USGS ScienceSearch

Geology topics

K. C. Watts

Publications and source records attributed to K. C. Watts.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Background information to accompany folio of geologic, mineral resource, geochemical, aeromagnetic, and gravity maps of the Hillsboro and San Lorenzo quadrangles, Sierra and Grant Counties, New Mexico, with sections on geochemistry and geophysics

The Hillsboro and San Lorenzo 15-minute quadrangles of southwestern New Mexico have been mapped at a 1:48,000 scale and selected mineralized areas within these quadrangles have been mapped in greater detail. This area of about 550 mi2 (1,424 km2) is within the southern part of the Black Range and includes much of the Mimbres Mountains and parts of the adjoining Black Range Primitive area. The region is highly mineralized with Laramide (75.1 ? 2.5 m.y.) and middle Tertiary (about 32 to 35 m.y.) intrusions providing the source for much of the base- and precious-metal mineralization. The porphyry copper deposit at Copper Flat is a subvolcanic Laramide quartz monzonite stock that was intruded into a thick section (>2,700 ft or >823 m) of Upper Cretaceous andesite. Numerous gold-bearing veins radiate from the central quartz monzonite stock, and locally offset a radial system of quartz latite dikes. Gold-bearing veins, chiefly along the south and east periphery of the stock, have provided the source for both gold lode and placer deposits. The middle Tertiary rhyolitic plugs, stocks, and dikes have intruded a dominantly carbonate section of Paleozoic sediments and bedding replacement deposits of zinc, lead, and copper are closely associated with tactite in the Carpenter (Swartz) mining district. The rich oxidized silver deposits of the Kingston district are largely fault controlled and a metallizing pluton is not present at the surface outcrop. Some of the silver-bearing base-metal veins in the Kingston district contain rhodochrosite, rhodonite, and alabandite and the highly oxidized parts of these veins have been mined for manganese ore. Very minor amounts of tungsten, as scheelite, occur in thin tactite zones along Tank Canyon, at the Silver Queen claims near Kingston, and at the Silver Tail group of mines along Pierce Canyon.

New Mexico

Map showing anomalous silver distribution in stream sediment concentrates, Hillsboro and San Lorenzo quadrangles, exclusive of the Black Range Primitive Area, Sierra and Grant Counties, New Mexico

This map shows the distribution of anomalous silver in the nonmagnetic (NM-1) sample fraction plotted on a base which includes sample localities, topography, and generalized geology from Hedlund (1975a, b). It is part of a series of maps for several metals that accompany this folio. Distributions of silver values are shown on the accompanying histograms.

New Mexico

Map showing anomalous copper distribution in stream sediment concentrates, Hillsboro and San Lorenzo quadrangles, exclusive of the Black Primitive Area, Sierra and Grant Counties, New Mexico

This map shows the distribution of anomalous copper in the two sample fractions, magnetic (M-1) and nonmagnetic (NM-1), plotted on a base which includes sample localities, topography, and generalized geology from Hedlund (1975a, b). It is part of a series of maps for several metals that accompany this folio. Distributions of copper values in each fraction are shown on the accompanying histograms.

New Mexico

Map showing anomalous lead distribution in stream sediment concentrates, Hillsboro and San Lorenzo quadrangles, exclusive of the Black Range Primitive Area, Sierra and Grant counties, New Mexico

This map shows the distribution of anomalous lead in the two sample fractions, magnetic (M-1) and nonmagnetic (NM-1) plotted on a base which includes sample localities, topography, and generalized geology modified from Hedlund (1975a, b). It is part of a series of maps for several metals that accompany this folio. Distributions of the lead values are shown on the accompanying histograms.

New Mexico

A statistical summary and listing of the spectrographic analyses of heavy mineral concentrate and conventional, sieved stream-sediment samples, Silver City area, New Mexico

Geochemical sampling of a tier of eight 7 1/2-minute quadrangles bordered by latitudes 32° 45'and 33° 00' N. and longitudes 108° 00' and 108° 30' W. was begun in the fall of 1974 and continued seasonally until completion in the fall of 1976. These quadrangles are in southwest New Mexico and include the well-known mineral deposits of the Silver City area. The sampling was designed to gain semidetailed information on the metal-anomaly characteristics of the strongly mineralized area surrounding Silver City, New Mexico, and to seek geochemical clues for the continuation of these mineral deposits beneath overlying Tertiary volcanic rocks to the north. The data obtained within areas of known mineral deposits provide information on the metallogenic processes and metal suites that both relate and distinguish metal systems. Evaluation of this information relative to the regional geologic framework and the distribution of known mineral deposits will result in the identification of additional target areas for exploration, as well as further our understanding of the geochemical characteristics of mineralized areas. Extrapolation of models developed from the study of areas of known, exposed mineralization to areas covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks, such as the northern part of this tier of quadrangles, is a promising procedure for continuing research into geochemical-anomaly characteristics of covered mineral deposits. Preliminary interpretation of the data indicates that the southern part of the area in which Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks and mineral deposits are exposed, should be reassessed to the classification and genesis of some of the deposits and to the types of mineral commodities that may be present. Some wholly new exploration targets within these areas are also indicated by some of the data. In addition, geochemical clues to buried mineral deposits, possibly representing continuation northward of some features of the Silver City mining district, have been observed in data from the northern, Tertiary volcanic areas. The meanings of these clues are still speculative. For this study, 917 stream-sediment and 921 stream-sediment concentrate samples were collected. The stream-sediment-concentrate samples, which consist of heavy minerals, were split into magnetic and nonmagnetic fractions, each of which was analyzed. This resulted in the analysis of 1,842 heavy-mineral and 917 sieved stream-sediment samples. Analytical results for all of the sample types are summarized statistically on table 1 and tabulated in their entirety on table 2.

New Mexico