1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Aspen Mining and Smelting Co. Mine

Past Producer in Pitkin county in Colorado, United States with commodities Silver, Lead, Zinc
Map
XML
JSON
KML
A
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. Host and associated rocks
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Geologic structures
  11. Controls for ore emplacement
  12. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  13. Mining district
  14. Land status
  15. Ownership information
  16. Production statistics
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10101794
MRDS ID D009425
Record type Site
Current site name Aspen Mining and Smelting Co. Mine
Alternate or previous names A. M. and S. Mine, Veteran Tunnel, Claims: Spar, Washington No. 2, Emma, Betsy Jane, Chance, King Bee, Hidden Treasure, General Shields, Golconda, Robert Emmett, Way Up, Mamouth, J. E. D.
Related records 10215604

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -106.82145, 39.18332 (WGS84)
Elevation 2493
Relative position 0.35 MILES S 23 W FROM ASPEN

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pitkin(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Aspen(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 010S 084W 18 SW OF NW Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • IN ASPEN MTN AREA NEAR BASE OF SLOPE BETWEEN PIONEER GULCH AND VALLEJO GULCH. ELEV FROM SPURR (1898) IS VETERAN TUNNEL PORTAL. LAT-LONG APPROXIMATED FROM BRYANT (1972). VETERAN TUNNEL PORTAL FOUND ON BANNER (MS 4265) AND HIDDEN TREASURE (MS 3705) CLAIMS ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1980)
  • LAT LONG ARE CENTRAL FOR AREA.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Lead Primary
Zinc Critical Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Barite Gangue

Analytical data

Result ORE GRADES FOR VETERAN TUNNEL SHOW OVERALL DECLINE FROM 10 TO 12 OZ/TON AG FOR 1916-20 TO WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF 7.4 OZ/TON AG IN LATER 1920S
Result 4 TO 6.7 % PB, TRACE TO 1.4 % ZN

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock unit name Aplite Porphyry
    Rock description Aplite Porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mississippian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Leadville Limestone (Castle Butte Member);Belden Formation
    Rock description Leadville Limestone (Castle Butte Mbr);Belden Formation

Nearby scientific data

(1) -106.82145, 39.18332
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Sawatch Uplift, Central Colorado Trough, Piceance Basin, White River Uplift, Elk Uplift
Type of structure Local
Structure description Silver Fault, Contact Fault, Aspen Mountain Syncline, Aspen Fault

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Bedding Plane Fault; Paleokarst

Comments on the geologic information

  • SEDIMENTARY ROCKS DIP GENTLY SW.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1881
Discoverer Galena And Spar Mining Co. (Spar Claimants)
Year of last production 1930

Mining district

District name Aspen (Roaring Fork) District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner D. P. Rohlphing
    Home office Aspen, Co.
    First year 1930
  • Type Owner
    Owner Spar Consolidated Mining Co.
    Home office Aspen, Co.
    First year 1930

