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Independence District

Producer in Pitkin county in Colorado, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Reserves and resources
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10090049
MRDS ID D010411
Record type District
Current site name Independence District
Alternate or previous names Claims: Legal Tender, MS 1307, Last Dollar, MS 1318, Minnie, MS 1344, Independence, MS 1421, Gatton, MS 1422, Dolly Varden, MS 1423, Mammoth, MS 1424, Friday, MS 1486, Clark Placer, MS 1609, Johnson Placer, MS 1730, Emma B. Carlisle, MS 1752, Climax, MS 1754, Choler, MS 1819, Sheba Lode, MS 1823a, Ward Mill Site, MS 1823b, Mount Hope, MS 1881a, Mount Hope Mill Site, MS 1881b, Golden Champion, MS 1882a, Golden Champion Mill Site, MS 1882b, Little Tillie, MS 2038, Iroquois, MS 2076, Pride of the West Placer, MS 2591, Thatcher, MS 2591, Little Giant, MS 3790, Little Birdie, MS 3791, Case, MS 3811, Ocean Wave, MS 3813, Germania, MS 3814, Pride of the West, MS 3892, Minniehaha, MS 4150, Golden Rock, MS 4151, Grand View, MS 4399, Spotted Tail, MS 6548, Panama, MS 7766, Principal, MS 12441, Geld Placer, MS 1235, B. H., MS 4107, Gold Reef, MS 4363, Norah C., MS 4364.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -106.60479, 39.10527 (WGS84)
Elevation 3292
Relative position 0.5 TO 4 MILES N 25 TO 90 W FROM INDEPENDENCE PASS

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pitkin(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Independence Pass(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Leadville(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Leadville(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Roaring Fork(hydrologic unit)

Colorado Headwaters(hydrologic accounting unit)

Colorado Headwaters(hydrologic subregion)

Upper Colorado(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

White River National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Pitkin

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
6th Principal 011S;011S;010S;010S 082W;083W;082W;083W 05,06,07,29;01,02,11,12;31;36 Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • ALONG UPPER ROARING FORK RIVER AND INDEPENDENCE MTN AREA. DISTRICT ALSO EXTENDS ONTO MT CHAMPION AND NEW YORK PEAK QUADS. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR INDEPENDENCE TOWNSITE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1977)

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Copper Primary
Lead Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • CRUSON'S ANALYSES OF DUMP SAMPLES SHOWED ANOMALOUS W, BI, B, CO, AND NB

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Gold Ore
Pyrite Ore
Silver Ore
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Fe And Cu Alteration Noted By Rohlfing In Vein And Vein Walls At Independence And Mt Hope Mines. Cruson Noted Significant Zoned Quartz-Sericite-Pyrite, Quartz-Sericite, Argillic, And Propylitic Alteration Only Farther Inside Cauldron Around Stockworks And More Intensely Mineralized Areas.

Analytical data

Result INDEPENDENCE MINE ORE VALUES FOR 1931-32 CONTAINED 1.75 TO 3.16 OZ/TON AU, 1.8 TO 3.6 OZ/TON AG, 1.4 TO 2.8 % CU. LUDINGTON AND ELLIS' (1981) ANALYSES OF 20 SAMPLES SPACED ALONG 152 FT OF INDEPENDENCE VEIN CONTAINED 0 TO 8.5 OZ/TON AU AND 0 TO 12.04 OZ/TON AG, WITH WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF 0.175 OZ/TON AU AND 0.29 OZ/TON AG. 23 SAMPLES ALONG 285 FT OF MT HOPE VEIN TREND CONTAINED 0 TO 1.57 OZ/TON AU AND 0 TO 3.12 OZ/TON AG, WITH WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF 0.214 OZ/TON AU AND 0.592 OZ/TON AG.

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Schist

Nearby scientific data

(1) -106.60479, 39.10527
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Sawatch Uplift, Central Colorado Trough, Arkansas Valley Graben, Twin Lakes Batholith
Type of structure Local
Structure description Grizzly Peak Cauldron, Mt Elbert Volcanotectonic Depression, Lincoln Gulch Stock

Ore body information

  • Thickness 3.05M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Mineralization Localized In Quartz Veins Filling Post-Collapse Radial And Concentric Faults And Fractures Beyond North Rim Of Main Grizzly Peak Collapse Structure.

Comments on the geologic information

  • GENERAL EVOLUTION OF GRIZZLY PEAK CAULDRON DETERMINED BY CRUSON: 1) INTRUSION OF TWIN LAKES GRANODIORITE/QUARTZ MONZONITE BATHOLITH; 2) EROSION OF SAWATCH RANGE TO LOW-RELIEF SURFACE; 3) MID-OLIGOCENE COLLAPSE WITH VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS; 4) PARASITIC, ASYMMETRICAL COLLAPSE ON SE EDGE OF MAIN COLLAPSE; 5) HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION OF BRECCIA FORMED BY DESTRUCTION OF DOWN-DROPPED BLOCKS, FORMATION OF QUARTZ-MO STOCKWORKS; 6) VOLUMINOUS ASH-FLOW ERUPTIONS, PONDING IN COLLAPSED AREAS; 7) DOMING OF ASH FLOWS BY SUBVOLCANIC RESURGENCE OF LINCOLN GULCH GRANODIORITE STOCK IN MAIN COLLAPSE AREA ACCOMPANIED BY RING-ZONE INTRUSIONS; 8) POST-RESURGENCE INTRUSION OF ANDESITE DIKES IN SOUTH RING ZONE OF MAIN COLLAPSE; 9) SECOND COLLAPSE EVENT ALONG MAJOR RING FAULTS; 10) HYDROTHERMAL MINERALIZATION ALONG CONCENTRIC FAULT ZONES, EAST AND WEST RED CU-MO MINERALIZATION; 11) LATE TERTIARY BLOCK FAULTING AND TILTING, 12) EMPLACEMENT OF SAWMILL QUARTZ LATITE PLUG AND RADIATING DIKES ON
  • BLOCK FAT (SEE RUBY DISTRICT); 13) LATE HYDROTHERMAL MINERALIZATION OF SAWMILL PLUG; 14) QUATERNARY GLACIATION AND EROSION.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1879
Year of first production 1879
Year of last production 1951

