Mineral Evolution Database
Created and maintained by the Mineral Evolution Project in partnership with RRUFF and mindat.
Mineral locality data provided by mindat.org



The Mineral Evolution database is currently under development.

The goal of this page is to present localities at which the mineral is found, and estimates of the oldest possible geologic age of the minerals at these localities.


Locality Name:
Otero Co., New Mexico, USA

Oldest recorded age at locality: 2500
Youngest recorded age at locality: 1

mindat Locality ID: 16399
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-16399.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Otero Co., New Mexico, USA": 58
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 51

Number of Child Localities: 14
Child Localities:
Alamogordo
Cornudas Mts
Escondido Prospect (Dawley Prospect; Danley Prospect)
Guadalupe Mountains District
High Rolls District
Linette No. 2 Claim
Orogrande District
Pajarito Mountain
Sacramento District
Stinking Springs
Three Rivers District
Tularosa Basin
Tularosa District
White Sands National Monument

Latitude: 32°40'23"N
Longitude: 105°51'53"W
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): 32.673055555556,-105.86472222222
AThis mineral is Anthropogenic.
GThis mineral is directly dated.
BThis mineral is reported as having this age.
YThis mineral is using an age reported as an element mineralization period.
OThis mineral is using an age calculated from all data at the locality.
RThe age displayed for this mineral originates from a different, non-child locality.
PThe age displayed for this mineral is the range of ages for this mineral at all of this locality's children.
This mineral's age has not yet been recorded.

This Mineral list contains entries from this locality, including sub-localities. Minerals in bold are reported by mindat.org as occurring directly at this locality, and do not occur at any children (sublocalities) of this locality.

Elements at this locality, including sub-localities: Al Au B Ba Be C Ca Ce Cl Cu F Fe H K Li Mg Mn Mo Na Nb O P Pb REE S Si Sn Th Ti V W Y Zn Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: S 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AllophaneAluniteAmorphousAmphiboleAnalcimeApatiteAragoniteBaryteBlöditeCalcite
Cancrinite-sodaliteCatapleiiteChalcanthiteChalcopyriteClayClinozoisiteCopperCorundumCovelliteDescloizite
DiasporeDigeniteElpiditeEpidoteEudialyteFeldsparFluoriteGaidonnayiteGarnetGypsum
HeulanditeHexahydriteKaoliniteLemoyniteLovozeriteMalachiteMelanteriteMicaMolybdeniteMonazite
NatroliteNoneNot in a structural groupOlivinePalygorskiteParisitePyritePyroxeneQuartzRhabdophane
RocksaltRutileSapphirineScheeliteSodaliteSphaleriteSpinelSulphurThomsoniteThortveitite
TitaniteTridymiteTurquoiseWollastoniteWöhleriteZircon

