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Emperius Mine

Past Producer in Mineral county in Colorado, United States with commodities Cadmium, Copper, Gold, Lead, Silver, Zinc
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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. 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. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10166590
MRDS ID D007967
MAS/MILS ID 0080790002
Record type Site
Current site name Emperius Mine
Alternate or previous names Chance Mining Co, Creede Mines, Commodore Mining Co., Last Chance and Pittsburg Mine Co, Emperious Mining Co., Amethyst Mine, Del Monte Mining Co., Bachelor Mine, New York Mine
Related records 10101728

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -106.92952, 37.87061 (WGS84)
Elevation 2804
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Mineral(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Creede(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Del Norte(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Durango(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Rio Grande Headwaters(hydrologic unit)

Rio Grande Headwaters(hydrologic accounting unit)

Rio Grande Headwaters(hydrologic subregion)

Rio Grande(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Rio Grande 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 Mineral

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 042 N 001 W 24 SENWSE Colorado

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Cadmium Secondary
Copper Secondary
Gold Secondary
Lead Primary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Amethyst Unknown
Anglesite Unknown
Argentite Unknown
Barite Unknown
Bornite Unknown
Cerussite Unknown
Chalcedony Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Gold Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Kaolin Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Silver Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Tetrahedrite Unknown
Turgite Unknown
Wad Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -106.92952, 37.87061
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N23W
    Dip 70W
    Thickness 1.4M
    Length 4800M
    Width 250M
    Area 20HA
    Depth to top 100M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #2 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 SHEAR ZONE
    Shape of Orebody #3 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 ADV ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Strike And Dip N23W:70W
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 20
    Date of Last Modification 810528

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1884
Mining method Shrinkage Methods - Overhand Shrinkage
Year of first production 1892
Milling method Flotation

Comments on exploration

  • DURING 1978, CHEVRON CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE UNGRD SAMPLING, GEOLOGIC AND MAPPING PROGRAM WHICH ENCOUNTERED ENCOURAGING SILVER MINERALIZATION IN OLDER WORKINGS AND GENERALLY CONFIRMED PREVIOUS SAMPLING WORK. IN 1979, CHEVRON CONTINUED THE DRILLING PROGRAM STARTED IN 1978. DURING 1980 CHEVRON EXPANDED ITS EXPLORATION EFFORT TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 3450 FT. OF UNDGD DRIFTING AND BULK SAMPLING, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. BY END OF JAN 1981, CHEVRON HAD COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 130 SURF AND UGRD DRILL HOLES TOTALLING OVER 41000 FT. SEVERAL MINE LEVELS HAVE BEEN SAMPLED IN DETAIL AND GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE OPTIONED CLAIMS. THE RESULTS INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF WIDESPREAD LOW- GRADE, DISSEMINATED SILVER MINERALIZATION ADJACENT TO THE AMETHYST FAULT. (MINERALS ENGINEERING 1980 FORM 10K, P 3)

Mining district

District name Creede District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Private Lease
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Minerals Engineering Co
    ID 500412
    Interest 100
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1976
  • Type Owner
    Owner Del Monte Mining Co.
    ID 500412
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1976
  • Type Owner
    Owner Creede Mines
    ID 500412
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1976
  • Type Owner
    Owner Emperius Mining Co
    ID 500412
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1976
  • Type Owner
    Owner Commodore Mining Co.
    ID 500412
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1976

Comments on the ownership information

  • CHEVRON RESOURCES (DIV. OF STANDARD OIL OF CALIFORNIA) SIGNED AN OPTION WITH MINERALS ENGINEERING IN 1978 FOR A 5-YR LEASE FOR EXPLORATION IN THE EMPERIUS MINE. CHEVRON WILL PAY $300,000 IN 1981, AND $500,000 IN 1982. CHEVRON MAY DISCONTINUE THE PAYMENTS BEFORE END OF 1982, EITHER BY PAYING $6,000,000 FOR AN 85% INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, OR BY GIVING 90 DAYS NOTICE OF TERMINATION. CHEVRON CAN ALSO EXTEND THE OPTION PERIOD BEYOND 1982, BY MAKING ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS THAT CUMULATIVELY REACH $5,700,000 BY 1986 OR $9,855,000 BY 1987, TO EARN A 65% OR AN 85% WORKING INTEREST, RESPECTFULLY, IN THE PROPERTY (MINERALS ENGINEERING 1980 FORM 10-K, P. 30.)

