COLUMBINE-HONDO WILDERNESS STUDY AREA AND WHEELER PEAK WILDERNESS, NEW MEXICO.

The Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, near Taos, New Mexico, were studied. Two areas within the study area and wilderness have substantiated mineral-resource potential for molybdenum and are surrounded by an area of probable molybdenum potential. A small area on the north side of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area also has probable molybdenum potential; this area is peripheral to the Red River mining area, which includes the Questa mine. Two other areas within the study area and wilderness have probable mineral-resource potential for copper, lead, and zinc, and four areas have probable mineral-resource potential for gold and silver, as well as base metals.