may have limited the circulationof meteoric
water during the skarn-destructivestage.
paper is deACKNOWLEDGMENTS-This
rived from a doctoral thesis in preparation
at the University of Colorado (Boulder). Financial support for field work and analysis
was generouslyprovided by the New Mexico
Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources.
Funding to cover the cost of thin section
manufactureand accessto the SanPedromine
property was kindly given by the Goldfield
Corporation.This paper has benefited from
critical reviews by |. Renault,J. Grambling,
and J. L. Mufioz. Specialthanks go to Linda
A. Kroff for her continuoussupport throughout this project. We thank the Cooperative
Institute for Researchin EnvironmentalSciencesfor the use of its word-processingservlces.
References
Atkinson, W W, lr , 7976, Zoning and paragenesisof
ores in the San Pedro Mountains; in Woodward, L. A ,
and Northrop, S A. (eds.),Tectonicsand mineral resourcesof southwestern North America: New Mexico
GeologicalSociety,SpecialPublication 5, pp 787-191.
Bames,H. L., 1979,Solubilities of ore minerals; in Barnes,
H. L. (ed ), Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits: John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 401-450
Colby, J. W., 1958, Quantitative microprobe analysis of
thin insulating films; ln Advances in x-ray analysis:
Plenum Press,New York, v 71, pp 287-305
Einaudi,M T, Meinert, L D , and Newberry,R J., 1981,
Skarn deposits: Economic Geology, 75th Anniversary
Volume, pp 377-391
Hanis, N B, and Einaudi, M T ,7982, Skarn deposits
in the Yeringtondistrict, Nevada-metasomaticlkarn
evolution near Ludwig: Economic Geology, v 77, pp
8L7-899
Kautz, P. F,lngersoll, R V, Baldridge,W. S, Damon,
P E, and Shafiqullah,M , 1981,Geologyof the EspinasoFormation, Oligocene,north-central New Mexico:
GeologicalSocietyofAmerica, Bulletin, v 92, pp 23782400.
Moore, W. J., and Nash, l. T , 1.974,
Alteration and fluid
inclusion studies of the porphyry copper ore body at
Bingham, Utah: Economic Geology, v 69, pp 531,-&5.
Rose,A. W., and Burt, D M.,7979, Hydrothermalalteration; in Barnes, H. L (ed ), Geochernistry of hydrothermal ore deposits: fohn Wiley & Sons, New York,
2nd edition, pp 773-235.
Starkins, R. D., 1983, Fluid inclusion study of the Can
Fork skam deposit, Bingham mining district, Utah: UnpyblishedM.S. thesis,Universityof Colorado,Boulder,
Colorado, 134 pp.
Sweeney,M J , 1980,Geochemistry of garnets from the
North Ore shoot, Bingham district, Utah: Unpublished
M.S thesis, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah,
1s4pp.
Trary, R. J, 1982,Compositionalzoning and inclusions
in metamorphic minerals: Mineralogical Society of
America Review, v. 10, pp 355-394
fauna
0nthevertebrate
report
Preliminary
of U-BarGave,
NewMexico
HidalgoGounty,
(ElPaso),
ElPaso,
TX79968
ol Texas
University
Paleobiology,
Curator
ot Vertebrate
buArthurH. Harris,
Introduction
Current excavationsin southwesternNew
Mexico are producing a major late Pleistocene vertebrate assemblagethat is adding
greatly to our knowledge of the biota and
past ecology of the state. Since December
1983, evidence of more than 90 vertebrate
taxa has been produced in U-Bar Cave. The
complexity and extent of the cave deposits
and faunas will require an extensiveperiod
of study; however, the importance of the early
findings to understandingthe Pleistocenebiology of New Mexico is such that thesepreliminary data should be made availablenow.
U-Bar Cave (site LA 5689)is in the U-Bar
Limestone(Cretaceous)about 6 mi from the
Mexicanborder in the "boot heel" of southwestern New Mexico. The altitude is about
5150ft. The cave is surrounded by Chihuahuan desertscrubmixed with Upper Sonoran woodland elements.The main chamber
of the cave (Fig. 1) is about 315 ft long and
averagesabout 50 ft wide.
