Sunnyside Mine

The Sunnyside Mine is a beryllium and fluorine-fluorite mine located in Rio Arriba county, New Mexico at an elevation of 7,680 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: Sunnyside Mine

Commodity

Primary: Beryllium
Primary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Secondary: Mica
Tertiary: Feldspar
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Thorium
Tertiary: REE

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Rio Arriba
District: Petaca District: Alamos Group

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: H. S. Coulter
Home Office: La Madera, N.M.

Production

Year: 1950
Time Period: 1943-1950
Description: Cp_Grade: ^2500 Lbs Of Beryl Mined

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Metamorphic
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1943
Year Last Production: 1955
Discovery Year: 1943
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral Not In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENTICULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Mica Schist
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Mica Schist
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Mica Schist
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Monazite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Fluorite
Ore: Beryl
Ore: Mica
Ore: Microcline
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Topaz
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF AN INCLINE AND SEVERAL SHALLOW SURFACE PITS. THE INCLINE SLOPES DOWN AT ABOUT 40 DEGREES AND TRENDS N 80 W, AND IS REPORTED TO BE 60 FEET DEEP.

Comment (Development): BERYL WAS FOUND IN FLOAT DOWNSLOPE FROM THE DEPOSIT LOCATION

Comment (Production): FLUORITE PRODUCTION IS REPORTED AS "SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF PURPLE FLUORITE", (JAHNS, 1946 AND REDMON, 1961).

Comment (Deposit): THE SUNNYSIDE IS UNUSUAL IN THAT THE BERYL-MICA CONCENTRATIONS OCCUR IN THE MICA-SCHIST RATHER THAN IN THE PEGMATITE. THE STRIKE AND DIP ARE FROM SEVERLY CRUMPLED FOLIATED SCHIST.

Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSIT OCCURS IN THE PETACA SCHIST MEMBER OF THE ORTEGA QUARTZITE.

Comment (Deposit): SEE ALSO: ALAMOS GROUP ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Location): LOCATION IS ACCURATE FOR THE SUNNYSIDE SHAFT. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1979

References

Reference (Production): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 25 AND REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013

Reference (Deposit): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 25, P. 226

Reference (Deposit): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P.40

Reference (Deposit): GRIFFITS, W.R., 1965, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 87, P.200

Reference (Deposit): LESURE, F.G., 1965, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 87, P. 285-287

Reference (Deposit): BINGLER, E.C., 1968, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 91, P. 123-124

Reference (Deposit): MCLEMORE, VT., 1983, NMBMMR OFR OF-183, APPENDIX 1

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

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