114 IMA Minerals at location:
Actinolite  (*)Aegirine  (*)Aenigmatite  (*)Albite  (*)Almandine  (*)
Analcime  (*)Andradite  (*)Anhydrite  (*)Arfvedsonite  (*)Augite  (*)
Azurite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bassanite  (*)Blödite  (*)Bornite  (*)
Brockite  (*)Calcite  (*)Cassiterite  (*)Catapleiite  (*)Cerussite  (*)
Chalcanthite  (*)Chalcocite  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)Chrysocolla  (*)Clinoptilolite-Ca  (*)
Clinozoisite  (*)Copper  (*)Covellite  (*)Cuprite  (*)Digenite  (*)
Diopside  (*)Dioptase  (*)Dolomite  (*)Elpidite  (*)Epididymite  (*)
Epidote  (*)Eudialyte  (*)Fayalite  (*)Ferro-hornblende  (*)Ferro-katophorite  (*)
Ferrokentbrooksite  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Fluorite  (*)Gaidonnayite  (*)Galena  (*)
Georgechaoite  (*)Gittinsite  (*)Goethite  (*)Gold  (*)Gonnardite  (*)
Grossular  (*)Gypsum  (*)Halite  (*)Hematite  (*)Heulandite-Ca  (*)
Hexahydrite  (*)Hochelagaite  (*)Ilmenite  (*)Jarosite  (*)Kaolinite  (*)
Kentbrooksite  (*)Låvenite  (*)Lemoynite  (*)Lovozerite  (*)Magnetite  (*)
Malachite  (*)Melanterite  (*)Microcline  (*)Mirabilite  (*)Miserite  (*)
Molybdenite  (*)Monazite-(Ce)  (*)Mosandrite-(Ce)  (*)Mottramite  (*)Muscovite  (*)
Narsarsukite  (*)Natrolite  (*)Nepheline  (*)Nordstrandite  (*)Opal  (*)
Orthoclase  (*)Parakeldyshite  (*)Parisite-(Ce)  (*)Petarasite  (*)Polylithionite  (*)
Powellite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Quartz  (*)Reedmergnerite  (*)Rhodochrosite  (*)
Riebeckite  (*)Rosenbuschite  (*)Rutile  (*)Scheelite  (*)Siderite  (*)
Sodalite  (*)Sphalerite  (*)Sulphur  (*)Tenorite  (*)Thénardite  (*)
Thomsonite-Ca  (*)Thorite  (*)Titanite  (*)Tremolite  (*)Trona  (*)
Tuperssuatsiaite  (*)Turquoise  (*)Vaterite  (*)Wollastonite  (*)Wulfenite  (*)
Xenotime-(Y)  (*)Yarrowite  (*)Yofortierite  (*)Zircon  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Actinolite  (*)Amphibole   Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe2+0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)212462133419
Aegirine  (*)PyroxeneNaFe3+Si2O625005412246208,2462411022
Aenigmatite  (*)SapphirineNa4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]1246208133
Albite  (*)FeldsparNa(AlSi3O8)3246207,246208,2462138803
Almandine  (*)GarnetFe2+3Al2(SiO4)312462082353
Analcime  (*)AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6)·H2O12462081627
Andradite  (*)GarnetCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)34246208,246213,246230,2462361534
Anhydrite  (*)Not in a structural groupCa(SO4)12462561588
Arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleNaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)225005413246207,246208,246241295
Augite  (*)Pyroxene(Ca,Mg,Fe)2Si2O612462072060
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)226012246242,2462625509
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)26015246208,246242,246253,246254,24626211547
Bassanite  (*)RhabdophaneCa(SO4)·0.5H2O124625682
Blödite  (*)BlöditeNa2Mg(SO4)2·4H2O1246256130
Bornite  (*)NoneCu5FeS426012246242,2462625516
Brockite  (*)Rhabdophane(Ca,Th,Ce)(PO4)·H2O124620848
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)116246207,246208,246233,246239,246254,24625727770
Cassiterite  (*)RutileSnO212462135171
Catapleiite  (*)CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9)·2H2O1246208113
Cerussite  (*)AragonitePb(CO3)2602602246213,2462424979
Chalcanthite  (*)ChalcanthiteCu(SO4)·5H2O1246239925
Chalcocite  (*)NoneCu2S26014246213,246214,246242,2462625707
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS226017246213,246214,246220,246230,246233,246242,24626227198
Chrysocolla  (*)Allophane(Cu2-xAlx)H2-xSi2O5(OH)4·nH2O4246206,246207,246213,2462303531
Clinoptilolite-Ca  (*)HeulanditeCa3(Si30Al6)O72·20H2O124620833
Clinozoisite  (*)Clinozoisite EpidoteCa2Al3[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)12462131025
Copper  (*)CopperCu1112462573846
Covellite  (*)CovelliteCuS12462134165
Cuprite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2O1112462572970
Digenite  (*)DigeniteCu1.8S1112462571027
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O62246208,2462134135
Dioptase  (*)NoneCuSiO3·H2O1246213164
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)21112462629895
Elpidite  (*)ElpiditeNa2ZrSi6O15·3H2O25005412246208,24624150
Epididymite  (*)Not in a structural groupNa2Be2Si6O15·H2O124620870
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)3246207,246208,2462138173
Eudialyte  (*)EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)225005412246208,246241182
Fayalite  (*)OlivineFe2+2(SiO4)2246207,246208371
Ferro-hornblende  (*)Amphibole   Ca2(Fe2+4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)21246207271
Ferro-katophorite  (*)AmphiboleNa(NaCa)(Fe2+4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2124620738
Ferrokentbrooksite  (*)EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe2+3Zr3Nb(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(F,Cl)2124620815
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F12462082740
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF225005413246208,246213,2462419617
Gaidonnayite  (*)GaidonnayiteNa2ZrSi3O9·2H2O124620821
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS2602603246213,246233,24624224243
Georgechaoite  (*)GaidonnayiteKNaZrSi3O9·2H2O12462087
Gittinsite  (*)ThortveititeCaZrSi2O72500541124624111
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)12462307437
