Cargo Muchacho Mountains
| Name: | Tumco Mine Area |
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| Date: | 9/3/2006 |
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| Location: | Cargo Muchacho Mountains |
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This metamorphic schist is the victim of chemical and mechanical weathering.
The desert rains abundant with carbon dioxide (CO2) produces carbonic acid (H2CO3). This acid breaks
down the silicates in the schist into clays; much of which are transported in the direction of gravity.
Further weathering occurs as cold winter rains turn to ice, and cleave the platy segments of the schist.
This weathering contributes to the rock cycle as this metamorphic rock is broken down into finer grains
of detritus sediment, and sandstone. Just off of Ogilby road the Tumco mine can be seen. This mine—now
closed—was a goldmine. The cost to extract the ore proved to be more than the value of the extracted ore,
thus the mine has long since been abandoned. (Locals, 2006)
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