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Cresson Mine (new surface mine)

Producer in Teller county in Colorado, United States with commodities Gold, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Mineral occurrence model information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  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 10142930
MAS/MILS ID 0081190261
Record type Site
Current site name Cresson Mine (new surface mine)
Alternate or previous names see also MAS ID# 0081190018, historic underground Cresson Mine, Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. Mine, Cresson, South Cresson, Upper Cresson-Wildhorse, and East Cresson-Altman mines operating in 2006

Comments on the site names

  • Companies associated with the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. joint venture include Golden Cycle Gold Corp., the land and mineral owner, and a series of partners including Texasgulf, Inc., Hecla Mining Co., NERCO Minerals Co., Pikes Peak Mining Co., Independence Mining Co., and, now Anglogold AshantiNA.

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -105.14446, 38.72723 (WGS84)
Elevation 3000
Location accuracy 250(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Teller(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Cripple Creek South(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Pikes Peak(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Pueblo(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Arkansas(hydrologic unit)

Upper Arkansas(hydrologic accounting unit)

Upper Arkansas(hydrologic subregion)

Arkansas-White-Red(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Teller

Comments on the location information

  • Near the head of Eclipse Gulch between Raven Hill and Battle Mtn., about 2 miles SE of Cripple Creek, centered in the SW/4 sec. 20, T 15 S, R 69 W.
  • LOCATION DATA IN MILS IS FOR THE CARLTON MILL AND MAIN OFFICE. COULD NOT LOCATE CARLTON MILL ON TOPO SHEET; MILS LONGITUDE WAS W1059440, THIS IS INCORRECT; CHECKED USGS CRIPPLE CREEK SO. 7.5 MIN, 1951, REV 1975 TOPO SHEET: FOUND CRESSON MINE PLANT ON SHEET IN SEC 20 NOT SEC 30; CORRECTED LONGITUDE TO W1050845, SECTION #, AND SECTION SUBDIVISION, TO SWSW. 1996: EXPLORATION AND DRILLING CONTINUE ON THE PROPERTY. AU MINERALIZATION HAS BEEN INTERSECTED IN MANY HOLES.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Calaverite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Gold Ore
Adularia Gangue
Celestite Gangue
Chalcedony Gangue
Chrysocolla Gangue
Fluorite Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Marcasite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Rutile Gangue
Wad Gangue
Galena Trace
Tetrahedrite Trace

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 84
USGS model code 22b
Deposit model name Alkaline Au-Te (Au-Ag-Te veins)
Mark3 model number 80

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -105.14446, 38.72723
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Length 1524M
    Width 610M
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #1 IRREGULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Type of Orebody #3 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 ADV ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PYRITIZATION
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 970307

Comments on the geologic information

  • Lying wholly within the fragmental and intrusive rocks of the Cripple Creek volcanic complex, the mine is characterized by a pipe-like basaltic breccia mass known as the Cresson blowout. Ore occurs as broad zones of low-grade disseminated native gold with pyrite and potassium alteration, with hydrous iron and manganese oxides, or as gold-silver tellurides in narrow quartz-fluorite fractures.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1890
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1892
Plant type Leach
Plant subcategory Hydromet
Milling method Heap Leach-Carbon Column-Merrill-Crowe

Mining district

District name Cripple Creek District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Pikes Peak Mining Co. (Sub Independence Mining Co. Inc.)
    Interest 67
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1997
    First year 1993
  • Type Owner
    Owner Golden Cycle Gold Corp.
    Interest 33
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1997
    First year 1900
  • Type Operator
    Owner Cripple Creek And Victor Gold Mining Co. (Cc And V)
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1997
  • Type Owner
    Owner Pikes Peak Mining Co. (Sub Nerco Minerals Co.)
    ID 0503695
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1997
    First year 1989
    Last year 1993
  • Type Owner
    Owner Texasgulf Minerals And Metals Co. (Tg)
    Year 1997
    First year 1976
    Last year 1989

Comments on the ownership information

  • Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co., a joint venture of AngloGold Ashanti (Colorado) Corp. (67%) and Golden Cycle Gold Corp. (33%).