Gold  (*)CopperAu114246213,246229,246233,24625730554
Gonnardite  (*)Natrolite(Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)5O10·3H2O1246208167
Grossular  (*)GarnetCa3Al2(SiO4)312462131544
Gypsum  (*)GypsumCa(SO4)·2H2O115246213,246256,246257,246258,2462636890
Halite  (*)RocksaltNaCl12462561398
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O37246208,246220,246230,246233,246236,246239,24624714640
Heulandite-Ca  (*)Heulandite(Ca,Na,K)5(Si27Al9)O72·26H2O1246208246
Hexahydrite  (*)HexahydriteMg(SO4)·6H2O1246256251
Hochelagaite  (*)NoneCaNb4O11·8H2O12462089
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O3112246213,2462575433
Jarosite  (*)AluniteKFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)612462132228
Kaolinite  (*)Clay KaoliniteAl2Si2O5(OH)412462135591
Kentbrooksite  (*)Eudialyte(Na,REE)15(Ca,REE)6Mn3Zr3Nb(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(F,Cl)2124620819
Låvenite  (*)Wöhlerite(Na,Ca)4(Mn2+,Fe2+)2(Zr,Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2(O,F)4124620858
Lemoynite  (*)LemoyniteNa2CaZr2Si10O26·5-6H2O12462083
Lovozerite  (*)LovozeriteNa3CaZrSi6O15(OH)3124620819
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O47246207,246208,246209,246213,246230,246247,24625414899
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)226015246213,246233,246236,246242,24626212537
Melanterite  (*)MelanteriteFe(SO4)·7H2O1246213915
Microcline  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)12462084924
Mirabilite  (*)NoneNa2(SO4)·10H2O112246256,246261223
Miserite  (*)NoneK1.5-x(Ca,Y,REE)5[Si6O15][Si2O7](OH,F)2·yH2O124620814
Molybdenite  (*)MolybdeniteMoS2112246208,2462575800
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)MonaziteCe(PO4)1246208945
Mosandrite-(Ce)  (*)None(Ca3REE)[(H2O)2Ca0.5   0.5]Ti(Si2O7)2(OH)2(H2O)2124620845
Mottramite  (*)DescloizitePbCu(VO4)(OH)2602601246242362
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)22246208,24621317380
Narsarsukite  (*)NoneNa2(Ti,Fe3+)Si4(O,F)11124620834
Natrolite  (*)NatroliteNa2(Si3Al2)O10·2H2O12462081236
Nepheline  (*)TridymiteNa3K(Al4Si4O16)1246208884
Nordstrandite  (*)NoneAl(OH)3124620864
Opal  (*)AmorphousSiO2·nH2O12462082994
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)3246207,246208,2462362349
Parakeldyshite  (*)NoneNa2ZrSi2O7124620812
Parisite-(Ce)  (*)ParisiteCaCe2(CO3)3F21246208112
Petarasite  (*)NoneNa5Zr2Si6O18(Cl,OH)·2H2O12462086
Polylithionite  (*)MicaKLi2AlSi4O10F2124620889
Powellite  (*)ScheeliteCa(MoO4)1246208494
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS226018246208,246214,246220,246230,246233,246239,246242,24626239462
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO2117246206,246207,246208,246213,246233,246239,24625761156
Reedmergnerite  (*)FeldsparNaBSi3O812462089
Rhodochrosite  (*)CalciteMn(CO3)12462081711
Riebeckite  (*)Amphibole   Na2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)Si8O22(OH)225005413246207,246208,246241375
Rosenbuschite  (*)NoneCa6Zr2Na6ZrTi(Si2O7)4(OF)2F42246207,24620842
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO2250054112462415614
Scheelite  (*)ScheeliteCa(WO4)12462134894
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)112246208,2462576417
Sodalite  (*)Cancrinite-sodalite SodaliteNa4(Si3Al3)O12Cl2246207,246208444
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS26014246208,246213,246242,24625721482
Sulphur  (*)SulphurS2500102045
Tenorite  (*)NoneCuO3246206,246213,2462301101
Thénardite  (*)NoneNa2(SO4)1246256299
Thomsonite-Ca  (*)ThomsoniteNaCa2(Al5Si5)O20·6H2O1246208452
Thorite  (*)ZirconTh(SiO4)250054112462411006
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O25005414246207,246208,246213,2462414899
Tremolite  (*)Amphibole   Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)212462132562
Trona  (*)NoneNa3(HCO3)(CO3)·2H2O1246256129
Tuperssuatsiaite  (*)PalygorskiteNa2(Fe3+,Mn2+)3Si8O20(OH)2·4H2O124620810
Turquoise  (*)TurquoiseCuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O1246213484
Vaterite  (*)NoneCa(CO3)124620837
Wollastonite  (*)WollastoniteCaSiO312462131247
Wulfenite  (*)ScheelitePbMoO412462131655
Xenotime-(Y)  (*)ZirconY(PO4)1246208939
Yarrowite  (*)NoneCu9S8124621170
Yofortierite  (*)Palygorskite ClayMn2+5Si8O20(OH)2·7H2O12462088
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)25005413246208,246213,2462415251


4 Ages assigned to this locality:

Excel IDMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)Age as listed in referenceDating MethodAge InterpretPrioritized?Sample SourceSample NumRun NumAge from other LocalityDated MineralMinerals explicitely stated as having this ageAge applies to these ElementsMinDat Locality IDDated Locality (Max Age)Location as listed in referenceReferenceReference DOIReference IDAge Notes
ree-006732500541Proterozoic        49331Pajarito Mountain, Otero Co., New Mexico, USAPajarito MountainOrris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 
sedcu-00741260260Permian       Cu51470Courtney Mine, Sacramento District, Otero Co., New Mexico, USACourtneyCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
sedcu-00742260260Permian       Cu51476Warnock Mine, Sacramento District, Otero Co., New Mexico, USAWarnockCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 
sedcu-0073711Quaternary       Cu33127Tularosa District, Otero Co., New Mexico, USATularosaCox et al. (2003) USGSOFR03_107 

SampleSource LocalityReference URL

All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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