 Random image |
|
MVBR 2006-064
Comments: 0
strap_hanger
|
|
|
|
|
| Tonuco (Beal) Mine |
 |
In the Tonuco Mountain District lies San Diego Peak at 32.6027°N Lat. 106.9875°W Long. Also known as Tonuco Mountain, it is home to many fluorite and barite Mines such as the Albatross, Tonuco (Beal) and Beulah May Group. It is also very close in proximity to the El Camino Real, the main road from Mexico City to Santa Fe when New Mexico was a Spanish Colony...This area is also popular with ATV enthusiasts and hikers alike due to the sandy arroyos and numerous trails.
Seeing the Albatross (Tonuco Mine Hot Tunnel) and Tonuco (Beal) mines along with the remains of the Heathdon Mill (ore processing station) constructed by the Ore Production Company in 1918 brings back the mining history of New Mexico and the harsh conditions in which the miners worked.
The Beal Vein of the Tonuco mine was mined in the 1910s and 1920s and total production was estimated at about 5500 tons of fluorspar ore with minor amounts of barite with quartz. The Beal vein of the Tonuco mine, along with the Albatross (Tonuco Hot Tunnel) are now included as part of the Beulah May Group No. 1 and No. 2 mines.
The mineral barite, or barium sulfate (BaSO4) is the ore of Barium. Barium is used in paint, X-ray diagnostic work, glassmaking and as a weighting agent in oil well drilling fluids. Barite is one of the most common minerals mined in this district along with calcite, quartz and fluorite.
Barite is a common mineral to New Mexico and one can find very attractive specimens. Barite is so common, it can be confused for other minerals such as celestite (SrSO4). Celestite, the ore of strontium, has the same structure as barite and forms similar crystals. The two are indistinguishable by ordinary methods, but a flame test can distinguish the two. By scraping the dust of the crystals into a gas flame the color of the flame will confirm the identity of the crystal. The flame will turn pale green if the mineral is barite, but if the flame turns red it is celestite. (Hits: 1615)
Found: 24 image(s) on 2 page(s). Displayed: image 1 to 15.
1 2 » Last page »
|
|