Mining district

District name Independence District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Hagen And Knight (Independence Mine
    Home office Aspen, Co.
    First year 1940
  • Type Owner
    Owner Williams Family (Independence Mine)
    First year 1940

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UP TO 1900 UNAVAILABLE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Name MT HOPE VEIN
    Estimate year 1981
    Indicated 5000mt ore
    Inferred 8000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.042 g/mt Gold Major 1981
    Silver Ag 16.715 g/mt Silver Major 1981

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • LUDINGTON AND ELLIS (1981)

Comments on the workings information

  • MULTILEVEL MINES DEVELOPED BY TUNNELS, RAISES AND WINZES

Comments on development

  • DISCOVERY AND MINING PROBABLY BEGAN IN 1860S IN TWIN LAKES DISTRICT. DISCOVERY AROUND INDEPENDENCE, PROBABLY FIRST SETTLEMENT IN PITKIN COUNTY, MADE BY PROSPECTORS ON ROUTE FROM LEADVILLE TO ASPEN. DISTRICT NOT ACTIVELY WORKED UNTIL ROAD COMPLETED FROM ASPEN IN 1879. SPORADIC ACTIVITY CONTINUED INTO EARLY 1900S, BUT PLAGUED BY COMPLETION OF RAILROAD OVER ALTERNATE ROUTE AND DISREPAIR OF INDEPENDENCE PASS ROAD. AS MOST OF AREA COVERED BY SLOPE WASH, INITIAL DISCOVERIES MADE FROM LIMITED EXPOSURES AT INDEPENDENCE AND FROM ORE CHUNKS FOUND IN ROOTS OF OVERTURNED TREE AT MT HOPE.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    CRUSON, M.G., 1973, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GRIZZLY PEAK CAULDRON COMPLEX, SAWATCH RANGE, COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL MINES PH.D. THESIS T-1538.

  • Deposit

    ROHLFING, D.P., 193?, REPORT ON THE INDEPENDENCE GOLD PROPERTY, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO STATE PLANNING COMM. UNPUB. REPT., 7 P.

  • Deposit

    HOWELL, J.V., 1919, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE TWIN LAKES DISTRICT OF COLORADO: CGS BULL. 17, 106 P.

  • Deposit

    LUDINGTON, STEVE, AND ELLIS, C.E., 1981, MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE HUNTER-FRYINGPAN WILDERNESS AND THE PORPHYRY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA , PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO, USGS MAP MF-1236-D. & &

  • Deposit

    LUDINGTON, STEVE, AND YEOMAN, R.A., 1980, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE HUNTER-FRYINGPAN WILDERNESS AND THE PORPHYRY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO, USGS MAP MF-1236-A.

  • Production

    LUDINGTON AND ELLIS, 1981; USBM MINERALS YEARBOOKS 1932-51

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-AU-SULFIDE VEINS FILL CONCENTRIC AND RADIAL FAULTS AND FRACTURES RELATED TO SECOND COLLAPSE EVENT (POST-RESURGENT DOME) IN PRECAMBRIAN METAMORPHIC ROCKS BEYOND NORTH MARGIN OF MAIN GRIZZLY PEAK COLLAPSE STRUCTURE AND PONDED ASH FLOWS THEREIN. QUARTZ-MO STOCKWORKS NOT FOUND DIRECTLY IN DISTRICT BUT RATHER TO SOUTH AND SE IN RUBY AND TWIN LAKES DISTRICTS. CRUSON INTERPRETS CROSS-CUTTING TYPES OF DEPOSITS (VEIN, PIPE, STOCKWORK) AS ONE END MEMBER (ALONG WITH STRATIFORM) OF SAME MINERALIZING MECHANISM IN VOLCANIC/SUBVOLCANIC ENVIRONMENT. METAL-RICH VAPORS OR SOLUTIONS MOVED THROUGH WELL-DEFINED STRUCTURES; METALS PRECIPITATION CONTROLLED BY CHANGES IN PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE, WITH CRUDE ZONATION OF METALS AROUND CENTERS OF MO MINERALIZATION. MASSIVE QUARTZ VEINS AND PIPES CONTAINING ANOMALOUS MO ON CAULDRON FRINGE INTERPRETED AS HALO DEPOSITS PERIPHERAL TO MAJOR MINERALIZED CENTERS INSIDE CAULDRON.
Deposit INDEPENDENCE DISTRICT CONFINED TO NORTH EDGE OF CAULDRON COMPLEX ALONG ROARING FORK RIVER. GRIZZLY PEAK CAULDRON ALSO HOSTS LINCOLN DISTRICT ON SOUTHERN MARGIN (PITKIN CO.) AND TWIN LAKES DISTRICT TO EAST AND SE (CHAFFEE AND LAKE COS.). DETAILED RECORDS FOR INDEPENDENCE DISTRICT INCLUDE INDEPENDENCE MINE AND MT HOPE MINE. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAR-1983 Schwochow, Stephen D. Colorado Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Colorado resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.