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Continental Underground

Producer in Grant county in New Mexico, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Iron, Silver, Zinc
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10126462
MRDS ID TC39333
MAS/MILS ID 0350170017
Record type Site
Current site name Continental Underground
Related records 10064808, 10199260

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -108.08531, 32.85431 (WGS84)
Elevation 2100
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Grant(county)

New Mexico(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Santa Rita Mine(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Mimbres(hydrologic unit)

Mimbres(hydrologic accounting unit)

Rio Grande-Mimbres(hydrologic subregion)

Rio Grande(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States New Mexico Grant

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 017 S 012 W 04 SESE New Mexico

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Iron Tertiary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Gold Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Silver Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -108.08531, 32.85431
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N70W
    Dip 20W
    Thickness 200M
    Length 610M
    Width 300M
    Depth to top 300M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #3 SHEAR ZONE
    Primary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 CARBONATE SILIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Strike And Dip N70W:20W
    Minimum Depth to Top 200
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Date of Last Modification 810304
  • Area 150HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 150
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1909
Mining method Combined Methods - Shrinkage W/Cut and Fill
Year of first production 1965
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Central City District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cobre Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office New Mexico
    Year 1996
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Mueller Ind. Inc, 555 N Woodlawn, Wichita Ks 67202
    ID 2900233
    Interest 100
    Home office Kansas
    Year 1992

Comments on the ownership information

  • COBRE MINING (SUB. OF METALLIC VENTURES, INC, HANOVER, NM)

Comments on the production information

  • MAGNETITE FE IS RECOVERED AND STOCKPILED WHILE A SUITABLE MARKET IS BEING SOUGHT.
  • PRODUCT GOLD AND SILVER RECOVERED FROM CONCENTRATE AT THE ASARCO SMELTER IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THE CONCENTRATE IS SMELTED ON A TOLL BASIS. CU CONCENTRATE AVERAGES 26 TO 27 PERCENT CU, 10-15 PERCENT ZN. THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT ZN IN THE NEWER OPEN PIT AND ITS RESPECTIVE CONCENTRATE FLOAT. CONCENTRATE FLOAT.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 3100000mt ore
    Demonstrated 3100000mt ore
    Total resources 3100000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.44 wt-pct Copper Major 1993

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • UNDERGROUND RESERVES BASED ON 1977 ANNUAL REPORT AND A CO. GEOLOGIST. JANUARY 1, 1978, 18,800,000ST, 2.06% CU.
  • IS RECOVERABLE ORE. DOES NOT CONSIDER DILUTION. IS TOTAL ORE RESERVE PLUS 15% BARREN ROCK DILUTION. AN 87% RECOVERY IS CONSIDERED IN THE MINING SECTION, WHICH WILL REDUCE RESERVES AND MINE LIFE BY 13%. UNDERGROUND RESERVES ASSUMED AS MEASURED FROM 1976 ANNUAL REPORT. P25 = P50 X 1.10 P10 = P25 X 1.10, R2 = M2C3.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 1050M
    Overall depth 390M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method SHRINKAGE W/CUT AND FILL
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 5
    Percent Recovery 87
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics NO PLANES OF WEAKNESS
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. TIMBER
    Number of Shafts 3
    Length of Inclines (m) 0
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 2722
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 9.95
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1978

Comments on other economic factors

  • DEVELOPMENT THE UNDERGROUND MINE REQUIRED 4 YEARS OF PREPRODUCTION. THIS INCLUDED THE SINKING OF THE NO.2 REC TANGULAR SHAFT AND THE NO.4 CIRCULAR SHAFT. DEVELOPMENT WORK WAS DONE IN A PRE-EXISTING MINE BELIEVED TO BE EITHER THE OLD CONTINENTAL"A"OR HANOVER MINE. ORE IS TRAMMED 3500 FT ON THE 1300 LEVEL FROM THE NO.2 MINE TO THE NO.3 MINE SHAFT FOR HOISTING.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    FORRESTER, J.D., SKARN FORMATION AND SULFIDE MINERALIZATION

  • Geology

    AT THE CONTINENTAL MINE, FIERRO, NEW MEXICO. PH.D. DIS.

  • Geology

    CORNELL UNIVERSITY, 1972.(ONLY AVAILABLE THRU UNIVER-

  • Geology

    SITY MICROFILMS,ANN ARBOR,MI., SEE ABSTRACT IN FILE)

  • Geology

    JONES, W.R. ET.AL. 1973. ORE DEPOSITS AND ROCK ALTERATION OF

  • Geology

    THE SANTA RITA QUADRANGLE, GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO.

