George S. Austin¹ and James M. Barker¹

Industrial minerals support the rapidly developing population of Dona Ana County. Aggregate from 30 separate operations in the county helps in the construction ofbuildings, roads, walls, and other needs of a modem society. The Vado quarry is unique among the county’s aggregate producers in that it supplies both crushed stone aggregate and blocks ofporphritic andesite. The blocks are used in the construction of walls and walkways that are particularly common in Las Cruces and El Paso, Texas. Scoria or lava rocks is produced from five other quarries. In addition, shale for brick production, and gypsum is produced at single locations. The 29 active, 6 temporarily closed, and 2 intermittantly operated industrial mineral mines and pits add substantially to the economy. Occurrances that have either been mined or tested as sources included travertine (calcite) and perlite.

1998 New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting April 9, 1998, Macey Center Online ISSN: 2834-5800

Pages: 20