Pinos Altos

Past Producer in Grant county in New Mexico, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc
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. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10135665
MRDS ID D009781
MAS/MILS ID 0350170133
Record type Site
Current site name Pinos Altos
Alternate or previous names Pinos Altos-Exxon
Related records 10013472

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -108.24282, 32.88761 (WGS84)
Elevation 2040
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Grant(county)

New Mexico(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Twin Sisters(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Gila-Mangas(hydrologic unit)

Upper Gila(hydrologic accounting unit)

Upper Gila(hydrologic subregion)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Gila National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States New Mexico Grant

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 016 S 014 W 25 New Mexico

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Silver Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -108.24282, 32.88761

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 300M
    Length 1300M
    Width 200M
    Depth to top 100M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 IRREGULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Shape of Orebody #3 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Secondary Ore Control FAULTING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 UNKNOWN
    Date of Last Modification 851226
  • Area 72HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 72
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Stope - Room and Pillar
Year of first production 1988
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Pinos Altos District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Amax Minerals Co 9100 E Mineral Cir,Englewood, Co
    ID 2901906
    Interest 100
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1994

Comments on the ownership information

  • CYPRUS MINERALS HAS A LONG-TERM LEASE ON PROPERTY.

Production statistics

  • Year 1995
    Description Copper Concentrate 8000000 Pounds
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Tin Tin 8000000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Indicated 181000mt ore
    Demonstrated 181000mt ore
    Total resources 181000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 6.01 wt-pct Copper Major 1994

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RESERVES WERE EXHAUSATED AND MINE CLOSED IN 3RD QT 1995. DFO RECOMMENDED THAT PROPERTY NOT BE EVALUATED-MEMO 1/10/80 EVALUATION WAS DONE FOR COPPER, 1979, BUT NO DEPOSIT REPORT WAS PREPARED. DATA BASE CONTAINS COMPLETE EVALUATION DUMP AND THE VALUES WERE USED IN THE COPPER SUPPLY CURVE. THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE EVALUATED FOR ZINC. E/MJ-79/80 REPORTED ZN RESERVES-RECENT INFO SHOWS CU RECOVERED.
  • EXHAUSTED ORE RESERVES AND CLOSED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER 1995.
  • BOLIDEN REPRESENTATIVES HAVE STATED THAT THEY DO NOT EXPECT ANY ADDITIONAL RESERVES TO BE DISCOVERED WITHIN THE OUTLINED ORE ZONE.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 5000M
    Overall depth 305M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method ROOM AND PILLAR 10-34
    Swell Factor .61
    Percent Waste Rock 5
    Percent Recovery 85
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 2
    Length of Inclines (m) 2100
    Slope of Inclines 16
    Number of Inclines 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 750
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 16.25
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS CO. SEC FORM 10-K REPT. 12/31/93, P. 7.

  • Deposit

    BRIGHT, BETTY, COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS REP. WITH TEXAS-NEW

  • Deposit

    MEXICO POWER, 1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R.

  • Deposit

    DALEY (PHONE CONVERSATION 12/02/85).

  • Deposit

    CESAR, JOHN, PROJECT MANAGER WITH BOLIDEN MINERALS' PINOS

  • Deposit

    ALTOS PROJECT, 1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R.

  • Deposit

    DALEY (PROPERTY VISIT 8/27/85).

  • Deposit

    DUGAN, JOHN, OPERATIONS WITH SANTA FE RAILROAD, 1985,

  • Deposit

    PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R. DALEY (PHONE CONVERSA-

  • Deposit

    TION 9/05/85).

  • Deposit

    GARCIA, ANDREA, RANGER WITH GILA NATIONAL FOREST, 1985,

  • Deposit

    PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R. DALEY (PINOS ALTOS

  • Deposit

    PROPERTY VISIT 8/26-27/85).

  • Deposit

    LOHANSSON, KARL-AKE, MINE SUPERINTENDENT WITH BOLIDEN

  • Deposit

    MINERALS' PINOS ALTOS PROJECT, 1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICA-

  • Deposit

    TION WITH M. R. DALEY (PROPERTY VISIT 8/27/85, PHONE

  • Deposit

    CONVERSATION 12/05/85).

  • Deposit

    JOURDEN, RICHARD "CHUCK", DEPUTY FOREST SUPERVISOR WITH GILA

  • Deposit

    NATIONAL FOREST, 1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R.

  • Deposit

    DALEY (PINOS ALTOS PROPERTY VISIT 8/27-28/85).

  • Deposit

    MATHEWS, JOHN, COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS REP. WITH TEXAS-NEW

  • Deposit

    DALEY (PHONE CONVERSATION 11/25/85).

  • Deposit

    SILVER CITY - GRANT COUNTY MAGAZINE, 1985, FACTS ABOUT

  • Deposit

    SILVER CITY: PR & AD ASSOCIATES, SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO,

  • Deposit

    PG. 9.

  • Deposit

    SMITH, MARK, SALES REP. WITH LAKESHORE EQUIPMENT, DENVER, CO

  • Deposit

    1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R. DALEY (PHONE CON-

  • Deposit

    VERSATION 11/25/85).

  • Deposit

    STONE, TOM, SALES ENGINEER WITH INGERSOLL-RAND, 1985,

  • Deposit

    TION 12/03/85).

  • Deposit

    TORRES, CAROL, ASSESSOR WITH GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO TAX

  • Deposit

    ASSESSORS OFFICE, 1985, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH M. R.

  • Deposit

    WELSCH, DURL, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REP. WITH TEXAS-NEW

  • Deposit

    CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS CO. SEC FORM 10-K REPT. 12/31/95, P. 6.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 08-JAN-1997 Daley, Michael R. 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 12/08/1995
MSHA mine ID2901906
Mine name (MSHA)Cyprus Pinos Altos Corporation
Current operatorCyprus Pinos Altos Corp
Current controller (parent)Cyprus Amax Minerals Company
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