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Sierra Blanca

Prospect in Hudspeth county in Texas, United States with commodity Beryllium
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10178984
MAS/MILS ID 0482290107
Record type Site
Current site name Sierra Blanca
Alternate or previous names Cyprus Sierra Blanca, Cabot Beryllium, Cyprus Beryllium Corporation, Cyprus Sierra Blanca, Inc., Cyprus-Foote

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -105.47973, 31.28327 (WGS84)
Elevation 1463
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Hudspeth(county)

Texas(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Gunsight Hills South(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Sierra Blanca(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Van Horn(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Rio Grande-Fort Quitman(hydrologic unit)

Rio Grande-Fort Quitman(hydrologic accounting unit)

Rio Grande-Amistad(hydrologic subregion)

Rio Grande(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Texas Hudspeth

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Beryllium Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Calcite Unknown
Chrysoberyl Unknown
Cryolite Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Phenacite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -105.47973, 31.28327
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N00E
    Dip 90E
    Thickness 15M
    Length 330M
    Width 45M
    Area 150HA
    Depth to top 750M
    Field Value
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Shape of Orebody #3 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 CARBONATE SILIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 SILICIFICATION
    Strike And Dip N00E:90E
    Minimum Depth to Top 600
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 150
    Date of Last Modification 910501

Comments on the geologic information

  • MAJOR ORE MINERAL NOT IN DATABASE IS BERTRANDITE. MINOR ORE MINERAL NOT IN DATABASE IS BEHOITE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Prospect
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1968
Mining method Open Stope - Other Open Stope Methods
Milling method Leach-Solvent-Extract-Precipitation

Mining district

District name Sierra Blanca

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights State Lease
Type of mineral rights Private Lease

Land status

Ownership category Mixed

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Minerals Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office 7200 Alton Wy, Englewood, Co 80155
    Year 1989

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Indicated 11340000kg commodity
    Demonstrated 11340000kg commodity
    Total resources 11340000kg commodity
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Beryllium Be 0.72 wt-pct Beryllium Major 1988

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • R1=M1C1=M9C4, COL 4 ORE IS MORE BERTRANDITE THAN BEHOITE. GRADE LISTED IS DERIVED FROM BEO GRADE. THIS Q INFORMATION WAS GIVEN BY BRUCE WRIGHT, CYPRUS
  • ORIGINAL REFERENCE STATES "25-MILLION LB OF BERYLLIUM OXIDE ORE GRADING OVER 2% BEO."

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 3800M
    Overall depth 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OTHER FILLED STOPE METHODS
    Swell Factor .63
    Percent Waste Rock 12.8
    Percent Recovery 85
    Hardness of Rock NONCOHERENT WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics NONCOHERENT
    Rock Support Chars. UNSUPPORTING NO FLOW
    Mine Support Chars. OPEN STEEL SETS
    Length of Inclines (m) 310
    Slope of Inclines 4
    Number of Inclines 1
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 317
    Number of Adits 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 136
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 60.18
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1991

Comments on other economic factors

  • TIN WAS FOUND WITH LEAD, GOLD AND COPPER CARRYING SILVER FRO PROSPECTS ON THE WEST FLANK OF THE QUITMAN MTNS. EXACT LOC NOT KNOWN. ALSO MINERALIZED FORM OF TIN NOT KNOWN.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    RUBIN ET AL, MINERALOGY OF BERYLLIUM DEPOSITS NEAR SIERRA

  • Geology

    BLANCA, TEXAS, SEC. SYMP. PRECIOUS AND RARE METAL

  • Geology

    DEPOSITS, (IN PRINT), ELSEVIER.

  • Reserve-Resource

    METALS WEEK. CYPRUS MINERALS IS TRYING TO SPEED UP. SEC. IN

  • Reserve-Resource

    ELSEWHERE IN LIGHT METALS... SEC. IN LIGHT METALS.

  • Reserve-Resource

    V. 58, NO. 14, APR. 6, 1987, PP. 2

  • Deposit

    CROCKER, LAIRD ET AL. RECOVERY OF BERYLLIUM FROM SPOR MOUN-

  • Deposit

    TAIN, UTAH, ORE BY SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND CAUSTIC

  • Deposit

    STRIPPING. BUMINE RI 6173, 1963, 27 PP.

  • Deposit

    PRICE, J. G. BERYLLIUM RESOURCES OF TRANSPECOS TEXAS, TEXAS

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1986, 3 PP.

  • Deposit

    MCANULTY, SR., W. N. FLUOSPAR IN TEXAS, TEXAS BUREAU OF

  • Deposit

    ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, HANDBOOK 3, 1974, 31 PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS SIERRA BLANCA INC. BERYLLIUM PROJECT. 9 PP.

  • Deposit

    BEUS, A. A. BERYLLIUM. W. H. FREEMAN AND COMPANY, (ENGL.

  • Deposit

    TRANSL.), 1962, 161 PP.

  • Deposit

    SOJA, AUDREY A. AND ANDREW E. SABIN. BERYLLIUM

  • Deposit

    AVAILABILITY - MARKET ECONOMY COUNTRIES. BUMINES

  • Deposit

    IC 9100, 1986, 19 PP.