The cavehas produced archaeologicalmaterial sinceabout 1935(Lambertand Ambler,
196I), and it was the site of formal excavations by Lambert and Ambler in 1960.They
consideredthe archaeologicalmaterialas most
probably assignableto the Animas Phaseof
the CasasGrandesculture, with a likelv date
g te.st
(^,
prt
M i n e r ' sp i t
! oilet
O5lOm
t#
15 30fi
o
E n fr o n c e
B
Pincushion
cactus
74
November 1985 NewMexicoGeology
C
DE
FG
H
IJ
K
L
M
NO
PO
RS
T
FIGUREl-sketch map of U-Bar Cave showing grid system, features,and regions
referred to in the text.
of A.D. 1350or 1400.The single exception
was a "small polishedrodentbone associated
with extinct Pleistocenehorse bones" (Lambert and Ambler, I96L, p. 86).
Lambert and Ambler sent a selectionof the
recoveredbone materialto the U.S. National
Museum, where Johnson(1961)identified 15
taxa, including ground sloth, horse, extinct
pronghorn/ and "muskox." The published
recordof theseextinctPleistocenemammals,
appearingin an archaeologicalsource,went
virtually unnoticed by paleontologists.
In 1983,representativesof New Mexico state
agenciesbecame aware that approval had
been issued earlierfor mining of guano at a
site that was reported to containarchaeological and paleontologicalmaterial. With this
realization, a series of meetings was held
between archaeologists,paleontologists,and
representativesof mine operators and several government agencies. Paleontologists
from the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources(NMBMMR) and the University of Texas(El Paso;UTEP) visited the
site in December 1983. A small sample of
faunal remains, which was recoveredfrom
mining spoil, quickly made apparentthe paleontologicalimportance of the site.
Subsequentmeetings between concerned
parties resulted in a decision to allow continued mining activity,but only under stringent conditions necessaryto prevent loss of
valuable archaeologicaland paleontological
data. In March 1984the New Mexico State
Land Office issued an excavationpermit to
Donald Wolberg (NMBMMR) as principal investigator and to myself as field director.
Findings from the recent activitieshave not
been published, except Harris (1985)published a very short faunal list as an addendum to his book.
B.P. on charcoal from the 90-100-cmlevel
(AA-678), and21,,720+ 750 (^4-4011)from
the 150-cmlevel (depth measurementsfrom
surfaceof decomposedguano). Reexamination of samples from the three levels indicatesa strong likelihood of contaminationof
the two guano samplesby more recent matter.
Wherever sufficient original structure is
presentto allow recognition, natural disturbanceof the cavesedimentsis frequent.NuResults
merous krotovinas (filled voids) were
Findings at this point are tentative. Ac- observedin such deposits, often associated
quisition of more dates and studv of deoo- with fresh-appearingplant fragments.Such
sitionalrelationshipsare requiredto claiify fragments have not been observedin defidepositionalhistory; taxonomic studies are nitely undisturbed sediments.Although some
filled (and open) burrows were about the size
at an early stage.
The cave deposits consist of both unde- of woodrat burrows, others were as large as
composedandhighly altered animal guano, a porcupine-sizedanimal. Some areas displant debris, rock from cave walls and ceil- played extensive (>3 ft) lateral churning,
ings, and sedimentswashed into the cave particularly under gravel layers and rocks.
from elsewhere.As much as 13 ft of fill has Faunal identifications are given in Table 1,
been removed by mining in some sections of and representativeelements of several exthe cave. Little original surfaceremains in tinct taxa are shown in Fig. 2.
the front 80Voof the site, and most of the
Discussion
upper parts of the remaining fill in this area
have been churned and contaminated.LoThe cave obviously has a long, complex
cally, small pockets of undisturbed fill re- depositional history. At least three, and
main in protectedareas(Fig. 1.,A, C, and F), probably four, entranceshave provided acand a small, virtuallv complete section of cessto animals and permitted intrusion of
consolidateddepositsifig. t,'S) remainsnear sediments.The chronologicalrelationships
the entrance.
between these openingSare unknown curA radiocarbon date of >31,150 B.P. (A- rently, although some speculationis possi4128)is availableon guanofrom undisturbed ble.
depositsin grid D-245 (Fig.1). (Radiocarbon
Distribution of archaeologicalmaterialimdateswere determinedby the Laboratory of plies that the historic entrance(now greatly
IsotopeGeochemistry,University of Arizona enlargedbecauseof mining activities) was
(A). The lab code is followed by that labo- open during a period of time between about
ratory's sample number.) The sample was A.D. 1000and A.D. 1450,and the entrance
obtained from the immediate vicinity of an also has been open during much of the 20th
undescribed,extinctgenusof rabbit.
century. The occurrence of the archaeologiTopographichighs C and F (Fig. 1) appear cal material, essentially on top of PleistoMaterials and methods
to be guano-veneeredrockfall from the walls cene-agedeposits,suggeststhat no entrance
Severalhundred thousandbiologicalspec- and ceilings,but debris pile E has a core of was open betlveenlate Wisconsinanand late
imens have been recoveredfrom mining spoil material that entered through a now-closed Holocenetime. Likewise,the relativelvshala n d f r o m a v a r i e t y o f c a v e d e p o s i t s b y entrance.Other cloggedentrancesappearto low post-aboriginalaccumulationsof guano
screeningand hand picking. Useful mate- have been sourcesof sedimentary material may imply closure during much of the time
rials are being cataloguedwith Museum of in the rear section of the chambei.
sincethen, or alternatively, large bat colonies
New Mexico (SantaFe) numbers, but they
Fossiliferousgravelsand finer sediments, did not usethe caveagainuntil recently.That
arebeingmaintainedat UTEP(Resource
Coi- which make up the surfaceand near-surface the presententranceis relatively recent also
lections, Laboratorv for Environmental Bi- depositsof the back portion of the cave, seem is suggestedby the presenceof only a small
ology) for study. Fosiils excavatedby Lambert to have enteredthe system near grid !312.
alluvial fan, "concentratedin the top two feet
and Ambler have been borrowed for study. A large, flatish stalagmite(marking the late of the [1960]fill" (Lambertand Am6ler,1961,
To facilitate study, a grid system w;s Wisconsinan full glacial?) in 0-300 and P- P. 1s).
adaptedfrom one set up by C. Schaafsmaof 300was formed after these deposits.
Little evidence pertains to chronological
the Museum of New Mexicoduring archaeoIn region H (Fig. 1) depositsthat were ap- order in which other entranceswere open.
logicalreevaluationin March 1984.Schaafsma parently laid down in ponded water reveal The sourceof gravelsfor region H probably
establishedan arbitrary datum toward the a radiocarbondate (on guanoand intermixed antedates,at leastin part, that of the gravels
rear of the cave,and lin'esoriented magnetic charcoal)of 29,000 +26001-2000 B.P. (A- from region I (Fig. 1). Some fossiliferous
north-south and east-west were subdivided 4129), and they antedate channel cutting, gravels are present in region G at depths
at 3-m intervals, with columns denoted bv which was followed by deposition of fossil- below gravels in other parts of the cave. Virletters and rows denoted by numbers (Fi{. iferouschannelgravelsaltemating with guano tually nothing is known of their source at
1.).Schaafsma'sdatum forms the northwest- layers.The gravelsappearto have originated presentbecauselarge blocks of roof-fall preern corner of grid 0-300. Where desirable, from the west-southwest.After cessationof vent tree access.
his &m'grids have been subdividedinto m, graveldeposition,thick guano depositswere
At this stage of recovery and interpretagrids. For purposes of discussion, various laid down.
tion, the biota is not clearly separable into
larger regions of the cavehave been assigned
To the south, contemporaneousdeposi- faunas of different characteristici. Ho*"rr"r,
letters (Fig. 1).
tion was limited to guano. Dates from a test regions A and B, areas where mostly disTestingof depositsin the pathway of min- pit on the line between grids K-294 and L- turbed depositshave been examined, show
ing activity has been done to determine fea- 294 (Fig. l) are 20,320 + 540 B.P. (A-4009) presenceof the chestnut-sidedpocket gosibility and placementof mining excavations. on guano from the 25-35-cmlevel, >35,500
Other shallow tests with material sieved
through window screen have been made
throughout the cave to determine distribution of fossilmaterials,extentof disturbance,
and to obtainsamplesfor taxonomicstudies.
Material from mining spoil also has been recoveredby screeningand hand picking. Excavationin severaldepositsundisturbed by
mining is continuing in P-300 and region H
(Fig.1).
New MexicoGeology November 1985
pher (Pappogeomys
castanops),the southern
grasshoppermouse (Onychomyscf. torridus),
the eastern cottontail (Syktilagusfloridanus),
a cotton rcI (Sigmodon
sp.), and a small kangaroo rat (Dipodomysmeniami). These taxa,
rare or absentin collectionsfrom other areas,
are mostly indicative of southern or eastern
influences. These sites ultimately may prove
to be of different age, but contamination by
modern forms cannot be ruled out entirely.
The fauna is listed separatelyin Table 1. Material recovered from other areas, when
treated as a single fauna, is most similar
among southwestern U.S. faunas to midWisconsinan assemblagesfrom Dry Cave in
southeastern New Mexico (Harris, 1985).
However, the implied presenceof sagebrush
(Artemisiatridentataand related species),
grasses,and woodland vegetation suggests
coolersummersand a more pronouncedemphasis on cool-seasonprecipitation than in
southeasternNew Mexico. This vegetation
representeda more xeric and warmer climate
than characterizedthe full-glacial sagebrush
steppe-woodland(Harris, 1985).
The mid-Wisconsinan,as opposed to the
full glacial,aspectcan be seen in the occurrenceof an undescribed genus of rabbit, gray
rock squirrel
fox (Urocyoncinereoargentezs),
(Spermophilus
oariegatus),cotton rat (Sigmodon
and vampire bat
sp.), tortoise (?Gopherus),
(Desmodus
sfockl).Theseappear absentfrom
New Mexican full-glacial faunas, although
most are present in the Dry Cave mid-Wisconsinan time and several reappear there
during terminal Wisconsinan time.
On the other hand, presence of marmot
(Marmotaflaaioentris),sagebrushv ole (Ingurus curtatus),sage grouse (?Centrocercus
urophasianus),
Conkling's roadrunner (Geococcy
x
californianusconklingi), Mexican v ole (Microtus mexicanus),
and both Mexican and Stephen's wood rats (Neotomamexicana,N.
stephensi)
suggestscooler summerswith more
winter precipitation than in the mid-Wisconsinan of southeasternNew Mexico. An increased emphasis on cool-weather precipitation is to be expected because winter
precipitation tends to increase today from
eastto west acrossthe region.
The relative rarity of specimens of marmots, long-tailed shrews (Sorexspp.), and,
patticularly, voles (lngurus; Mi*otus) lorms
a strong contrast to most New Mexican fullglacial faunas. Noteworthy is the commonness of voles of severalspeciesat Howell's
Ridge Cave, only about i4 mi to the north
(Harris, 1985).
The extinct members of the fauna are of
less value in climatic or ecologic reconstruction, but they are of biologic interest and are
discussedbriefly below.
Presenceof a shelduck (Anaberniculasp.)
is tentatively recognized by three partial or
complete right tarsometatarsi,none found in
sltu. Anaberniculagracilentais known from
California, Nevada, and New Mexico, with
the nearestoccurrenceat Howell's Ridge Cave
(Howard, 1954).
The California condor (Gymnogypscalit'orninnusamplus)is widespreadin southem New
Mexicansites,including Howell's RidgeCave.
November 1985 New Mexico Geology
*, extralimital; *,
TABLE 1-Tentative faunal list from U-Bar Cave, Hidalgo County, New Mexico;
extinct; A, not in situ; B, in situ exclusive of regions A and B; C, regions A and B.
Taxon
Amphibia
AmbystomacI. tigrinum
Cf. Scaphiopus
*Bufoalaarius
Reptilia
cf. ornata
Terrapene
*Cf. Gopherus
*Phrynonma douglassi
Crotaphytuscollaris
? Sceloporus
Cf . Masticophis
? Salzsadora
? Pituophis
Crotalussp.
Aves
+ Anaberniculasp.
Anas cf. platyrhynchos
Anas ? cyanoptera
? Cathartesaura
? Coragyps
amplus
+ Gymnogypscalit'ornianus
Auipiter cooperi
Cf . Aquiln chrysaetos
Falcosparuerius
*? Centrocercus
urophasianus
*? Tympanuchus
Zenaidatrutcroura
californianusconklingi
* Geococcyx
*Strix cf . occidentalis
Cf. Colaptesauratus
*? Cyanocittastelleri
Corattscorax
Mamrnalia
*Sorexsp.
*Sorcxmerriami
Notiosorexcrawfordi
't Desmodus
stocki
Myotis sp.