Comments on the production information

  • CADMIUM CONC GRADE AND MILL RECOVERY RATES NOT KNOWN. SMALL AMOUNTS OF CADMIUM RECOVERED AT SMELTER.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Measured 218599mt ore
    Demonstrated 218599mt ore
    Total resources 218599mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 44.9 g/mt Silver Major 1975
    Lead Pb 5.14 wt-pct Lead Major 1975
    Zinc Zn 6.6 wt-pct Zinc Major 1975
    Copper Cu 0.3799 wt-pct Copper Minor 1975
    Gold Au 0.51 g/mt Gold Minor 1975
    Cadmium Cd 0.04 wt-pct Cadmium Minor 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Measured 322000mt ore
    Demonstrated 322000mt ore
    Total resources 322000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 230 g/mt Silver Major 1975
    Lead Pb 1.32 wt-pct Lead Major 1975
    Gold Au 0.24 g/mt Gold Minor 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • M1C1=R1. MINUS 103900 (2 YRS PRODUCTION). 1980 RESERVES ADJUSTED FROM JAN 1975 RESERVES BY SUBTRACTING 1975 + 1976 PRODUCTION (103900 MTS). MINE CLOSED IN OCT 1976, 75% PROB = 1.5X90% PROB, 50% PROB =2.0X90% PROB M2C1=R2. QUANT 2 IS 1975 STATED BROKEN RESERVES IN MINE DUMP. M9C4=R1. - 103900 M9C5=R2.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Capacity 272
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 5.15
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 147
    Operating Shifts per Day 1
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Capacity 272
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 5.15
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 1
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 100000M
    Overall depth 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OVERHAND SHRINKAGE 10-67
    Swell Factor .77
    Percent Waste Rock 33.3
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Length of Inclines (m) 0
    Slope of Inclines 0
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 6092
    Number of Adits 2
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    2nd Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    3rd Condition of Workings BAD AIR
    Capacity 272
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 49.43
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 100000M
    Overall depth 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OVERHAND SHRINKAGE 10-67
    Swell Factor .77
    Percent Waste Rock 33.3
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock SOFT NONPLASTIC FISSURED MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Length of Inclines (m) 0
    Slope of Inclines 0
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 6092
    Number of Adits 2
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    2nd Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    3rd Condition of Workings BAD AIR
    Capacity 272
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 49.43
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 113
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Ownership

    MINERALS EINGINEERING 1980 10-K REPORT, P 3.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINERALS ENGINEERING 1974 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 21.

  • Deposit

    MINERALS ENGINEERING 1980 FORM 10-K REPORT, P 3.

  • Deposit

    BETHKE,BARTON AND BODINE, 1960,"TIME SPACE RELATIONSHIPS OF

  • Deposit

    OWN/OP: EMPERIUS MINING CO. 1960

  • Deposit

    CROSS,WHITMAN AND LARSON, 1935,A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE GEOLOGY

  • Deposit

    SAN JUAN REGION OF SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO:USGS BULL 843, 138

  • Deposit

    EMMONS AND LARSON,GEOLOGY AND ORE,DEPOSITS OF THE CREEDE DIS

  • Deposit

    COLORADO: USGS BULL 718, 198P. (YEAR-1923)

  • Deposit

    HENDERSON, 1926, MINING IN COLORADO: A HISTORY OF DISCOVERY

  • Deposit

    EMENT AND PRODUCTION: USGS PROF PAPER 138, 263P

  • Deposit

    KIRBY,1892, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF CREEDE AND THEIR POSSIBILITI

  • Deposit

    AND MINING JOUR, V.53, NO.12, P325-326

  • Deposit

    LARSON,1930, RECENT MINING DEVELOPEMENTS IN THE CREEDE DISTR

  • Deposit

    COLORADO: USGS BULL 811-B P89-112

  • Deposit

    LUNT, 1924,ORE DEPOSITS AT CREEDE COLORADO: ENJ AND MINING J

  • Deposit

    V.117, NO. 24, P.973.

  • Deposit

    MACMECHEN, 1892, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF CREEDE,COLORADO; ENJ AN

  • Deposit

    G JOURNAL, V. 53, P. 301-303.

  • Deposit

    MEEVES AND DARNELL, 1968, STUDY OF THE SILVER POTENTIAL, CRE

  • Deposit

    TRICT,MINERAL COUNTY,COLORADO: USBM I.C. 8370, 58P.

  • Deposit

    ROEDDER, 1960, PRIMARY FLUID INCLUSIONS IN SPHALERITE CRYSTA

  • Deposit

    THE OH VEIN,CREEDE,COLORADO: GEOL SOC AMERICA BULL V.71,NO.

  • Deposit

    2, P1958.

  • Deposit

    STEVEN AND RATTE, 1960, RELATION OF MINERALIZATION TO CALDER

  • Deposit

    DENCE IN THE CREEDE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS,COLORADO:

  • Deposit

    SHORT PAPERS IN THE GEOL SCI, USGS PROF PAPER 400-B, P.B14-

  • Deposit

    STEVEN AND RATTE, 1965, GEOLOGY AND STRUCTURAL CONTROL OF OR

  • Deposit

    SITION IN THE CREEDE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO

  • Deposit

    PROF PAPER 487, 89P.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MINERALS ENGINEERING CO. MAY 1976,THIS COMPANY IS THE OPERAT THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES: AMETHYST MINE, NEW YORK MINE,LAST R MINE, DEL MONTE, EMPERIOUS MINE AND MILL, CREEDE MINES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-1995 Hite, Alan G. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 07/23/1987
MSHA mine ID0500412
Mine name (MSHA)Emperius
Current operatorMesa Operating Limited Partnership
Current controller (parent)Pickens Operating Co & T Boone Pickens Jr
Mine typeUnderground (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.

External references

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.