New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

Pumice is a volcanic rock, commonly rhyolitic, used as a building material since the Roman Empire because of its light color, light weight, and cellular structure. It also has been used extensively as an abrasive. In 1992, 439,000 metric tons (mt) of pumice and pumicite (very finely divided pumice fragments) valued at $11.2 million were produced in the United States by 12 producers, three of them in New Mexico. California was the largest domestic producer of pumice and pumicite, followed in descending order by New Mexico, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Kansas. New Mexico's active pumice mines are in the southern and eastern flanks of the Jemez Mountains where the Guaje Pumice Bed of the Bandelier Tuff and the El Cajete Member of the Valles Rhyolite are mined. An area of past mining for pumice is on East Grants Ridge north of Grants. Other pumice areas include a water-laid lump pumice and pumicite near San Antonio, and in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field of southwestern New Mexico.

Much of New Mexico's pumice and active pumice mining is on federal land in the Jemez Mountains, principally land administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The USFS requires a number of steps to be taken before a permit is issued, including the submission of an operating plan. The plan outlines all activities at the proposed mine from preliminary work through actual mining to completion of reclamation. As mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an environmental study must be completed to analyze the potential effects of mining on loeal environments. Professional surveys must be completed to determine the presence or absence of prehistoric and historic artifacts or features and endangered species of plants or animals. The information in these surveys can delay or in some cases prevent mining. More often, however, the operating plan is modified to incorporate any additional protective measures that were identified in the environmental analysis as required due to the presence of sensitive resources. Public involvement is sought in determining whether a plan will be approved. This is done through USFS contact with groups or individuals who have expressed interest in the past, through the publication of notices, and at public meetings. The USFS is required to monitor the mining operation once a plan is approved. A reclamation bond is collected, and of the mining concern from its obligations outlined in the operation plan by the USFS, is released only after all required reclamation has been completed.

A balanced approach in which the need for minerals is considered along with the need for proper reclamation of mining sites can ensure that mining in the Jemez Mountains is permitted. Controls properly appHed can maintain a productive industry as well as a beautiful area of New Mexico.