1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Continental Surface

Producer in Grant county in New Mexico, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Iron, Silver
Map
XML
JSON
KML
B
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 10199260
MRDS ID TC39333
MAS/MILS ID 0350170131
Record type Site
Current site name Continental Surface
Alternate or previous names Continental Mine
Related records 10064808, 10126462

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -108.08391, 32.85011 (WGS84)
Elevation 2073
Location accuracy 500(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 09 NE New Mexico

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Tertiary
Iron Tertiary
Silver Primary

Materials information

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

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -108.08391, 32.85011
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N70W
    Dip 20W
    Thickness 150M
    Length 915M
    Width 600M
    Depth to top 35M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #3 SHEAR ZONE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    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 20
    Date of Last Modification 831024
  • Strike N70W
    Dip 20W
    Thickness 200M
    Length 610M
    Width 300M
    Depth to top 300M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #3 SHEAR ZONE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    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 831024

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1968
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Central 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.
    ID 2900725
    Interest 100
    Home office New Mexico
    Year 1993

Comments on the production information

  • MINE PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 1968 WITH SMALL QUANTITIES OF ORE BEING SENT TO THE "CONT.UG" #1 MILL. THE "CONT. SURFACE" #2 MILL BEGAN PRODUCTION IN 1973.
  • SILVER VALUES WERE "BACKED IN" SO MILL RECOVERY IS 100%.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 9430000mt ore
    Demonstrated 9430000mt ore
    Total resources 9430000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.92 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1982
    Indicated 9300000mt ore
    Demonstrated 9300000mt ore
    Total resources 9300000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.9799 wt-pct Copper Major 1982

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • OPEN PIT MINE AND MILL EVALUATED BY RC SMITH UNDERGROUND MINE AND MILL EVALUATED BY JD LEWIS SILVER ASSAYS DETERMINED BY JD LEWIS PROPERTY VISITED BY LEWIS & SMITH DURING OCT. 1977 INITIAL PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 1968 MAGNETITE IS BEING SEPARATED BUT NOT PROCESSED FOR SALE ONGOING CONTRACT STRIPPING WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 250000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR LIFE OF THE PROPERTY. OWNER: COBRE MINING CO. (SUBSIDIARY OF METALLIC VENTURES, INC. 303 FIERRO ROAD, HANOVER, NEW MEXICO 88041)
  • RESERVES FROM ARTICLE IN PAYDIRT MAG. (SOUTHWESTERN EDITION), JAN 1993, P. 8A - 12A.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 130HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 75
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 21
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Secondary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 4536
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 4571
    Unit Production Cost 2.06
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 338
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1978
  • 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 ROOM AND PILLAR 10-34
    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
    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

  • MAGNETITE IS BEING RECOVERED IN THE BENEFICIATION SECTION BUT IS NOT BEING MARKETED BY THE COMPANY. IT IS BEING STORED FOR FUTURE MARKETING.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    PAYDIRT MAG. (SOUTHWESTERN EDITION), JAN 1993, PP. 8A-12A.

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS 1953-1971, UNITED STATES SMELTING REFINING

  • Deposit

    AND MINING COMPANY.

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS 1972-1977, UV INDUSTRIES,INC.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    STUDY OF COPPER FROM PRIMARY DOMESTIC SOURCES. IC 8598

  • Deposit

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, CONTINENTAL MINE TO START UP IN 1967, JUNE 1967, P 133

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    PRODUCTION, DEC., 1967, P. 94.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    CORNELL UNIVERSITY, 1972.(ONLY AVAILABLE THRU UNIVER-

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    THE SANTA RITA QUADRANGLE, GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO.

  • Deposit

    DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE,

  • Deposit

    U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. NEW MEXICO FEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

  • Deposit

    SPECIAL PUB. NO. 6.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    ICO, A FILE REPORT. (32 PAGES INCL. MILL FLOW SHEETS.)

  • Deposit

    RHODES VOLUME, 1976, CENOZOIC VOLCANISM IN SOUTHWESTERN NEW

  • Deposit

    MEXICO. NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, SPECIAL PUB NO 5

  • Deposit

    SUPPLEMENT TO SPECIAL PUB NO 5, POCKET OF MAPS.

  • Deposit

    UNITED STATES SMELTING REFINING AND MINING CO.PROSPECTUS1968

  • Deposit

    UNITED STATES SMELTING REFINING AND MINING CO.PROSPECTUS1972

  • Deposit

    PAYDIRT MAG. "COMMUNITY OFFERS SUPPORT TO COBRE'S PLANNED

  • Deposit

    EXPANSION". AUGUST, 1996. PP.12-14.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit OPEN PIT MINE AND MILL EVALUATED BY RC SMITH UNDERGROUND MINE AND MILL EVALUATED BY JD LEWIS SILVER ASSAYS DETERMINED BY JD LEWIS PROPERTY VISITED BY LEWIS & SMITH DURING OCT. 1977 INITIAL PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 1968 MAGNETITE IS BEING SEPARATED BUT NOT PROCESSED FOR SALE ONGOING CONTRACT STRIPPING WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 250000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR LIFE OF THE PROPERTY

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 22-JAN-97 Rs/Jl/Md/O 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 02/01/2018
MSHA mine ID2900725
Mine name (MSHA)Open Pit & Continental Surf Comp
Current operatorFreeport-McMoRan Cobre Mining Company
Current controller (parent)Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine typeSurface (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.

Maps centered on this site