Production statistics

  • Year 1995
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 7877908.82mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold Dore Bar-Ore Is 2.06 Gm/Mt Gold 248 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 2382122.29g 2G/MT
  • Year 1996
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 9522941.05mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 187 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 5430667.78g 1g/mt
  • Year 1997
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 9928534.8mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 311 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 7096694.63g 1g/mt
  • Year 1998
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 10757306mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 404 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 7163131.67g 1g/mt
  • Year 1999
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 11087013mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 483 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 7184904.11g 1g/mt
  • Year 2000
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 11121460mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 1788 Kg Projected
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 7713663.28g 1g/mt
  • Year 2001
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 11318300mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Gold 1533 Kilograms
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 6656455.96g 1g/mt
  • Year 2002
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 15365502.63mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 6997909.98g 1g/mt
  • Year 2003
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 16833930.01mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 8829220.73g 1g/mt
  • Year 2004
    Material ore mined
    Ore mined 20020877.88mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 10233978.35g 1g/mt
  • Year 2005
    Material budget ore mined
    Ore mined 19684000mt
    Accuracy Estimate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major budget Gold Gold 10264148.73g 1g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • Production began in 1995, and more than 2.6 million oz. of gold had been produced by the end of 2005.
  • PRODUCT RECORD A REFERS TO THE VICTOR PLANT THAT IS CURRENTLY OPERATING. PRODUCT RECORD B REFERS TO THE FUTURE RECOVERY PLANT FOR THE CRESSON DEPOSIT.
  • THE RECOVERY GIVEN IS AN AVERAGE. RECOVERIES RANGE FROM 50 TO 80%. SILVER IS RECOVERED AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE AS GOLD, BUT THE RECOVERY FOR SILVER IS NOT GENERALLY DETERMINED. THEREFORE THE SAME RECOVERY HAS BEEN ASSUMED FOR SILVER. THE DORE GRADES ARE ESTIMATES BUT VARY CONSIDERABLY. DORE GRADES RANGE FROM 60 TO 75% AU AND 25 TO 40% AG.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 69848000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold 0.98 g/mt Gold Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 88138000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold 0.92 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 100767000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold 0.94 g/mt Gold Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2005
    Total resources 119100000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold 0.85 g/mt Gold Major 2005

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • At the end of 2005, ore reserves were 119,100,000 metric tonnes containing 102.7 metric tonnes of gold (131,300,000 tons containing 3,300,000 tr. oz. of gold) at an average grade of 0.85 grams/metric tonne (0.029 tr. oz./ton).
  • At the end of 2004, ore reserves were estimated at 134,299,000 tons containing 3,877,815 tr. oz. of gold ( 2,374,467 tr. oz. recoverable) at an average grade of 0.029 tr. oz./ton.
  • Q-MATRIX 1 CONTAINS THE RESERVE FIGURE FOR THE ORE WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING MINED AT THE IRONCLAD AND GLOBEHILL MINES. M2C1=M9C5; Q-MATRIX 2 CONTAINS THE RESERVE FIGURE FOR THE PROPOSED CRESSON MINE WHICH WILL COME ON LINE IN 1995. M3C1=M9C6; Q-MATRIX 3 CONTAINS THE RESERVES FOR THE WILD HORSE DEPOSIT THAT WILL PROBABLEY BE DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE. M4C1=M9C7; Q MATRIX 4 CONTAINS THE RESERVE FIGURE FOR VARIOUS OTHER DEPOSITS THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE.
  • 1994 UPDATE: 1,788,000 MTS ORE MINED AND PLACED ON LEACH PADS FROM 2 PITS, THE IRONCLAD AND GLOBE HILL WITH AVERAGE GOLD GRADES OF 1.43 G/MT . (GOLDEN CYCLE GOLD CORP SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, 12/31/93, P. 4.) RESERVES FROM SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, P. 8.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 24.6HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .6
    Percent Waste Rock 74.3
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 6.1
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 7263
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 2.787
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1992
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 93HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .6
    Percent Waste Rock 73.3
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 6
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 50
    Capacity 18870
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.828
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1992

