Apache Mine
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The Apache Mine is located at N 31.84483, W -108.30528 in southwestern New Mexico near to Hachita in the Apache Hills of Hidalgo County. They were named this because they were a stronghold for the Apache Indians in the 1800's. The Apache Indians were either (1) bloodthirsty savages who wanted to kill the white man or (2) reasonable native peoples who were trying to defend themselves from the invading Europeans.
Based upon the recommendation of a gentleman who works for the New Mexico Department of Mines I visited this area in search of fluorescent minerals.
It is a beautiful area with large mine tailings. I find that when the old timers performed hard rock mining they normally followed the vein of mineralization. And the waste rock from these mines often is a treasure trove for fluorescent mineral collectors. My experience has been that the tailings from placer mining are almost a waste of time.
I was expecting to find scheelite which fluoresces a bright blueish white. Instead the best find of the trip was a nice piece of calcite which fluoresces red under ultraviolet light.
Based upon the recommendation of a gentleman who works for the New Mexico Department of Mines I visited this area in search of fluorescent minerals.
It is a beautiful area with large mine tailings. I find that when the old timers performed hard rock mining they normally followed the vein of mineralization. And the waste rock from these mines often is a treasure trove for fluorescent mineral collectors. My experience has been that the tailings from placer mining are almost a waste of time.
I was expecting to find scheelite which fluoresces a bright blueish white. Instead the best find of the trip was a nice piece of calcite which fluoresces red under ultraviolet light.
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------------------------------ This is an entry in a 1920's book talking about the Apache Mine:
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