Metallic resources of New Mexico: An overview

New Mexico Geological Society, Special Publication
in prep

Abstract

All metallic mineral deposits in New Mexico, including silver and gold, base-metal, uranium deposits, ect., can be divided into six major periods of metallogenesis: Proterozoic, Paleozoic to Mesozoic, Laramide, "Transition" stage, Extensional, and Pliocene-Recent. There are more than 230 metallic mining districts or geographic areas in New Mexico that are found in 33 distinct types of deposits. More than $21 billion worth of metals have been produced from 29 different types of deposits in New Mexico since the early 1800s. The most important type of deposit in the state, in terms of production, size and future mining potential, are the Laramide porphyry copper, skarn, and polymetallic vein deposits.