Questa Moly Mine

The Questa Moly Mine is a molybdenum mine located in Taos county, New Mexico at an elevation of 8,268 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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Site Name

Primary: Questa Moly Mine
Secondary: Questa Molybdenum Mine
Secondary: Moly Mine

Commodity

Primary: Molybdenum

Location

State: New Mexico
County: Taos
District: Red River District

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

Type: State Lease
Type: Located Claim
Type: Patented

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Molycorp Unit Of Union Oil Co.
Company ID: 2900164
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: California
Info Year: 1990
Years: 1990 -

Production

Year: 1985
Description: Mos2 Conc. 6290000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1984
Description: Mos2 Conc. 4765000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1983
Description: Mos2 Conc. 281000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1982
Description: Mos2 Conc. Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1981
Description: Mos2 Conc. 831000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1978
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 2502000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1977
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 3688000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1976
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 5220000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1975
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 5041000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1974
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 5080000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1973
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 4944000 Kgs Of Molybnenum
Year: 1972
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 4978000 Kgs Of Molybnenum
Year: 1971
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 4562000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1969
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con Produced 4944000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1968
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 4128000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1967
Description: 85% Mos2 Con. Produced. 4264000 Kg Of Molybdenum
Year: 1966
Description: 85% Mos2 Con. Produced 3515000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1900
Description: 85% Of Mos2 Con. Produced 4587000 Kgs Of Molybdenum
Year: 1996
Description: Contained Moly Production Est. 14500000 Lb/Yr

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Caving Methods - Block Caving
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1966
Discovery Year: 1916
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Unknown: Pyrite
Unknown: Sericite
Unknown: Topaz
Unknown: Fluorite
Unknown: Illite
Unknown: Kaolinite
Unknown: Molybdenite
Unknown: Orthoclase
Unknown: Quartz
Unknown: Biotite
Unknown: Calcite
Unknown: Adularia
Unknown: Rhodochrosite

Comments

Comment (Geology): THE QUESTA ORE DEPOSIT IS TWO SEGMENTS, EACH SEGMENT IS A PART OF TWO FLAT-LYING , ELONGATED AND PARALELL MINERALIZED ZONES. THESE ZONES STRIKE N 70 DEG.W AND ARE STRUCTURALLY-CONTROLLED BY TWO FAULT SYSTEMS THAT FORM A GRABEN-LIKE STRUCTURE (?). THE N E ZONE IS EXPOSED IN THE PIT AND EXTENDS IN A NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION FOR 1600 M. THE PORTION THAT IS ORE GRADE (CALLED THE F-2 ORE ZONE) IS 125 M WIDE AND 125 M THICK. THE SW ZONE LIES 1800 METERS SOUTHEAST OF NE ZONE. THIS ORE DEPOSIT IS APPROXIMATELY 1600 METERS LONG, 180 MET- ERS WIDE, AND 120 METERS THICK.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): 1989 RESERVE FROM PAY DIRT MAGAZINE, SOUTHWESTERN EDITION, JUN 1989, P. 5A. (GRADE GIVEN AS RECOVERABLE, BUT ADJUSTED IN

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION HISTORY 8/1/89.SCHEDULED PRODUCTION 11.5 MILLION LBS. MO IN 1990. 8400 KG OF MOLYBDENITE IN CONCENTRATE WAS PRODUCED BY A SMALL 50 TPD UNDERGROUND MINE FROM 1923-1956.

Comment (Deposit): UNDERGROUND MINE BEING DEVELOPED FOR 1983 PRODUCTION.MINE SHUT IN 1986.PLANS TO REOPEN 2ND QTR 1989 WITH INITIAL PRODUCTION AT HALF-CAPACITY, ANNUAL RATE 10-12 MM LBS MO/YR.RESUMED OPERATIONS ADIT RESERVE DATA AS IN-SITU. (MO RECOVERY IS 87%) GEOLOGY PROPERTY REVIEWED BY RC SMITH, 4-87. AT THIS TIME, THE MINE IS TEMPORARILY SHUTDOWN . CLOSED SINCE FEB. 1986. Q4 MATRIX WAS ADDED FOR THE NEW RESERVE ESTIMATE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEX Q DATA FROM THE 1979 EVALUATION. MOLYCORP EXPECTS TO RE-OPEN MINE BY 3RD QU-96, DEPENDING ON PERMITTING PROGRESS. SEE REF "MI" 001-002. MOLYCORP BEGAN INSTALLING PUMPING EQUIPMENT FOR POSSIBLE REOPENING IN JULY OF 1996. (AT 14-15 MIL LB/YR MOLY CONT.)