  • Geology

    DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE,

  • Geology

    U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE.

  • Geology

    KELLY, V.C., 1976, TECTONICS AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH-

  • Geology

    WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY,

  • Geology

    SPECIAL PUB. NO. 6.

  • Geology

    KNIFFIN, L.M.,1930, MINING AND ENGINEERING METHODS AND COSTS

  • Geology

    OF THE HANOVER BESSEMER IRON AND COPPER CO.,FIERRO, NEW

  • Geology

    MEXICO. U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, IC 6361.

  • Geology

    RHODES VOLUME, 1976, CENOZOIC VOLCANISM IN SOUTHWESTERN NEW

  • Geology

    MEXICO. NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, SPECIAL PUB.NO.5

  • Geology

    SUPPLEMENT TO SPECIAL PUB. NO.5, POCKET OF MAPS.

  • Geology

    UNITED STATES SMELTING REFINING AND MINING CO.PROSPECTUS1968

  • Geology

    UNITED STATES SMELTING REFINING AND MINING CO.PROSPECTUS1972

  • Reserve-Resource

    US BUMINES, MINERAL INDUSTRY SURVEY CANVAS REPORTS, 1968-

  • Reserve-Resource

    1976 USSRM AND UV INDUSTRIES.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PAYDIRT MAGAZINE (SOUTHWESTERN EDITION), JAN 1993, P. 10A.

  • Workings

    BRUCE, W.E. ET.AL. 1976, VENTILATION SURVEY, MINE NO.2 AND

  • Workings

    MINE NO.3, UV INDUSTRIES INC., FIERRO, GRANT COUNTY,NEW

  • Workings

    MEXICO. U.S.DEPT. OF INTERIOR, MINING ENFORCEMENT AND

  • Workings

    SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

  • Workings

    E/MJ, CONTINENTAL MINE TO START UP IN 1967, JUNE,1967,P.138.

  • Workings

    E/MJ, U.S. SMELTINGS CONTINENTAL COPPER MINE MOVES INTO PRO-

  • Workings

    DUCTION, DEC., 1967, P. 94.

  • Workings

    LEWIS, J.D.AND SMITH, R.C.,OCT.,1977, UV INDUSTRIES-CONTIN-

  • Workings

    ENTAL OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND MINES, HANOVER, NEW MEX-

  • Workings

    ICO, A FILE REPORT. (33 PAGES INCL. MILL FLOW SHEETS.)

  • Workings

    US BUMINES CEP 16-U.S. SMELTING REFINING AND MINING CO.

  • Workings

    CONTINENTAL MINE, GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO. CEP=COPPER

  • Workings

    EXPANSION PROJECT FILE 1966.

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS 1953-1971, UNITED STATES SMELTERS REFINING

  • Deposit

    AND MINING COMPANY.

  • Deposit

    REF 2 USSRM PERSPECTUS, 1968

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS 1972-1977, UV INDUSTRIES,INC.

  • Deposit

    REF 4 GENERAL GEOLOGY, SANTA RITA QUADRANGLE, GRANT CO.,NEW

  • Deposit

    BENNET,H.J. ET.AL. 1973.AN ECONOMIC APPRAISAL OF THE STUDY

  • Deposit

    OF COPPER FROM PRIMARY DOMESTIC SOURCES. IC 8598 U.S.

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF MINES.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MILS: OPEN PIT MINE & ASSOC. MILL EVALUATED BY R.C.SMITH UNDERGROUND MINE & ASSOC. MILL EVALUATED J.D.LEWIS SEE OPEN PIT ENTRY FOR CURRENT LEASE. MINE BEGAN PRODUCING ORE IN JUNE 1993. REF PROPERTY VISITED BY LEWIS & SMITH DURING OCT.,1977 FILE UPDATED & REVISED JUNE, 1978. COMMODITY GEOLOGIST BILL WORTHINGTON TOLD US THAT GOLD VALUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BE WORTH $1MILLION IN SMELTER CREDITS PER YEAR. PROSPECTUS,REF.3. ASSAY-NO CURRENT ASSAYS FOR AU AND AG WERE AVAILABLE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 22-JAN-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 01/09/2001
MSHA mine ID2900233
Mine name (MSHA)CONTINENTAL U/G COMPLEX
Current operatorCobre Mining Company
Current controller (parent)Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine typeUnderground (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

External references

Maps centered on this site