Capitan Mine

The Capitan Mine is a mica mine located in Rio Arriba county, New Mexico at an elevation of 7,890 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

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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: Capitan Mine

Commodity

Primary: Mica
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Thorium
Tertiary: REE
Tertiary: Beryllium

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Rio Arriba
District: Petaca District: Cribbenville 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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Minerals Engineering Co. (Meco)
Home Office: Grand Junction, Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1675
Year Last Production: 1955
Discovery Year: 1675
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral 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: OTHER DIKE

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Monazite
Ore: Beryl
Ore: Mica
Gangue: Albite
Gangue: Bismutite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Columbite

Comments

Comment (Production): JAHNS REPORTS PRODUCTION OF MICA FROM THE CAPITAN SINCE THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. NO PRODUCTION RECORDS WERE KEPT (EXCEPT DURING 1928-29). JAHNS ESTIMATED PRODUCTION FOR THE LAST CENTURY AT 1,500 TONS OF SCRAP AND 1,200 POUNDS OF SHEET AND PUNCH MICA.

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

Comment (Development): THE EARLY SPANISH SETTLERS FIRST MINED THE CAPITAN IN THE LATE 1600'S. THE MINE HAS BEEN WORKED INTERMITTENLY SINCE.

Comment (Deposit): THE MINE IS LOCATED ON THE EAST END OF THE DIKE. THE BLANCA MINE IS LOCATED ON THE WEST END.

Comment (Workings): JAHNS (1946) REPORTED WORKINGS CONSISTED OF TWO OPEN CUTS, SEVERAL ADITS, AND DECLINES. MCLEMORE (1983) REPORTS A 30 FT SHAFT IN ADDITION.

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

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

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1600'S

References

Reference (Deposit): JUST, E., 1937, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 13, P. 63-70

Reference (Deposit): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 25, P. 190-192

Reference (Deposit): REDMON, D.E., 1961, USBM IC 8013, P. 33

Reference (Deposit): LESURE, F.G., 1965, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 87, P. 278

Reference (Deposit): BINGLER, E.C., 1968, NMBMMR BULL. NO. 91, P. 122

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

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

Reference (Production): JAHNS, R.H., 1946, NMBMMR BULL 25, P. 190

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