  • Deposit

    FARR, PETER BERYLLIUM SEC. IN 1988 MINING ANNUAL REVIEW,

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, JUNE 1988, P. 86-87

  • Deposit

    HYPROTHERMAL PROCESSES: EVIDENCE FROM FLUORITE DEPOSITS

  • Deposit

    TEXAS AND MEXICO, INT. ATOMIC ENEGY AGENCY, IAEA-TC-

  • Deposit

    490/34, PP. 365-377.

  • Deposit

    SHANNON, W. M., P. CO GOODELL, LITHOGEOCHEMISTRY OF ENTRUSIV

  • Deposit

    ROCKS OF THE QUITMAN-SIERRA BLANCA IGNEOUS COMPLEX,

  • Deposit

    HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS. SEC. IN IGNEOUS GEOLOGY OF

  • Deposit

    TRANS-PECOS TEXAS, GUIDEBOOK 23, TX BUR. ECON. GEOL.,

  • Deposit

    1986, PP. 225-236

  • Deposit

    MATTHEWS, W. K., III, J. A. S. ADAMS, GEOCHEMISTRY, AGE, AND

  • Deposit

    STRUCTURE OF THE SIERRA BLANCA AND FINLAY MOUNTAIN

  • Deposit

    INTRUSIONS, HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS, SEC. IN IGNEOUS

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGY OF TRANS-PECOS TEXAS, GUIDEBOOK 23, TX BUR.

  • Deposit

    ECON. GEOL., 1986, PP. 207-224.

  • Deposit

    WALENGA, K., CYPRUS PLANS TO PRODUCE 400 MILLION POUNDS OF

  • Deposit

    COPPER IN 1988, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRTS, MAY, 1988,

  • Deposit

    PP. 5B.

  • Deposit

    RUBIN, J. N., J. G. PRICE, C. D. HENRY, D. W. KOPPENAAL,

  • Deposit

    CRYOLITE-BEARING AND RARE METAL-ENRICHED RHYOLITE

  • Deposit

    SIERRA BLANCA PEAKS, HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS, AM.

  • Deposit

    MINERAL., V. 72. 1987, PP. 1122-1130.

  • Deposit

    BARKER, D. S., CENOZOIC IGNEOUS ROCKS, SIERRA BLANCA AREA,

  • Deposit

    TEXAS, NM. GEOL. SOC. GUIDEBOOK 31, TRANS-PECOS REGION,

  • Deposit

    1980, PP. 219-223.

  • Deposit

    MCANULTY, W. N., GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION OF THE SIERRA

  • Deposit

    BLANCA PEAKS, HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS, NM. GEOL. SOC.

  • Deposit

    GUIDEBOOK 31, TRANS-PECOS REGION, 1980, PP. 263-266

  • Deposit

    ZIPF, P., NEW VENTURES IN BERYLLIUM SEEN HINGING ON MART

  • Deposit

    NICHE. AM. METALS MARKET, V. 94, N. 210, OCTOBER, 28,

  • Deposit

    1986, PP. 1-8.

  • Deposit

    CABOT CORPORATION, 1986 ANNUAL REPORT, 1987, PP. 52.

  • Deposit

    CABOT CORPORATION, 1987 ANNUAL REPORT, 1988, PP. 74.

  • Deposit

    CABOT CORPORATION, 1988 ANNUAL REPORT, 1989, PP. 74.

  • Deposit

    NGK INSULATORS, LTD., ANNUAL REPORT 1988, 1988, PP. 41

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1986 ANNUAL REPORT, 1987, PP. 24.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1987 ANNUAL REPORT, 1988, PP. 29.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1988 ANNUAL REPORT, 1989, PP. 49.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1986 10-K REPORT, 1987, 16, PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1987 10-K REPORT, 1987, 16, PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, 1988 10-K REPORT, 1989, 19, PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS SIERRA BLANCA INC., BERYLLIUM PROJECT, 1988, 11 PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, FIRST QUARTER REPORT 1987, 1987,

  • Deposit

    6 PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, SECOND QUARTER REPORT 1987, 1987,

  • Deposit

    17 PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, THIRD QUARTER REPORT 1987, 1987,

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, FIRST QUARTER REPORT 1988,1988,

  • Deposit

    20 PP.

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, SECOND QUARTER REPORT 1988, 1988,

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY, THIRD QUARTER REPORT 1988, 1988,

  • Deposit

    6 PP.

  • Deposit

    HOLSER, W. T., 1959, TRANS-PECOS REGION, TEXAS AND NEW MEX-

  • Deposit

    ICO, CHAP. IN OCCURANCE OF NONPEGMATITE BERYLLIUM IN

  • Deposit

    THE UNITED STATES, US GEOL. SURV., PROF. PAPER 318,

  • Deposit

    1959, PP. 130-143.

  • Deposit

    WRIGHT, B., VICE-PRESIDENT, (CYPRUS SPECIALITY METALS).

  • Deposit

    1988, PRIVATE COMMUNICATION, 1988; AVAILABLE UPON

  • Deposit

    REQUEST FROM S. B. HOWELL, BUMINES, DENVER, CO.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-OCT-96 Hite, Alan G. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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