Three Bears Mine

The Three Bears Mine is a copper, gold, and silver mine located in Otero county, New Mexico at an elevation of 4,350 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: Three Bears Mine
Secondary: Three Bears Group: Claims Patented In 1890
Secondary: Grizzly Bear
Secondary: Cinna Mon Bear
Secondary: Brown Bear

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Otero
District: Orogrande 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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Silver Bar Mines Co. And Homan Arnold
Home Office: El Paso, Tx.
Years: 1960 -

Owner Name: Three Bears Mining Co. And Jarilla Copper Co.
Years: 1900 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1887
Year Last Production: 1905
Discovery Year: 1882
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: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Diopside
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Garnet

Comments

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSITS OCCUR AS DISCONTINUOUS SHOOTS AND POCKETS. A SHOOT ON TH E SECOND LEVEL OF THE MINE WAS STOPED FOR A LENGTH OF 50 TO 60 FT., A WIDTH OF 15 TO 20 FT., AND AN AVERAGE THICKNESS OF 4 FT.. THREE PATENT ED CLAIMS MINERAL SURVEY NUMBERS 534, 535, AND 536 COVERING 59.13 ACRE S.

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

Comment (Production): LINDGREN, ET AL, REPORTED A TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE OF A FEW THOUSA ND DOLLARS.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTED IN 1910 CONSISTED OF A 525 FT. VERTICAL SHAFT W ITH FIVE LEVELS CONTAINING ABOUT 1000 FT. OF DRIFTS AND STOPES.

References

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, W., GRATON, L.C., AND GORDON, C.H., 1910 USGS PP 68, P. 1 86-187

Reference (Deposit): SCHMIDT, P.G., AND CRADDOCK, C., 1964 NMBMMR BULL 82, P.44, PLATE 1

Reference (Deposit): BEANE, R.E, JARAMILLO, L.E., AND BLOOM, M.S., 1975 NMGS GUIDEBOOK 2 6TH FIELD CONFERENCE, P. 151-156

Reference (Deposit): NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

The Top Ten Gold Producing States

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.