NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES A Department of the School of Mines E. C. ANDERSON Director CIRCULAR 18 GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF RED RIVER AND TWINING DISTRICTS TAOS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO A PRELIMINARY REPORT By CHARLES F. PARK, JR. and PHILIP F. McKINLAY Prepared in cooperation with the Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior Socorro 1948 CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Physical features ................................................................................................................................. 6 Geology .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Metamorphic rocks .................................................................................................................... 8 Pre-Cambrian rocks ........................................................................................................ 8 Sedimentary rocks ..................................................................................................................... 9 Paleozoic rocks ............................................................................................................... 9 Tertiary gravels ............................................................................................................. 10 Valley alluvium ............................................................................................................. 11 Igneous rocks ........................................................................................................................... 11 Pre-Cambrian granite .................................................................................................... 11 Pegmatite ...................................................................................................................... 11 Green tuff ...................................................................................................................... 11 Granodiorite .................................................................................................................. 12 Monzonite ..................................................................................................................... 12 Monzonite porphyry ...................................................................................................... 12 Rhyolite ......................................................................................................................... 13 Volcanic breccia ............................................................................................................14 Basalt dikes ................................................................................................................... 14 Structure ...................................................................................................................................14 Ore deposits ................................................................................................................................... 16 General statement .................................................................................................................... 16 Rock alteration ........................................................................................................................ 17 Deposits associated with metamorphic rocks .......................................................................... 18 Deposits in Tertiary rocks ....................................................................................................... 19 CONTENTS Page Contact metamorphic deposits ................................................................................................19 Ore minerals ............................................................................................................................19 Gangue minerals ......................................................................................................................20 Production ...................................................................................................................................21 Economic possibilities .................................................................................................................21 Prospects and mines ....................................................................................................................22 Mines and prospects in the southern part of area .....................................................................22 Frazer copper prospect .................................................................................................22 Highline copper prospect .............................................................................................22 MnO2, Commonwealth, Iron Dyke, and Commodore Lode claims ...........................................................................................................................23 Silver Star claim ..........................................................................................................24 Black . Copper mine ....................................................................................................24 Mines and prospects on Bitter Creek ......................................................................................25 Memphis mine .............................................................................................................25 Independence mine ......................................................................................................26 Enderman prospect ......................................................................................................27 Pete Deldosso prospect ................................................................................................27 Big Five, Edison, Anchor, and Cashier mines .............................................................27 Midnight mine .............................................................................................................27 Prospects on Placer Creek ......................................................................................................28 Buffalo No. 1 ...............................................................................................................28 Buffalo No. 2 ...............................................................................................................28 Buffalo No. 3 ...............................................................................................................29 Prospects on Pioneer Creek ....................................................................................................29 Silver Tip group ...........................................................................................................29 CONTENTS Page Midway prospects .......................................................................................................... 30 Inferno (?) prospect ........................................................................................................ 30 Caribel mine ................................................................................................................... 30 Miscellaneous properties .......................................................................................................... 31 Tenderfoot Creek ........................................................................................................... 31 Jacks and Sixes prospect ................................................................................................ 31 Goose Creek ................................................................................................................... 32 Placer mining ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................... 33 FIGURES Figure Page 1. Index map of New Mexico showing location of Red River and Twining districts ...........................................................................................................3a 2. A generalized map of Red River and adjacent areas in northern New Mexico ..........................................................................................................7a 3. Plan of the Independence mine, Bitter Creek, Red River district ……………………….. 25a 4. Plan of Enderman prospect, Bitter Creek, Red River district …………………………… 27a 5. Plan of Pete Deldosso prospect, Red River district ............................................................27a 6. Plan of Buffalo No. 2, Placer Creek, Red River district ………………………………… 29a 7. Plan of prospect, just north of Midway claims, Pioneer Creek, Red River district ……... 29a GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF RED RIVER AND TWINING DISTRICTS TAOS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO A PRELIMINARY REPORT CHARLES F. PARK, JR. 1/ and PHILIP F. McKINLAY 2/ ABSTRACT The Red River and Twining districts include the area bounded by meridians 105° 22' and 105° 30' W., and parallels 36° 35' and 36° 50' N., in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains,