Kingston, New Mexico

Kingston is a census-designated place in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32 as of the 2010 census.[1] The community is located in the Black Range along New Mexico State Road 152.

Kingston, New Mexico
Census-designated place
Kingston, New Mexico
Kingston, New Mexico
Coordinates: 32°55′01″N 107°42′22″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountySierra
Area
 • Total0.199 sq mi (0.52 km2)
 • Land0.199 sq mi (0.52 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
6,224 ft (1,897 m)
Population
 • Total32
 • Density160/sq mi (62/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code(s)575
GNIS feature ID907558[2]
Kingston New Mexico geologic map showing mine locations.

Geography

Kingston is located at 32.917334°N 107.709559°W / 32.917334; -107.709559. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the community has an area of 0.199 square miles (0.52 km2), all of it land.[1]

History

Jack Sheddon discovered silver in what would become the Solitaire Mine in 1882. Originally called Percha City, Kingston was surveyed the same year and soon had a population of 1800. Lillian Russell once performed here.[3][4]

The Depression of 1893 curtailed mining activities in the area, though there was a brief resurgence during World War II. By 1952 however, most production had ceased.[5]

Geology

Following prospecting developments in Hillsboro to the east, silver was discovered in the district in 1880, and extensive mining efforts commenced in 1883. From 1883 to 1893, almost 6,000,000 ounces of silver were produced from 27 mines. From 1934 to 1957, 67,940 ounces of silver were produced, plus 124 ounces of gold. Base metal ores were produced from 1930 to 1949.[5]

The Iron King, Empire, and Brush Heap were some of the first mines in the area. Most production was within 460 feet of the surface in the supergene zone. Ore minerals included cerargyrite, native silver, polybasite, and argentiferous galena. From 1952 to 1959, 5,689 tons of manganese ore were produced from the Fusselman Dolomite, mainly from the Iron King Mine. Pyrolusite is the main manganese ore mineral.[5]

Ore deposits occurred mainly along major fault fissure veins. These faults may represent the outer margin of the Emory Caldera. Most mineralization occurred in the Late Oligocene.[5]

The Lady Franklin Mine was the largest producer of high-grade silver from 1880 to 1893, averaging 15 ounces per ton.[5]

Notable Resident
  • Black Range Lodge
  • Former Percha Bank
  • Former Assay Office
  • Former Victorio Hotel
  • Kingston's fire bell was also used to announce the arrival of mail.

See also

References
  1. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: New Mexico". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  2. "Kingston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. Sherman, James E.; Sherman, Barbara H. (1975). Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of New Mexico. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 124–128. ISBN 0806111062.
  4. Florin, Lambert (1970). Ghost Towns of the West. Superior Publishing Company. pp. 629–630. ISBN 0883940132.
  5. Hedlund, D.C. (1985). Economic geology of some selected mines in the Hillsboro and San Lorenzo quadrangles, Grant and Sierra Counties, New Mexico. Denver: US Dept. of the Interior, USGS Report 85-0456. pp. 14–23.



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