The 21 and 27 fluorspar mines, Zuni Mountains, Valencia County, New Mexico

The 21 and 27 mines, near the southeastern end of the Zuni Mountains and about 14 miles southwest of Grants, Valencia County, N. Mex., are in one of the most productive fluorspar areas in the West. They were named after sections 21 and 27, respectively, of T. 9 N., R. 11 W., in which they are located. The veins were discovered in December 1940 by James Mallery, and since then the two mines have produced about 120,000 tons of crude ore. Each mine has a shaft of about 300 feet deep and several thousands of feet of workings. Both mines are operated by the Zuni Milling Co., and the ore is treated in a flotation mill at Los Lunas, N. Mex.