Comments on other economic factors

  • DORE IS MAILED TO JOHNSON & MATHEY IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
  • THE GRADE GIVEN FOR SILVER IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON 1992 PRODUCTION. SILVER IS NOT ASSAYED OR RECOVERY DETERMINED. THE GRADE GIVEN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE.

Comments on development

  • The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. joint venture began design of the project in 1992 and commenced production in 1995. Expansion of operations has resulted in a surface mine (2006) moving 20 million tons of ore/yr., using shovels, loaders, and trucks, and a valley-heap cyanide-leach process to recover gold from ore grading about 1 g/ton.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    THOMPSON, T. B. MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT, COLORADO. COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, PRESENTATION AT THE 1991 SME ANNUAL MEETING, DENVER, CO., 1991.

  • Geology

    PONTIUS, J. A. (EXPLORATION MANAGER) AND R. A. BUTTS (PROJECT GEOLOGIST). GEOLOGY AND GOLD MINERALIZATION OF THE CRESSON DEPOSIT, CRIPPLE CREEK, CO. PRESENTED AT THE NORTHWEST MINING ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, SPOKANE, WASH. DECEMBER 4-6, 1991.

  • Ownership

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL. 108, #5, 01/29/97, PP. 1, 4,

  • Ownership

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL. 108, #8, FEB. 21, 1997, PP. 1, 4,

  • Production

    Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. corporate info., accessed from internet on 4/13/2006

  • Reserve-Resource

    GOLDEN CYCLE GOLD CORPORATION, 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P5.

  • Reserve-Resource

    GOLDEN CYCLE GOLD CORPORATION, 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, PP. 1-2.

  • Deposit

    JIM MUNTZERT (GENERAL MANAGER). CRIPPLE CREEK & VICTOR GOLD MINING CO. SITE VISIT, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND INFORMATION RECEIVED JULY 13, 21, AND 27, 1992 AND AUG. 3, 1992.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL. 107, #8, FEB. 21, 1996, PP. 1, 4,

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL. 108, #5, JAN. 29, 1997, PP. 1, 4,

  • Deposit

    ROCKY MTN PAY DIRT, 9-96, P.10.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Golden Cycle Gold Corp. corporate info., accessed from internet on 4/13/2006

  • Deposit

    Pontius, J. A., and Head, J. A., 1996, Cresson mine: case history of a rapidly evolving mining project: Mining Engineering, Jan. 1996, p. 26-30.

  • Deposit

    Vardiman, D.M., Roy, E., Thornton, D., Nicholson, D., White, D., and Melker, M., 2006, Geology and exploration developments, Cripple Creek mining district, Colorado, USA: Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co., Geology Field Guide, 11 p.

  • Deposit

    Jensen, E. P., 2003, Magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of the Cripple Creek gold deposit, Colorado, and comparisons with regional and global magmatic-hydrothermal systems associated with alkaline magmatism: Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona, Ph.D. dissertation, 846 p.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE INFORMATION IN THE LITHOLOGY, MINERALS, AND GEOMETRY DATA SETS GENERALLY APPLIES TO BOTH THE CURRENT DEPOSITS BEING MINED AND THE CRESSON DEPOSIT. THE OREBODY DIMENSIONS ARE FOR THE CRESSON DEPOSIT.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 08-OCT-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 20-APR-06 Beach, Richard A. Colorado Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 11/12/1991
MSHA mine ID0503695
Mine name (MSHA)Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Com
Current operatorCripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company, LLC
Current controller (parent)SSR Mining Incorporated
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

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.