Page 60 - The Geology and Ore Deposits of Sierra County, New Mexico - Bulletin 10

PART II. MINING DISTRICTS26 THE BLACK RANGE
LOCATION AND AREA
The Black Range follows the western border of Sierra
County, with its crest practically coincident with the county line throughout its entire length, except for a distance of 18 miles at the north, where the county line is on the western slope of the range, 10 miles west of the divide. The general trend of the range is 10c to 15° west of north.
GEOGRAPHY
Elevations along the crest of the Black Range average close to 8,200 feet, although where it crosses the northern boundary line of the county, the Beaverhead highway has been built through a pass near the little hamlet of Fluorine, 7,500 feet above sea level. The highest portion of the range is northwest of Kingston, where Hillsboro Peak has an elevation of about 10,100 feet. The eastern foothills of the range are located along a north-south line which passes through Chloride, Hermosa and Kingston. Drainage is prevailingly to the east, through the drainage systems of Cuchillo, Palomas, Animas, Percha, Tierra Blanca and Berenda creeks, and eventually into the Rio Grande. In the extreme northwestern part of the county, tributaries of the Gila River have their origin, and these streams drain to the west through the Gila and Colorado rivers to the Gulf of Cal- ifornia. The entire area of the Black Range in Sierra County is within the Gila National Forest, and except for the lower foot- hills, where scrub oak and cedar abound, the range is covered with good stands of yellow pine, cedar, juniper, and other less valuable woods. In these parts timber has been cut in the past for mining and building purposes and for fuel, but at present under the supervision of the United States Forest Service, large areas are being reforested by natural processes, and the cutting of timber is closely regulated. Most of the creeks have running water in them the greater part of the year.
GEOLOGY
STRATIFIED ROCKS
As noted on Plate II, the stratigraphic columns of the
Chloride, Hermosa, Kingston and Tierra Blanca districts show in one place or another the entire geologic sequence known in the
Si Throughout Part II, the values given for ores and samples of gold and silver are based on a price of $20.67 per troy ounce for gold and 40e an ounce for silver. The higher Prices for gold and silver which were in effect in the spring of 1934 would appreciably in- crease the value of these ores and samples. As a result, some of the mines and prospects described in Part II might deserve more favorable consideration than formerly, and certain properties might prove to be more profitable than suggested in the report.