Myotis ? lucifugus
Myotis aelifu
Eptesicus
fuscus
Plecotussp.
Antrozouspallidus
TadaridaWasiliensis
Homosapiens
+ N othrotheriops shastensis
*Undescribed Leporid
Sylailngusaudubonil
floridanus
Sylailagusauduboni
Sylailagus
*Sylt:ilagusfloridanus
nuttalli
Lepussp.
*Tamins? dorsalis
*Marmota
flaaiaentris
? spilosoma
Spermophilus
aariegatus
Spermophilus
Cynomyssp.
Thomomysbottae
*Pappogeomys cnstanops
Perognathuscf. flauus
(Chaetodipus)
sp.
Perognathus
Dipodomysspectabilis
Dipodomysmerriami
Imontanus
Reithrodontomy
s megalotis
Peromyscus
spp.
Peromyscus
? eremicus
Peromyscus
cf . difficilis
Onychomysleucogaster
Onychomystorridus
Sigmodonsp.
Neotomaalbigula
*Neotomastephensi
+Neotoma
meriunn
Common name
ABC
Amphibians
XX
Tiger salamander
Spadefoot toad
X
Colorado River toad
Reptiles
X
Western box turtle
X
Desert tortoise
X
Short-horned lizard
Collared lizard
X
Spinv lizard
X
C-oaihwhip snake
X
Patch-nos6dsnake
X
Bull snake
X XX
Rattlesnake
Birds
X
Extinct shelduck
XX
Mallard
X
Cinnamon teal
X
Turkey vulture
X
Black vulture
XX
Califomia condor
X
Cooper'shawk
X
Golden eagle
X
American kestrel
X
Sagegrouse
X
Prairie chicken
X
Mourning dove
X
Conkling's roadrunner
Spotted owl
X
Flicker
X
Stellar's iav
X
Common iaven
Mammals
X
Long-tailed shrew
X
Merriam's shrew
X XX
Desert shrew
X
Stock's vampire bat
X X
Mouse-earedbat
X
Little brown bat
X X
Cave myotis
X
Big brown bat
X
Big-earedbat
X
Pallid bat
X XX
Brazilian freetail bat
X
Man
X X
Shastaground sloth
X XX
Extinct rabbit
X X
Desert or eastern cottontail
X
Desert cottontail
X
Eastern cottontail
X X
Nuttall's cottontail
X X
Jack rabbit
X
CIiff chipmunk
X
x
Yellow-bellied marmot
XX
Spotted ground squirrel
X XX
Rock squirrel
X XX
Prairie dog
X XX
Botta's pocket gopher
X
Yellow-facedpocket gopher
X XX
Silky pocket mouse
X X
Spiny pocket mouse
x
X
Bannertail kangaroo rat
X
Merriam's kangaroo rat
Western or montane harvest
X XX
mouse
X XX
White-footed mouse
X
Cacfus mouse
X
Rock mouse
X X
Northern grasshopper mouse
X
Southern grasshopper mouse
X XX
Cotton rat
X XX
Whitethroated woodrat
X XX
Stephen's woodrat
X xx
Mexican woodrat
continuedon the next page
Taxon
Common name
*Neotomacinerea
*Microtusmexicnnus
*Micr otus pennsylaanicus
*Ingurus curtatus
Bushy-tailed woodrat
Mexican vole
Meadow vole
Sagebrushvole
Porcupine
Dogs, coyotes,wolves
Dire wolf
Coyote
Gray fox
Black bear
Giant short-facedbear
Ringtail
Long-tailedweasel
Badger
Spotted skunk
Striped skunk
Jaguar
Mountain lion
Bobcat
Horse
Westernhorse
Mexican horse
Niobrara horse
Deer
Mule deer
Mountain deer
Diminutive pronghorn
Quentin's pronghorn
Mountain goat
Shrub ox
Extinct bison
Erethizondorsatum
Canissp.
* Canisdirus
Canislatrans
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Ursusamericanus
-t Arctodussimus
Bassariscus
nstutus
Mustelafrenata
Taxideataxus
Spilogalesp.
Mephitismephitis
? Pantheraonca
Felisconcolor
Lynx rufus
iEquus sp.
)- Equusct. occidentalis
* Equuscf . conaersidens
-f Equuscf . niobrarensis
Odocoileussp.
