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:
Mesa Top No. 7 Mine (Moe Mine; Mesa Top No. 18 Mine; Mesa Top No. 20 Mine), Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USA

Oldest recorded age at locality: 850
Youngest recorded age at locality: 3

mindat Locality ID: 48105
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-48105.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Mesa Top No. 7 Mine (Moe Mine; Mesa Top No. 18 Mine; Mesa Top No. 20 Mine), Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USA": 0
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 0

Latitude: 35°20'25"N
Longitude: 107°49'1"W
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): 35.340277777778,-107.81694444444

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: H K Mo O S Si U 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: H K Mo O S Si U 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AmorphousFluoriteNoneZippeiteZircon

5 IMA Minerals at location:
Coffinite  (*)Ilsemannite  (*)Jordisite  (*)Uraninite  (*)Zippeite  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Coffinite  (*)ZirconU(SiO4)·nH2O26030566
Ilsemannite  (*)NoneMo3O8·nH2O (?)26030123
Jordisite  (*)AmorphousMoS226030102
Uraninite  (*)FluoriteUO22607302718
Zippeite  (*)ZippeiteK2[(UO2)4(SO4)2O2(OH)2](H2O)426030175



Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Giersdorf_00000589Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000590Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000591Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000592Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000593Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000594Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000595Urano-organic ore disseminated throughout the Morrison sandstones of Jurassic Age. Additionally, ore is found in the Todilto Limestone and Westwater Canyon Sandstone. Todilto Limestone is lacustrine in nature, suggesting a hydrothermal origin.
Giersdorf_00000701The Jackpile-Paguate mine is a uranium prospect which pulls its material from the Morrisson formation, particularly the Jackpile member of the formation from which it derives its name. The uranium resources are primarily found in lenticular pockets in the host sandstone of the Jackpile Member.
Giersdorf_00000702The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000703The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000704The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000705The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000706The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000707The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.
Giersdorf_00000708The Grants Uranium Mining District is a large area of economically attractive uranium deposits which are derived from the Morrison formation and the Todilto Limestone formation.


15 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
Giersdorf_00000701115110115-110U-Pb    Yes U33622Jackpile Mine (Jackpile-Paguate), Laguna District, Cibola Co., New Mexico, USAJackpile-Paguate MineMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of uranium mineralization in the Jackpile Member of the Morrisson Formation
Giersdorf_00000702155150155-150U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of the uranium mineralization in the Todilto limestone associated with the Morrison formation.
Giersdorf_00000703148130148-130U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of uranium mineralization in the Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrisson Formation
Giersdorf_00000704130115130-115U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Estimated age of the Uranium mineralization in the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation
Giersdorf_00000705130115130-115U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Estimated age of the Uranium mineralization in the Poison Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation
Giersdorf_0000070610680106-80U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of a redistribution event affecting the Dakota, Brushy Basin, and Westwater Canyon Members of the Morrison Formation
Giersdorf_0000070712312-3U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of a redistribution event affecting the Dakota, Brushy Basin, and Westwater Canyon Members of the Morrison Formation
Giersdorf_00000708737-3U-Pb    Yes U22034Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAGrants Uranium Mining DistrictMcLemore (2011)10.1.1.688.1172TMG48_23Age of a secondary depositional event in the Todilto Limestone
Giersdorf_00000589260250255±5238U-206U uraniniteK-179b YesUraniniteUraniniteU262609Haystack Butte (Haystack Mountain), Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for U238-Pb206 analysis
Giersdorf_00000590180170175±5235U-207Pb uraniniteK-179b YesUraniniteUraniniteU262609Haystack Butte (Haystack Mountain), Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for U235-Pb207 analysis
Giersdorf_00000591180140160±20207Pb-206PbThe Pb207-Pb206 age given for these samples is described as being highly erroneous due to the systematic sensitivity of the analytic methodslowuraniniteK-179c YesUraniniteUraniniteU262609Haystack Butte (Haystack Mountain), Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for Pb207-Pb206 analysis
Giersdorf_00000592555485520±35207Pb-206PbThe Pb207-Pb206 age given for these samples is described as being highly erroneous due to the systematic sensitivity of the analytic methodslowuraniniteK-194a YesUraniniteUraniniteU48060Section 33 Mine, Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for Pb207-Pb206 analysis
Giersdorf_00000593837378±5238U-206U uraniniteK-194b YesUraniniteUraniniteU48060Section 33 Mine, Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for U238-Pb206 analysis
Giersdorf_00000594113101107±6235U-207Pb uraniniteK-194b YesUraniniteUraniniteU48060Section 33 Mine, Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for U235-Pb207 analysis
Giersdorf_00000595850790820±30207Pb-206PbThe Pb207-Pb206 age given for these samples is described as being highly erroneous due to the systematic sensitivity of the analytic methodslowuraniniteK-194b YesUraniniteUraniniteU48060Section 33 Mine, Ambrosia Lake Sub-district, Grants District, McKinley Co., New Mexico, USAAmbrosia LakeMiller et al. (1963)10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[609:IEOTOO]2.0.CO;2GSAB74_609Age given for Pb207-Pb206 analysis


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