Comment (Reserve-Resource): UNDERGROUND MINE BEING DEVELOPED FOR 1983 PRODUCTION.MINE SHUT IN 1986.PLANS TO REOPEN 2ND QTR 1989 WITH INITIAL PRODUCTION AT HALF-CAPACITY, ANNUAL RATE 10-12 MM LBS MO/YR.RESUMED OPERATIONS ADIT RESERVE DATA AS IN-SITU. (MO RECOVERY IS 87%)

Comment (Economic Factors): SURFACE MINE THE SURFACE MINE HAS LIMITED PRODUCTION. THE RESERVES FROM THE PIT ARE EXHAUSTED EXCEPT FOR A FEW SELECTIVELY MINEABLE ZONES. PRESENTLY, THERE IS ONE DRILL (OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY AND ONE SHOVEL WITHIN THE PIT. MOST OF THE ORE GOING TO THE MILL IS STOCKPILED ORE BEING LOADED BY ONE 13M SHOVEL AND HAULED BY 109-MT TRUCKS 300 M TO THE CRUSHER.

Comment (Production): YIELDS THE YIELD SET FOR PRODUCT RECORD A SHOWS A 70% RECOVERY WHICH REFLECTS A LOW MILL RECOVERY DUE TO PROCESSING STOCKPILED ORE THAT HAS HAD THE SULFIDES TARNISHED FROM EXPOSURE TO AIR. THE YIELD SET FOR PRODUCT RECORD B SHOWS AN 85% RECOVERY. IT IS ESTIMATED BY MILL STAFF THAT ORE FROM UNDERGROUND MINE WILL HAVE A BETTER RECOVERY DUE TO LOW KAOLINITE CONTENT.

Comment (Geology): LITHOLOGY THE ORE HORIZON APPEARS TO BE CONCENTRATED AT THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE INTRUSIVES (CONSISTING OF MONZONITE, GRANITE, RHYOLITE AND APLITE PORPHYRIES) AND THE UNDERLYING EXTRUSIVES (CONSISTING OF TUFFS, LATITES, BRECCIAS, RHYOLITES AND ANDESITES).

References

Reference (Deposit): RYAN'S NOTES, NEWS, FEB. 13, 1995, "CLIMAX MOLY TO OPEN

Reference (Deposit): THE MINING RECORD, "MOLYCORP CONFIRMS START-UP ACTIVITIES",

Reference (Production): MINE. WORLD MINING, DEC. 1977, P 59.

Reference (Production): MEMORIAL VOL. V 2, 1976, PP. 1185-1198.

Reference (Production): HOW MOLYCORP MAINTAINS PIT AND HAUL ROADS AT QUESTA MOLY

Reference (Production): QUESTA DIVISION. CHAPTER 42, FLOTATION, AIME GAUDIN

Reference (Geology): OF THE QUESTA MOLYBDEITE DEPOSIT, TAOS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

Reference (Geology): GUIDEBOOK OF TAOS-RATON-SPANISH PEAKS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

Reference (Geology): GUSTAFSON, WILLIAM G., D. G. BRYANT, & T. L. EVANS. GEOLOGY

Reference (Geology): SALES VOL, AIME PUB, 1970, PP. 1329-1350.

Reference (Geology): DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1933-1967. THE GRATON-

Reference (Geology): MOLYBDENUM MINE AREA, TAOS NEW MEXICO. ORE

Reference (Geology): CARPENTER, ROBERT H. GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE QUESTA

Reference (Workings): AIME. 1969, P. 312-322

Reference (Deposit): GENERAL

Reference (Workings): MINING CONFERENCE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN. SEP 18-20, 1968,

Reference (Workings): MINING. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL SURFACE

Reference (Workings): WILLIAMS, ROBERT ISSAC, QUESTA MINE. CASE STUDIES OF SURFACE

Reference (Workings): CONST. JUNE 3, 1969. V.50, NO.11, P.28, 30, 38.

Reference (Workings): PLANT NEAR QUESTA AND INCREASES PRODUCTION ROCKY MTN.

Reference (Workings): THOMAS, DAVID A, MOLYBDENUM CORP OF AMERICA EXPANDS ITS

Reference (Workings): SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, MAY 7, 1966, P 22-23.

Reference (Workings): SKILLINGS, DAVID N. MOLYCORP'S QUESTA MINE DEDICATED,

Reference (Workings): JUL 1966, P 14-17.

Reference (Workings): QUESTA MOLY OPEN PIT GIVES NEW LIFE TO OLD MINE. WORLD MIN.

Reference (Workings): MINING REVIEW, JAN 30, 1965, PP 1, 4-5.

Reference (Workings): MOLYBDENUM CORP'S QUESTA PROJECT, NEW MEXICO, SKILLINGS

Reference (Reserve-Resource): RANDOL MINING DIRE, 1994/95.

Reference (Deposit): APRIL".

Reference (Reserve-Resource): PAY DIRT MAG. (SOUTHESTERN ED.), JUN 1989, P. 5A

Reference (Reserve-Resource): ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, SEP. 1969, P. 419.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): RESERVE REFERENCE - MINING ENGINEERING, MAY 1979, P. 510.

Reference (Deposit): VOL 106, #34, 08/23/95, P1.

Reference (Production): FILYK, A. A REVIEW OF PLANT PRACTICE AT THE MOLYCORP INC.,

Reference (Geology): CONFERENCE, OCT 14, 15, & 16, 1966. PP. 51-55.

Reference (Geology): AND COLORADO, NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 17TH FIELD

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