OdocoileuscI. hemionus
+ Naoahoceros
fricki
+Capromeryxsp.
t Stockocerosonusrosagris
? Oreamnos
sp.
+ Euceratherium
collinum
'tBison sp.
E
ABC
XX
XX
X
X
X X
X
X
XX
X X
X X
x
x
X
X X X
X
x
x X X
XX
X
X
Y
XX
XX
XX
XXX
XXX
XX
XXX
X
XXX
XX
'-3fi;...-
FIGURE 2-A, Museum of New Mexico (MNM) 5689-59-1,,Stockoceros
onusrosagris,
dorsal view right
melalarpaf B, MNM 5689-67-10, Capromeryxsp., dorsal view, partial metapodial; C, MNM 5689-161,Nothrotheriops
shastensis,
lateral view, phalanx III, digit II, manis; D, MNM5689-1- 4, Arctodussimus,
distal surface left astragalus;E, MNM 5689-2-i, Euceratherium
collinum, dorsal view, left metacarpal.
The roadrunners are represented by four
elements recovered from mining spoil. All
appearto representthe large, extinct Conkling's roadrunner rather than the living subspecies (G. c, californianus).This form is
believed to imply relatively cool summer
conditions (Harris and Crews, 1983)and is
the common full-glacial form in the southwesternU.S.
Stock's vampire bat is a larger form than
the related, living Desmodusrotundus, but
presumably likewise limited ecologically by
temperature.Its presenceindicatesrelatively
warm winters (Kurten and Anderson, 1980).
Severalwing elementsfrom mining spoil and
disturbed cavefill (region D) have been identified. This is the first known occurrencein
New Mexico. Several sites in California and
a deposit in the Big Bend area of Texasare
the nearestknown Pleistoceneoccurrences
(Harris, 1985).
the Shastaground
shastensis,
Nothrotheriops
sloth, is widespread in cave deposits of the
southwesternU.S. At leastthree individuals
are representedat U-Bar Cave. Most specimens were recovered during the original archaeologicalexcavationsor from mining spoil,
but some were recovered from gravels in regions B and H and in grid P-300.
The extinct, undescribed rabbit (speciesA
of Harris, 1985)is a very small, gracileform
otherwise known from the mid-Wisconsinan
of Dry Cave and from the undated Pleistocenefaunasof Anthony's Cavein south-central New Mexico and Jimenez Cave in
southem Chihuahua. The genus is not closely
related to other known Pleistocene or HoloceneNorth American taxa. It is being describedcurrentlv bv B. D. Russelland A. H.
Harris. A numbbr of specimensare available
from spoil and disturbed areas, and several
have been recoveredin situ.
Canis dirus has been recovered from carbonate-bondeddeposits near the mouth of
the cave (region B). Distribution was widein Wisconsinan time.
spread
The giant short-facedbear (Arctodussimus)
is representedby a number of elementsfrom
spoil and from disturbed areasin region D.
A few elementsseem to have been in place.
All recovered specimensprobably represent
a single mature individual.
Probably three species of horses are represented by dental and skeletal elements.
These tentatively are assignedto Equusocand E. corcersidens
cidentalis,E, niobrarensis,
(sensuHarris and Portet 1980).The former
is a large speciescommon west of the site,
but relatively rare to the east. E. niobrarensis
is medium in size and widespread in the
southwesternU.S., as is the smaller E. conAt leasttwo of the horse bones reaersidens.
coveredby Lambert and Ambler in 1950had
beenburned; this may have happenedwhen
Indians built fires on the cave floor (13001400A.D.) or may representcontemporaneity with paleo-Indians.
Mountain deer (Naoahoceros
t'ricki)is representedby a metacarpal(regionB) and possibly by scanty limb fragments (region H).
continuedon page84
New Mexico Geology November 1985
continuedfrom page77
In the southwestetn U.S., records of mountain deer are limited to central and southeastern New Mexico.
Two pronghorns (Antilocapridae) were
recognizedfrom the cave. The distal end of
a cannonbone recoveredin 1960and another
recoveredduring the current excavations(Fig.
2) are too small to represent any known late
Pleistocenepronghorn other than Capromeryx. Other pronghorn material (1960excavations, spoil, disturbed fill, and in situ) is
lnusrosagns.Maconsistent with Stockoceros
terial includespartial frontalsand horn cores
of an immatur6 individual and both anterior
and posterior metapodials of adults. Measurable material is consistent with this species rather than the smaller S. conklingi(but
seeFurlong, 1943).
