New Mexico Mineral Symposium — Abstracts

Phosphate mineralization has been known in the Tyrone area since 1871. Small pits and stone tools are evidence of earlier mining by Indians. The Azure mine was opened in 1891 and became one of the largest turquoise mines in the country. Turquoise mining declined as copper mining became prominent. Small underground mines gave way to the opening of the Tyrone open-pit mine in 1967, and more phosphates came to light. Today, 16 species have been recognized, some rarely found in New Mexico. They include turquoise, libethenite, torbernite, autunite, lead¬-meta-autunite(?), pseudomalachite, cornetite, chalcosiderite, apatite, wavellite, plumbogummite, woodhouseite, corkite, strengite, cacoxenite, and pyromorphite.