Questa Molybdenum Mine (Questa Mine; Moly Mine; R and S Mine), Questa, Taos County, New Mexico, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
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Questa Molybdenum Mine (Questa Mine; Moly Mine; R and S Mine) | Mine |
Questa | - not defined - |
Taos County | County |
New Mexico | State |
USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 42' 15'' North , 105° 30' 23'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
Questa | 1,753 (2017) | 7.9km |
Red River | 476 (2017) | 8.9km |
San Cristobal | 273 (2011) | 16.9km |
Arroyo Seco | 1,785 (2011) | 21.6km |
Arroyo Hondo | 474 (2011) | 23.7km |
Mindat Locality ID:
19266
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:19266:9
GUID (UUID V4):
12139010-c360-4b19-a9df-0c7415962d49
A molybdenum-rhenium mine owned by Molycorp, a subsidiary of Unocal Corp. Produced 4,760 tons of Mo in concentrates (1984). In 2011, the mine was declared a superfund site - on June 2, 2014 the mine was declared permanently closed.
Located nine miles from Questa, the mine opened in 1916 as the R&S Molybdenum mine. It was purchased by Molycorp Minerals in 1950 and became a subsidiary of Chevron in 2005. Formerly an open pit excavation, the Chevron Questa mine had operated as an underground mine since 1982.
Deposit: Underground mine being developed for 1983 production.mine shut in 1986.plans to reopen 2nd qtr 1989 with initial production at half-capacity, annual rate 10-12 mm lbs mo/yr.resumed operations adit reserve data As in-situ. (mo recovery is 87%) geology property reviewed by rc smith, 4-87. At this time, the mine is temporarily shutdown . Closed since feb. 1986. Q4 matrix was added for the new reserve estimate because of the complex q data from the 1979 evaluation. Molycorp expects to re-open mine by 3rd qu-96, depending on permitting progress. See ref "mi" 001-002. Molycorp began installing pumping equipment for possible reopening in july of 1996. (at 14-15 mil lb/yr moly cont.)
Geology: Lithology the ore horizon appears to be concentrated at the contact between the intrusives (consisting of monzonite, granite, rhyolite and aplite porphyries) and the underlying extrusives (consisting of tuffs, latites, breccias, rhyolites and andesites). The questa ore deposit is two segments, each segment is a part of two flat-lying , elongated and paralell mineralized zones. These zones strike N 70 deg. W and are structurally-controlled by two fault systems that form a graben-like structure (?). The N E zone is exposed in the pit and extends in a northwesterly direction for 1600 m. The portion that is ore grade (called the f-2 ore zone) is 125 m wide and 125 m thick. The s W zone lies 1800 meters southeast of NE zone. This ore deposit is approximately 1600 meters long, 180 meters wide, and 120 meters thick.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
27 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
β Alunite Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
β 'Apatite' Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
β Beryl Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
β 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 References: |
β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: |
β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
β 'Chlorite Group' |
β Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
β Ferrimolybdite Formula: Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
β Fluorite Formula: CaF2 References: |
β Galena Formula: PbS |
β Graphite Formula: C |
β Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
β HΓΌbnerite Formula: MnWO4 |
β Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
β Kaolinite Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
β 'K Feldspar' |
β 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' Formula: KAlSi3O8 |
β 'Limonite' |
β Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
β Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
β Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 References: |
β Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β Muscovite var. Illite Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
β Muscovite var. Sericite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
β Orthoclase Formula: K(AlSi3O8) References: |
β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: |
β Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: |
β Rhodochrosite Formula: MnCO3 References: |
β Rhodonite ? Formula: CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
β Rutile Formula: TiO2 |
β Scheelite Formula: Ca(WO4) |
β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
β Topaz Formula: Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
β 'Wad' |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
β | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
β | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
Group 3 - Halides | |||
β | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
β | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
β | HΓΌbnerite | 4.DB.30 | MnWO4 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
β | Rhodochrosite | 5.AB.05 | MnCO3 |
β | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
β | Alunite | 7.BC.10 | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
β | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 Β· 2H2O |
β | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
β | Ferrimolybdite | 7.GB.30 | Fe2(MoO4)3 Β· nH2O |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
β | Topaz | 9.AF.35 | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
β | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
β | Beryl | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
β | Rhodonite ? | 9.DK.05 | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
β | Muscovite var. Illite | 9.EC.15 | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
β | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
β | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β | Kaolinite | 9.ED.05 | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
β | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
Unclassified | |||
β | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
β | 'var. Adularia' | - | KAlSi3O8 |
β | 'Limonite' | - | |
β | 'Wad' | - | |
β | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
β | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
β | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
H | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
H | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
H | β Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
H | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
H | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
H | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
H | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
H | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
H | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | β Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
H | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
Be | Beryllium | |
Be | β Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
C | Carbon | |
C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
C | β Graphite | C |
C | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
C | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
O | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
O | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
O | β Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
O | β Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
O | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
O | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
O | β HΓΌbnerite | MnWO4 |
O | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
O | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
O | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
O | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
O | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
O | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
O | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
O | β Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
O | β Rutile | TiO2 |
O | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
O | β Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
O | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
F | Fluorine | |
F | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
F | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
F | β Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
F | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Al | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Al | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Al | β Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Al | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Al | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
Al | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
Al | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
Al | β Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
Al | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Si | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Si | β Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Si | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Si | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
Si | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
Si | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | β Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
Si | β Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
Si | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
P | Phosphorus | |
P | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
S | Sulfur | |
S | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
S | β Galena | PbS |
S | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
S | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
S | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
Cl | Chlorine | |
Cl | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
K | Potassium | |
K | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
K | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
K | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
K | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
K | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
K | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
K | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
K | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
Ca | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Ca | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
Ca | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Ca | β Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
Ca | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Ca | β Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Ti | β Rutile | TiO2 |
Mn | Manganese | |
Mn | β HΓΌbnerite | MnWO4 |
Mn | β Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
Mn | β Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | β Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Fe | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Fe | β Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
Fe | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
Fe | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Fe | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Cu | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Zn | Zinc | |
Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
Mo | Molybdenum | |
Mo | β Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
Mo | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
W | Tungsten | |
W | β HΓΌbnerite | MnWO4 |
W | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Pb | Lead | |
Pb | β Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
Link to USGS MRDS: | 10198817 |
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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America
- Rocky MountainsMountain Range
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Great Plains DomainDomain
USA
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