HELLS HOLE ROADLESS AREA, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.

The Hells Hole Roadless Area encompasses about 50 sq mi along the Arizona-New Mexico State line. The area was studied and the southeastern part was determined to have a probable mineral-resource potential for the discovery of base- or precious-metal deposits related to igneous intrusions of middle to late Tertiary age. There also is a probable resource potential for porphyry copper mineralization of Laramide age beneath the Tertiary volcanic rocks that cover the area. There is little promise for the occurrence of energy resources in the area. Additional geochemical and petrological studies of the rocks of the Hells Hole volcanic center and modeling of geophysical anomalies are necessary to adequately appraise the mineral-resource potential of the area.