As part of the Earth MRI project “Geochemical reanalysis of NURE samples from the Colorado Plateau, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona” (G23AC00561), New Mexico is resampling geologic material, including stream sediments and rocks, in the Zuni Mountains, Cibola and McKinley Counties. The purpose of this sampling is to assess the critical minerals potential of this area, which was historically mined for fluorspar and base metals. An exploration geochemistry focused class was taught in the fall semester of 2023. Sampling in the Zuni Mountains was conducted primarily by this class which allowed 17 students with varying field experience to learn how to plan and execute a sampling program. The students were split into five groups to sample different areas within the Zuni Mountains.
Why the Zuni Mountains?
- Source areas for sedimentary deposits in the San Juan Basin (U, V, coal, beach placer sandstones, petroleum)
- USGS focus areas for potential critical minerals deposits
- Zuni Mountains PGE (SW_New_NM_074a)
- Zuni Mountains fluorspar (SW_New_NM_074b)
- New Mexico Cambrian alkaline rocks and REE veins (SW013)
- New Mexico-Texas-Colorado sediment-hosted Cu (SW_P4016)
- Deposit types
- Veins and replacements in Proterozoic rocks
- Copper veins in Proterozoic rocks
- Potential Platinum Group Elements (PGE)
- One of the few areas in New Mexico with ultramafic rocks
- Potential pegmatites
- Fluorspar veins
- REE-bearing episyenites
- Sandstone-hosted stratabound, sedimentary-copper deposits
- Mica
- Iron deposits
References on Zuni Mountains mining district see link
Virginia McLemore April 22, 2024