A single first phalanx from disturbed sediments is tentatively assigned to mountain
goat (Oreamnos).
Until comparativematetial
can be examined, the identification is uncertain. The small, extinct O. harringtoni is
known from severalsitesinArizona and New
Mexico.
Johnson (1951)recorded "Muskox (genus
undetermined)"on the basis of a "metacarpal" (actually, a metatarsal). That specimen
plus a number of dental and skeletal elements from spoil and a metacarpal in situ in
region B are referable to Euceratheriumcollinum. Severalindividuals, from very young
to fully mature and probably of both sexes,
are represented. Only very small fragments
of horn coreshave been recovered,and the
presentmaterial doesnot clarify the systematic position of the possibly conspecificPreptoceras,
Y:nownoccurrencesarefrom Califomia
and Nevada east to Trans-PecosTexasand
south into Mexico (SanJosecitoCave;Harris,
1985). The remains appear exclusively in
foothill and low mountain terrains, and thev
are from a very limited elevational range,
which is consistentwith the present site.
nificantly enlarge our knowledge of the systematics and morphology of several extinct
animals and our understanding of the complex biogeographical and paleontological
changes that occurred during Wisconsinan
time.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS-I
November 198S wezpMexicoCeology
WiSh tO thANK thc
following New Medco stateagenciesand their
personn-elwho have worked hard and effectively to protect and make availablefor scientific analysisthe U-Bar Cave material: New
Mexico State Land Office; Office of Cultural
Affairs, Historic Preservation Division; Museum of New Mexico, particularlv state archaeologistCurtis Schaifsma;and the New
Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, especially Donald Wolberg and his
students, Adrian Hunt and Wayne Wentworth. Additional aid has been renderedby
SpencerLucas and his students, Jay Sobus
and Tom Logan, at the University of New
Mexico. Kati Arganbright, Eric Rickart, Michael Fuller, and Brett Russell, all of UTEP,
have aided in exploration and excavation of
the cave sediments. Donald Wolberg and
Robert Weber (NMBMMR) offered useful
suggestionsconceming the manuscript. I also
thank the representativesof the mining concern, Us Four, Inc., for various courtesies
and aids. The Hurt Cattle Company has allowed accessto its land and ranch facilities.
References
Furlong, E. L., 1943,The Pleistoceneantelope, Stockoceros
conklingi,from San fosecito Cave, Mexico: Carnegie Institute of Washington, Contributions to Paleontology,
Publication 551, pp. 1-8.
Harris, A. H., 1985, Late Pleistocenevertebrate Paleoecologyof the West: University of TexasPress,Austin,
293 pp.
Harris, A. H., and Crews, C. R., 1983,Conkling's road'
runner-a subspecies of the California roadrunner?:
SouthwesternNituralist, v. 28, no. 4, pp.407-412.
Harris, A. H., and Porter, L. S. W., 1980,Late Pleistocene
horsesof Dry Cave,Eddy County, New Mexico:Journal
of Mammalogy, v. 61, no. 1.,pp. 46-65.
Howard, H., 7964,A new speciesof the "pigmy goose,"
Anaberniculo,from the Oregon Pleistocene,with a discussionof the genus:American Museum Novitates, no.
2200, 14 Pp.
|ohnson, D. H.,1967, A. Animal and bird bones; ln Lambert, M. F., and Ambler, J. R. (eds.), A survey and
excavation of caves in Hidalgo County, New Mexico:
School of American Research,Monograph 25, pp. 8890.
Kurten,8., andAnderson, E., 1980,Pleistocenemammals
of North America: Columbia University Press,New York,
u2PP'
Lambert, M. F, and Ambler, f. R., 1961,A suruey and
excavation of caves in Hidalgo County, New Mexico:
School ofAmerican Research,Monograph 25, lO7 pp.
D
r:r
r r-il-r
Bureau of Mine Inspection
Date and
operation
5-lJ-65
turquoise
Summary and conclusions
5-13-85
About 94 different taxa of vertebrateshave coPPer
been identified tentatively from U-Bar Cave.
