NEW MEXICO SCHOOL OF MINES BULLETIN 12 STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES FRONTISPIECE UNITED STATES POTASH COMPANY, MINE PLANT UNITED STATES POTASH COMPANY, REFINERY NEW MEXICO SCHOOL OF MINES STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES E. H. WELLS President and Director BULLETIN NO. 12 The Non-Metallic Mineral Resources of New Mexico and Their Economic Features (EXCLUSIVE OF FUELS) By STERLING B. TALMAGE and THOMAS P. WOOTTON SOCORRO, N. M. 1937 CONTENTS Page The State Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources ----------------------------------------------------- 8 Board of Regents ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Publications ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 PART I. INTRODUCTION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Purpose and scope of report --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Importance of non-metallic minerals --------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Marketing factors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Supply and demand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Size of market ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Margin of profit --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Transportation costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Population --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Manufactures -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 Valuation of properties ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 15 New Mexico applications --------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 PART II. GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO ----------------------------------------------- 19 Natural divisions of New Mexico ------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Geologic time ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 22 Pre-Cambrian eras ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Paleozoic era ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Cambrian period ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Ordovician period ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 25 Silurian period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Devonian period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------26 Mississippian period --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 Pennsylvanian period ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 Permian period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 Mesozoic era --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30 Triassic period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 Jurassic period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 Cretaceous period ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33 Cenozoic era ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 Tertiary period ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 Quaternary period ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 PART III. NON-METALLIC MINERALS ------------------------------------------------------------- 42 Adobe --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 Alum ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 General features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------43 Uses -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------44 New Mexico occurrences ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 Asbestos ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 General features -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Varieties ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Uses --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 New Mexico occurrences --------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 Asphalt rock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 General features and uses --------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 New Mexico occurrences --------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 Guadalupe County ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 McKinley County ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 49 Barite ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 General features --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 Uses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 New Mexico occurrences and production ----------------------------------------------------50 4 CONTENTS PART III. NON-METALLIC MINERALS—Continued Bentonite ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 General features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 Uses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 53 New Mexico occurrences ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 Beryl ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 54 General features --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 54 Uses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 54 New Mexico occurrences ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 Building Stones ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 General features and uses ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 New Mexico occurrences ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 Calcite ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 General features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Uses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 59 New Mexico occurrences ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Caliche --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 General features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 Occurrences and uses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------60 Cement Materials --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 General features and uses ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 New Mexico occurrences and production ---------------------------------------------------- 61 Clay and clay products ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 General features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 Residual clays ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 Sedimentary clays ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 Uses and products ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Structural products ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Refractories ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Pottery and porcelain -------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Use as fillers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 63 New Mexico occurrences ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Bernalillo County ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 64 Colfax County ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64 Dona Ana County ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 65 Hidalgo County--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 65 Lea County -------------------------------------------------------------------------------