Production statistics

  • Year 1916
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^10 Oz/Ton Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1917
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^12 Oz/Ton Ag, 4 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 4wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 339g/mt
  • Year 1919
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^10 Oz/Ton Ag, 4 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 4wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1920
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^10 Oz/Ton Ag, 2 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1921
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8 Oz/Ton Ag, 1.5 % Fe
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 226g/mt
  • Year 1922
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^9 To 10 Oz/Ton Ag, 2 % Fe, 1 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 1wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1923
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8 To 10 Oz/Ton Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1924
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^6.5 Oz/Ton Ag, 6.5 % Pb, 3 % Fe, 4 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 4wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 184g/mt
  • Year 1925
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^7.3 Oz/Ton Ag, 6 % Pb, 1.4 % Zn, 3.6 % Fe, 2.6 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 3wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 4wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 6wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 206g/mt
  • Year 1926
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^7.8 Oz/Ton Ag, 6.7 % Pb, 2 % Fe, 2 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 2wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 220g/mt
  • Year 1927
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.7 Oz/Ton Ag, 6.5 % Pb, 2 % Fe, 1.5 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 2wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 246g/mt
  • Year 1928
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^7.5 Oz/Ton Ag, 5.8 % Pb, Trace Zn, 2 Fe, 2 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 2wt-pct
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 6wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 212g/mt
  • Year 1929
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5.3 Oz/Ton Ag, 5.3 % Pb, 3 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 5wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 150g/mt
  • Year 1930
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^7.4 Oz/Ton Ag, 5 % Pb, 2 % Fe, 3.5 % S
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 209g/mt
    Ore Iron Iron 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 5wt-pct
    Ore Sulfur Sulfur 4wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • PARDEE SAYS PRODUCTION OF CU WAS 150000 LB BY 1911, SMALL AMOUNT OF AU AND AG.
  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD; NO CDM REPORTS FOR 1918 OR PRE-1916. ORE TONNAGE FOR 1920 INCLUDES 4930 ST CRUDE ORE AND 640 ST MILLING ORE; FIGURE FOR 1923 INCLUDES 2600 ST CRUDE ORE AND 400 ST MILLING ORE. PRODUCTION CITED IN VARIOUS YEARS FOR VETERAN TUNNEL OR SPAR TUNNEL. IT IS UNKNOWN IF ALL PRODUCTION CAME FROM VETERAN, FRANKLIN, OR A.M.S. WORKINGS OR INCLUDED PART OF DURANT WORKINGS.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 1331.98M
    Overall depth 289.56M
    Overall length 365.76M

Comments on the workings information

  • MINE ACCESSIBLE BY 1000-FT-LONG SOUTH-TRENDING VETERAN TUNNEL CONNECTED BY 180-FT RAISE TO 430-FT LEVEL OF 600-FT-DEEP FRANKLIN SHAFT, FROM BOTTOM OF WHICH A 370-FT NW-TRENDING DECLINE AND AT LEAST THREE LEVELS DEVELOPED ON CONTACT AND ASPEN FAULTS
  • TUNNELS, QUARRIES

Comments on development

  • MINES: COPPER CLIFF, LEONARD

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    SPURR, J.E., 1898, GEOLOGY OF THE ASPEN DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS MON. 31, P. 157

  • Deposit

    BRYANT, BRUCE, 1971, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE ASPEN QUADRANGLE, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-933.

  • Deposit

    BRYANT, BRUCE, 1972, MAP SHOWING MINES, PROSPECTS, AND AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT SILVER, LEAD, AND ZINC PRODUCTION IN THE ASPEN QUADRANGLE, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-785-D

  • Deposit

    BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 1403, 1830, 1867, 2431, 2534, 3644, 3658, 3705

  • Production

    COLO. DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit BEDS STRIKE NE AND DIP 35 TO 40 DEG NW, MUCH LESS THAN NOTED IN ASPEN AND DURANT MINES. SILVER FAULT SHOWS MUCH CRUSHING OF OVERLYING BELDEN SHALE AND CUTS DOWNWARD ACROSS FORMATIONS TO EFFECT THINNING OF UPPER LEADVILLE LIMESTONE MEMBER. COULD ALSO BE INTERPRETED AS DOWNWARD HIGHER ANGLE SPLIT (ASPEN FAULT) IN SILVER FAULT. CONTACT FAULT SHOWS THICK BRECCIATION AND PORPHYRY BOULDERS IN FAULT ZONE. SPURR NOTED LARGE CAVES (SOLUTION FEATURES?) IN LIMESTONE ABOVE CONTACT FAULT. ORE OCCURS IN ALTERED LIMESTONE IN THREE OR FOUR NE-TRENDING PARALLEL ZONES OR SHOOTS IN CONTACT FAULT ZONE.
Deposit MOVEMENT CRUSHED THE ROCKS LOCALLY, MINERAL-BEARING SOLUTIONS ENTERING FROM BELOW CEMENTING THEM WITH OPALINBE QUARTZ AND SULPHIDES. POST MINERALIZATION FAULTING BY THE STRONG NE FAULTS. OXIDATION STARTED WITH FAULTING.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-SEP-1982 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.