Sixteen(177o)of these representextinct forms
and L8 (l9Vo)areextantforms whose present
5-21-85
rangesdo not include U-Bar Cave or its im- gold,
mediate vicinity.
silver
Many of the extralimital taxa now occur
only in coolerand more mesichabitats,particularly habitats characterizedby a notable
pulse of cool-seasonprecipitation and lim6-11-85
ited warm-seasonmoisture.
scoria
Consideredas a single fauna (which may
prove to be an error), the best age interpretation is mid-Wisconsinan.This is consistent
with the radiocarbon dates obtained thus far.
The geologic history of the cave sediments
6-24-85
is complexbecausesedimentsand biotic ele- mill
mentshad accessto the cavethrough several
different openings, possibly at significantly
different times.
Continued excavationand study of biotic 6-28-8s
elementsshould not only clarify depositional Sfli;
history and chronologic relationships, but
should also produce material that will sigU
Paul Martin, University of Arizona, graciously supplied three radiocarbondates.The
National Geographic Society is supplying financialaid through grant29M-84. The University of Texas (El Paso)provided facilities
and other help throughout the study.
r,-.,
J
"E
I eG
:l
MINING REGISTRATIONS
(MAY 13, 198s,THROUGH SEPTEMBER10, 198s)
2825-E Broadbent Pkwy. NE
Energy & Minerals Dept.
Operators and owners
I :,
r :El
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Location
Operator-Thursday Morning Mine, Thursday Morning
Mining Co., 1812Mesquite, Lordsburg, NM; Gen. Mgr.Harold Jorgenson,980Motel Blvd., Lordsburg,NM, phone:
542-3724;Person in charg+LeRoy Jonis, same address;
Gen. Supt.-Jack Staples,PO. Box 365,Lordsburg,NM.
Property owner-Earl Anderson, Lordsburg, NM
Grant County; sec. 11, T28S,R15W;federal land; directions to mine: 6 mi southwest of Hachita
Operator-Nacimiento Copper Mine, NCP Company,PO.
Box 220, Cuba, NM 87103;Gen. Mgr.-Donald V Galbiati, same address; Person in charge-Alan R. Jager,same
address; Gen. Supt.-Donald V Galbiati.
koperty owner-Leaching Technology Inc., Cuba, NM
Sandoval County; sec. 1, T20N, R1W; private land; directions to mine: 5.7 mi east
of Cuba, NM, on NM-126
Operator-Ladder One Mill, Jenny Mining, 7000Phoenix
NE, #509, Albuquerque, NM 87110;Gen. Mgr.-Peter
Olsen, same address.
Property owner-Golden Gulch Mining, 910 Junipea T
or C, NM 87904
Siena County; sec. 24, T15S, R7W; private, state, and federal land; no custom
milling; mill capacity-360 tons/hr; directions to mi.ll: 26 mi south and west of T or
C, NM, 7.2 mi west of I-25 on NM-90,
then north on dirt road to Ladder airstrip,
then west 1.25mi
Operator-T O Number One-Big Chief Stone, Inc., 900
No. Morton Ln., Las Cruces,NM 88005;Gen. Mg..-J.
E. Wells, same address, phone: 523-5750; Productions
Supt.-Jack Garrett, P.O. Box 9045,SantaFe, NM 87504,
phone:982)624, unit 3174;Partner Pres.-Royce C. Morton, company address and phone.
Property owner-Whittenburg T O Ranch, Arnarillo, TX
Colfax County; sec. 22, T30N, R26E; private land; directions to pit: 16.5 mi east
on NM-87 and approximately 3 mi north
on private road to mine
Operator-Molycorp Mill, Mountain States Mineral Enterprises, lnc., 4370South Fremont, Tucson, AZ 85714;
Supt.-Richard Staton, PO. Box 865, Questa, NM 87555;
Gen. Mgr.-Hany McNeil, company address.
Property owner-Moly{orp, Questa, NM
Thos County; directions to mill: 7 mi east
of Questa, NM
Operator-San Pedro Mine, Silver Bar Mining Co., Alto
Rt., Capitan, NM 88315;Gen. Mgr.-Ira Young, same
address, phone: 281-5340.
Property-owner-The Goldfield Corp., Box 1899, Melbourne, Florida 32901
Santa Fe County; sec. 27,T12N, R7E; private land; directions to mine: 35 mi northeast of Albuquerque via I-40 to NM-14,
north to NM-344, and east 2 mi to mine
road on left
continued on page 86