Page 12 - The Geology and Ore Deposits of Sierra County, New Mexico - Bulletin 10

The Geology and Ore Deposits of
Sierra County, New Mexico By
G. TOWNSEND HARLEY
INTRODUCTION
Sierra County, one of the smaller counties of New Mexico, has been its third largest producer of mineral wealth. All of the ore bodies so far exploited have been of small to moderate size, although some of them have been phenomenally rich. To those who are interested in seeking out and operating small min- ing properties, the potential mineral wealth of this area is still a matter of great interest.
The field work for this report was begun July 1, 1931. Dur- ing July and August a general survey was made of the county, and most of the mining districts were examined in such detail as the time and condition of the mines permitted. A topographic map of the Hillsboro district was made and the areal geology worked out. It was planned to complete the preparation of the report during the winter months and to have it ready for the printer in the summer of 1932. In the meantime, however, due to depressed conditions in the metal market, many of the larger base-metal mines in the southwestern Urited States greatly curtailed production or suspended operations completely. This encouraged many individuals and small operating units to take up in an energetic manner the search for placer and lode gold deposits, or to attempt to find base-metal deposits containing gold in sufficient quantity to make operation profitable in spite of existing low prices. The result was that many of the mines in the county that were inaccessible in 1931 had been or were being sampled or prepared for operating in the spring of 1932. It was necessary, therefore, during July, 1932, and on several occasions thereafter, to revisit the different mining camps in the county and to include much additional material with that already gathered.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF REPORT
This bulletin has been prepared primarily for the use and information of prospectors, owners and operators of mining property in Sierra County, and as a guide to those non-residents of the county who are seeking an outlet for funds through the development of the metallic resources of the region. To this end technical phraseology and the presentation of the highly scien-