Nonfuel mineral resources in the United States-Mexico border region: A progress report on information available from the Center for Inter-American Mineral Resource Investigations (CIMRI)

Abstract

The exploitation of minerals has played a significant role in population growth and development of the U.S.-Mexico border region. Recent proposed changes in regulations related to mining in the United States and changes in mining and investment regulations in Mexico have led to increased mineral exploration and development in Mexico, especially in the border region. As a preliminary step in the study of the mineral industry of this area, the Center for Inter-American Mineral Resource Investigations (CIMRI) of the U.S. Geological Survey has compiled mine and occurrence data for nonfuel minerals in the border region. Analysis of this information indicates that a wide variety of metallic and industrial mineral commodities are present which can be used in agriculture, infrastructure, environmental improvement, and other industries. Therefore, mining will continue to play a significant role in the economy of this region.

Jurassic to Holocene tectonics, magmatism, and metallogeny of northwestern Mexico

“…Of the Ͼ800 middle Tertiary volcanicrock-hosted epithermal precious-metal occurrences known in northwestern Mexico ( Fig. 9C; Leonard, 1989;Orris et al, 1993;Staude, 1993b), the majority are quartz Ϯ calcite veins with chlorite ϩ adularia ϩ sericite alteration halos. These deposits, such as at Ocampo (Knowling, 1977) and Maguarichic (Staude, 1995), are Ag dominated with spotty Au and base-metal pockets.…”