WorldWide Drilling Resource

57 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® AUGUST 2013 Mining in the USA Part 15 Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Mining in New Mexico goes all the way back to prehistoric times. Turquoise seems to have been the target since every major turquoise deposit in New Mexico shows evidence of prehistoric workings. The Cerrillos mining district near Mt. Chalchihuitl is the largest known prehistoric turquoise mine in North America, with turquoise artifacts found from the site dating from around 1000 A.D., and it is also the oldest mine in the United States. Old Spanish records are filled with mining activities in what is now New Mexico, dating back to the 1500s. Spanish explorers arrived in New Mexico in 1540, led by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, and they began mining sulfur. Sulfur wasn’t al l they uncovered, soon gold and silver deposits were found and the Spaniards con- tinued to mine in the area until the last half of the 17th centu- ry. According to one Spanish legend, millions in gold and silver were taken out of mines in the Taos Mountains. Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1821, and was part of an independent Mexico until the Mexican- American War of 1846. Although New Mexico was designated as a territory in 1850, it didn’t actually become a state until 1912. During that 62-year period, silver, gold, lead, zinc, copper, and coal were all mined in New Mexico. Like many areas in the western U.S., mining led to boom towns. The lure of gold and silver was enough to bring early Americans to the region. In 1863, a rich deposit of silver was discovered at Pueblo Springs. Silver discovered in the Chloride Flat district in the 1870s led to the establishment of Silver City. Placer and lode gold was discovered around 1860, and soon there were 30 gold mines operating in the Pinos Altos District. In 1866, rich copper ores near Baldy Mountain were discovered. New Mexico continues to be one of the top copper-producing states in the U.S. Magnetite iron ore mining began in the 1880s near Fierro and continued until 1931. Lead and zinc mining began in 1904. In 1917, a rich molybdenum deposit was located in the Red River mining district. Manganese was mined in the state during both World Wars. Coal production played a big role in the economic development of the state in the 1850s, and it continues today. New Mexico is one of the country’s top 15 coal-producing states. Although the second largest identi- fied uranium reserves is located in the state, no uranium ore has been mined in New Mexico since 1998. New Mexico Currently, the state mines coal, copper, gold, silver, zinc, pumice, gypsum, molybdenum, and potash. Look for more in our next issue!