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Crater District

Occurrence in Rio Grande county in Colorado, United States with commodities Silver, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Copper, Molybdenum, Cadmium, Bismuth
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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. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10094659
MRDS ID D010620
Record type District
Current site name Crater District

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -106.69505, 37.38891 (WGS84)
Elevation 3323
Relative position 6 TO 11 MILES S 55 TO 84 W FROM SUMMITVILLE

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Archuleta(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Elwood Pass(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Antonito(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Durango(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper San Juan(hydrologic unit)

Upper San Juan(hydrologic accounting unit)

San Juan(hydrologic subregion)

Upper Colorado(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

San Juan National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

South San Juan Wilderness(Wilderness)

Wilderness FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Rio Grande
United States Colorado Archuleta
United States Colorado Mineral

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 037N;037N;036N 003E;002E;002E 30,31;36;01,02,03,04,11,12,15,20,22 Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). IN CRATER LAKE AREA ALONG QUARTZ CREEK, BEAR CREEK, CRATER CREEK, AND ELWOOD CREEK (TRIBUTARIES TO EAST FORK SAN JUAN RIVER). CLAIMS LOCATED IN SECS. 30 AND 31, T37N, R3E, SEC. 36, T37N, R2E, AND SEC. 02, T36N, R2E. PROSPECTS AND SAMPLE SITES IN OTHER SECTIONS. SECTIONS PROJECTED INTO UNSURVEYED AREA. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR CRATER LAKE (W2 W2 SEC. 01, T36N, R2E). DEPOSITS ALSO EXTEND ONTO SUMMIT PEAK AND WOLF CREEK PASS SE QUADS. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Lead Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Gold Secondary
Copper Secondary
Molybdenum Secondary
Cadmium Tertiary
Bismuth Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Barite Gangue
Calcite Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Magnetite Gangue
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Zoned Alteration Observed Includes 1) Outer Chloritic Zone Of Hydrothermal Alteration With Chlorites, Carbonates, Celadonite, Montmorillonite Clays, Silica Minerals, And Zeolites Enveloping 2) Propylitic Zone Of Albite, Calcite, Chlorite, And Epidote (Derived From Plagioclase And Ferromagnesian Minerals), Enveloping 3) Silicic Zone Of Quartz Veining And Replacement; 4) Phyllic Zone Of Pyritic Quartz-Sericite Rock. Inner Potassic And Pyrogenic Zones, If Present, Not Exposed.

Analytical data

Result VALUES PRIMARILY IN AG AND PB FOR PROSPECTS AND SAMPLING SITES, WITH MINOR CU AND ZN, TRACE AU, SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF BI, CD, SN, SR, AND ANOMALOUS MO. HIGHEST VALUES REPORTED AT LADY BUG MINE MAINLY AG AND ZN.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 85
USGS model code 22c
Deposit model name Polymetallic veins
Mark3 model number 46

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyodacite
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Rock unit name Intrusive Rocks--Monzonite;Intrusive Rocks--Quartz Latite, Andesite, And Rhyodacite Porphyries
    Rock description Intrusive Rocks--Monzonite;Intrusive Rocks--Quartz Latite, Andesite, And Rhyodacite Porphyries
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Monzonite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyodacite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Rock unit name Conejos Formation--Volcaniclastic Facies;Conejos Formation--Vent Facies
    Rock description Conejos Formation--Volcaniclastic Facies;Conejos Formation--Vent Facies

Nearby scientific data

(1) -106.69505, 37.38891
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description San Juan Volcanic Field
Type of structure Local
Structure description Platoro Caldera, Elwood Creek Fault Zone, Crater Creek Stock, Quartz Creek Anticline

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Faults And Radial Dikes Related To Platoro Caldera And Emplacement Of Crater Creek Stock

Comments on the geologic information

  • ANDESITE; (7) PROLONGED INTERMEDIATE-SILICIC POSTCOLLAPSE VOLCANISM (OLIGOCENE-MIOCENE) AROUND CALDERA MARGINS--(A) ALAMOSA RIVER MONZONITE STOCK (29.1 MY), (B) RHYODACITE OF PARK CREEK (27.8-26.7 MY), (C) GREEN RIDGE VOLCANICS (27.8-27.4 MY), (D) UPPER RHYODACITE OF PARK CREEK (LT 26.5 MY), (E) QUARTZ LATITE PORPHYRY DIKES (25.8 MY), (F) QUARTZ QUARTZ LATITE OF SOUTH MTN (22.8 MY), (G) RHYOLITE OF CROPSY MTN (20.2 MY); (8) ALAMOSA RIVER STOCK AND JASPER STOCK INTRUDED ALONG SOUTH AND EAST SUMMITVILLE CALDERA RING FRACTURES, CRATER CREEK STOCK PERIPHERAL ON WEST, CAT CREEK STOCK REMOTE TO EAST; (9) NW-TRENDING CALDERA-RELATED STRUCTURES RENEWED BY INFERRED GENERAL RESURGENCE OF COMPOSITE BATHOLITH BENEATH ENTIRE SE SAN JUAN CALDERA CLUSTER, MANIFESTED BY RIO GRANDE FAULT ZONE (GRABEN), PASS CREEK-ELWOOD CREEK FAULT ZONE, PLATORO FAULT ZONE, SUMMITVILLE FAULT; (10) N-TRENDING LATE CENOZOIC EXTENSIONAL BLOCK FAULTING RELATED TO GENERAL EASTWARD TILTING OF VOLCANIC FIELD TOWARD
  • DEVELOPING RIO GRANDE DEPRESSION IN SAN LUIS VALLEY.
  • GENERAL EVOLUTION OF PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE CALDERA (LIPMAN, 1975); (1) WIDESPREAD ANDESITIC-RHYODACITIC VOLCANISM AND VOLCANICLASTIC DEPOSITION FROM CLUSTER OF 6 TO 7 OLIGOCENE STRATOVOLCANOES; (2) ERUPTION OF LA JARA CANYON MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF QUARTZ LATITE (30-29 MY), INITIAL COLLAPSE OF PLATORO CALDERA, PONDING OF LATE LA JARA CANYON ASH FLOWS; (3) INITIAL ASYMMETRICAL RESURGENCE BOUNDED ON SE BY CALIFORNIA GULCH ARCUATE FAULT AND ON SW BY PLATORO FAULT ZONE HINGE LINE; (4) MOAT FILLING BY FISHER GULCH RHYODACITE AND LOWER SUMMITVILLE ANDESITE (29.8-29.1 MY) AND ASSOCIATED LAKE-DELTAIC SEDIMENTS; (5) ERUPTION OF OJITO CREEK MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF BEFORE MOAT FILLING COMPLETE, FOLLOWED BY INFERRED INITIAL COLLAPSE OF SUMMITVILLE CALDERA, BOUNDED ON SE BY CORNWALL FAULT RING FRACTURE TRUNCATING PLATORO RESURGENT BLOCK; (6) ERUPTION OF RA JADERO MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF FOLLOWED BY SECOND COLLAPSE OF SUMMITVILLE CALDERA, WITH RENEWED MOVEMENT AFTER ERUPTION OF UPPER SUMMITVILLE

