New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

The Dripping Gold lode claim is an example of an epithermal precious metal deposit of volcanogenic origin. It is located in T. 11S., R. 19W, sections 3 and 4, on the north well of Whitewater Creek. The deposit lies along the ring fracture zone of the Bursum Cauldron.

The claim, formerly known as the Iron Bar, has been sporadically worked for gold and silver since the early 1900's. The ore was crushed and the concentrates recovered by sluicing.

The mineralization occurs along a southern extension of the Queen vein, at the contact between the Fanny Rhyolite and Last Chance Andesite, and is further localized by junction with a prominent east-west fault. The ore occurs in hematitic gouge which encloses mineralized fragments of wall rock.

Wall rock alteration is present and shows zonation. Quartz is the primary gangue mineral and has been deposited in three stages. The second stage includes the granular type associated with gold and sulfide deposition. Secondary ore mineralization is localized but may include native silver.

Future development of the site includes detailed surface and underground mapping and delineation of possible low-grade ore reserves.