (Deposit): BEANE, R.E., JARAMILLO, L.E., AND BLOOM, M.S., 1975 NMGS GUIDEBOOK 26TH FIELD CONFERENCE, P. 151-156

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

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These ten states contributed the most to the gold production that built the West from 1848 through the 1930s. The Top Ten Gold Producing States.