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Occurrence
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1895
Discoverer Elwood Mining And Separating Company (First Claimant)

Mining district

District name Crater District

Land status

Ownership category National Forest
Area name San Juan N. F.

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Aztec Industries (Lady Bug Mine
    Home office Santa Fe, N.M.
    First year 1971

Comments on the workings information

  • SURFACE PROSPECT PITS, SHORT EXPLORATORY ADITS; MOST EXTENSIVE TUNNELING AT LADY BUG MINE

Comments on development

  • LITTLE AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON DISTRICT. CLAIMS SURVEYED 1882-1901 AFTER PRINCIPAL DISCOVERIES AT SUMMITVILLE AND PLATORO. MOST CLAIMS LOCATED BY ELWOOD MINING AND SEPARATING CO. NO RECORD OF ANY PRODUCTION. MOST RECENT ACTIVITY INCLUDED SAMPLING AND EXTENSION OF UNDERGROUND WORKINGS AT LADY BUG MINE BY AZTEC INDUSTRIES, AND MAPPING, GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLING AND AEROMAGNETIC SURVEY BY USGS/USBM FOR MINERAL EVALUATION OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit INDIVIDUAL RECORDS PREPARED FOR LADY BUG MINE (PRINCIPAL WORKINGS IN DISTRICT), ROBERT BURNS CLAIM, TREASURE COMSTOCK GROUP, TWO UNNAMED PROSPECTS, AND FOUR OCCURRENCES OF ANOMALOUS AG-PB-CU-MO. FOR OTHER DISTRICTS WITHIN PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE CALDERA COMPLEX, SEE RECORDS FOR SUMMIT (SUMMITVILLE), UTE (PLATORO), DECATUR WEST (STUNNER), DECATUR SOUTH (GILMORE), AND DECATUR NE (JASPER) DISTRICTS. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT
Deposit IN CONTRAST TO OTHER DISTRICTS IN PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE CALDERA COMPLES WHOSE MINERALIZATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH SHALLOW INTRUSIVE AND EXTRUSIVE ACTIVITY ALONG CALDERA MARGINS, CRATER DISTRICT MINERALIZATION APPEARS CONTROLLED BY POST-SUMMITVILLE-COLLAPSE STOCK LOCATED IN WEAK STRUCTURAL ZONE (PASS CREEK-ELWOOD CREEK FAULT ZONE) BEYOND CALDERA MARGIN AND INTRUDING THROUGH (1) CONEJOS FM VOLCANICLASTICS FROM PRE-CALDERA STRATOVOLCANOES AND (2) LA JARA CANYON MBR (TREASURE MTN TUFF) AND SUMMITVILLE ANDESITE FLOWS AND BRECCIAS THAT OVERTOPPED CALDERA MARGINS DURING POST-COLLAPSE CALDERA FILLING AND POST-RESURGENCE MOAT FILLING. FAULTS AND FRACTURES CUTTING PERMEABLE VOLCANICLASTICS PRESENTED FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR MINERALIZATION. LINDQUIST (1977) INTERPRETS VEIN AND DISSEMINATED DEPOSITS AND ZONED ALTERATION TO REPRESENT HALO MINERALIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH CUPOLA OVER PORPHYRY-TYPE CU OR CU-MO DEPOSIT. LATE-STAGE HYDROTHERMAL ACTIVITY RELATED TO INTRUSION OF CRATER CREEK AND NEARBY
Deposit PLUTONS FRMED CHLORITIC, PROPYLITIC, AND PHYLLIC ALTERATION ZONES WITH DISSEMINATED PYRITE, CHALCOPYRITE, MOLYBDENITE, AND PYRRHOTITE. ALTERATION HALOES SIMILAR TO THOSE IN SUMMIT AND STUNNER DISTRICTS. METALS AT PRINCIPAL WORKINGS FOUND IN PYRITIC QUARTZ VEINS AND STRINGERS IN FAULTS AND FRACTURES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-83 Schwochow, Stephen D. Colorado Geological Survey
Editor 16-NOV-11 Wilson, Anna B U.S. Geological Survey Changed record type from site to district.

Beyond USGS

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

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Colorado resources

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