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Enterprise Mine

Past Producer in Dolores county in Colorado, United States with commodities Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Gold, Manganese
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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. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Land status
  18. Ownership information
  19. Production statistics
  20. Links to other databases
  21. Bibliographic references
  22. General comments
  23. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10014122
MRDS ID D010765
Record type Site
Current site name Enterprise Mine
Alternate or previous names Patented Claims: Snowflake, MS 5909, Sun Up, MS 5910, Bell, MS 5911, Enterprise, MS 5916, Kitchen, MS 5917, Ontario, MS 5923, Eureka, MS 6285, Song Bird, MS 6392, Thompson, MS 6394, Hiawatha, MS 6399
Related records 10264137, 10288653

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -108.02148, 37.68362 (WGS84)
Elevation 2942
Relative position 0.72 MILES S 33 E FROM RICO

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Dolores(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Rico(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Dove Creek(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Cortez(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Dolores(hydrologic unit)

Upper Colorado-Dolores(hydrologic accounting unit)

Upper Colorado-Dolores(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)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Dolores

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 040N 011W 36 SE Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). MINE LIES ON WEST SLOPE OF NEWMAN HILL AND ADJOINS NEWMAN AND RICO-ASPEN WORKINGS (UNSURVEYED SECTION). CLAIMS LISTED ARE SWICKHIMER'S ORIGINAL CLAIMS; SOME MAY LATER HAVE BEEN CONSOLIDATED INTO ENTERPRISE OR INTO PRO PATRIA PROPERTY. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR ENTERPRISE SHAFT AND ARE FROM MCKNIGHT, 1974, PL. 1 (1930 BASE). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Lead Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Copper Secondary
Gold Secondary
Manganese Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Argentite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Covellite Ore
Gold Ore
Malachite Ore
Polybasite Ore
Proustite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Stephanite Ore
Calcite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Rhodochrosite Gangue
Rhodonite Gangue
Siderite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Silicification Of Sandstone To Orthoquartzite Near Porphyry Contact; Marbleization Of Limestone Near Porphyry Contacts; Silicification Of Blanket Breccia And Shale

Analytical data

Result SWICKHIMER'S ORE DISCOVERY IN ENTERPRISE SHAFT ASSAYED 519.4 OZ/TON AG AND 2.1 OZ/TON AU
Result ENTERPRISE VEIN DISCOVERY ASSAYED 285.5 OZ/TON AG AND 3.2 OZ/TON AU. RANSOME (1901) GIVES RANGE OF ENTERPRISE ORE AS 100 TO 200 OZ/TON AG, 0 TO 10% PB, 0 TO 15% ZN, 0.5 TO 3 OZ/TON AU. ORE DELIVERED TO SMELTER IN 1929 ASSAYED 77.937 OZ/TON AG, 10.267% PB, 14.394% ZN, 1.414% CU, 0.7005 OZ/TON AU
Result ORE DELIVERED TO MILL ASSAYED 10.03OZ/TON AG, 7.175% PB, 8.408% ZN, 0.866% CU, 0.0515 OZ/TON AU. RICKARD GIVES COMPOSITION OF FIRST-CLASS ORE AS 221.5 OZ/TON AG, 10.2% PB, 12.0 0% ZN, 0.87 OZ/TON AU, 11.8% FE, 11.6% S, 2.0% MN, 29.2% SIO2
Result SECOND-CLASS ORE CONTAINED 45 TO 75 OZ/TON AG, 2 TO 3% PB, 5 TO 7% ZN, 6 TO 10%FE, 5 TO 8% S, 6 TO 10% MN, 50 TO 55% SIO2.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 72
USGS model code 19a
Deposit model name Polymetallic replacement
Mark3 model number 47

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite
    Rock unit name Hornblend Latite Porphyry
    Rock description Hornblend Latite Porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Hermosa Formation
    Rock description Hermosa Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Evaporite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -108.02148, 37.68362
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin
Type of structure Local
Structure description Rico Dome

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Ore Localized In Small-Displacement, Near-Vertical, Ne-Trending Fissures, With Possible Richer Ores At Intersections With Larger-Displacement, Nw-Trending Cross Fissures. Ore Also Localized In Brecciated Shale Blanmet And Gypsum Solution Breccia Between Contact Limestone And Impermeable Shale Over Split And Impoverished Upward Extensions Of Fissure Veins.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1887
Discoverer David Swickhimer
Year of first production 1887
Year of last production 1929

Mining district

District name Pioneer (Rico) District

Land status

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

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Rico-Argentine Mining Co.
    Home office Salt Lake City, Ut.
    First year 1948

Production statistics

  • Year 1929
    Material ORE AG PB ACC
    Description Ap_Grade: ^77.937 Oz/Ton Ag, 10.267% Pb, 14.394% Zn, 1.414% Cu, 0.7005 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Gold Gold 20g/mt
    Minor Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Zinc Zinc 14wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 10wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 2201g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR YEARS PRIOR TO AND AFTER 1929. FIRST GRADE IS THAT FOR ORE SHIPPED TO SMELTER; SECOND IS ORE SHIPPED TO MILL.

Comments on the workings information

  • MINE DEVELOPED BY ENTERPRISE, JUMBO, AND LAURA SHAFTS AND BY GROUP TUNNEL. LOWEST LEVEL IS GROUP TUNNEL (ELEV 9247), LOCATED 1000 FT NW OF SHAFT, DRIVEN S 57 E ABOUT 3000 FT. JUMBO SHAFT (ELEV 9706) LOCATED 650 FT SSW OF ENTERPRISE SHAFT AND SUNK ABOUT 880 FT. LAURA SHAFT (ELEV 9910) LOCATED 1300 FT NE OF ENTERPRISE SHAFT AND SUNK ABOUT 610 FT. DRIFTS DRIVEN FROM GROUP TUNNEL ON SWANSEA, ENTERPRISE, EUREKA, AND JUMBO 2 AND 3 VEINS. ABOVE GROUP TUNNEL IS 100 (MAIN) LEVEL FROM WHICH NUMEROUS RAISES EXTEND TO COMPLEX, INTERCONNECTING DRIFTS AND STOPES IN BLANKET AT VARIABLE HEIGHT ABOVE 100 LEVEL. ON JUMBO NO. 3 VEIN, 150-FT INTERMEDIATE LEVEL DEVELOPED BETWEEN GROUP TUNNEL AND LAURA CROSSCUT. ON ENTERPRISE VEIN AT LAURA SHAFT, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL LIES 125 FT ABOVE 100 LEVEL, AND LAURA LEVEL LIES ABOUT 220 FT ABOVE 100 LEVEL. BLANKET DRIFT LEVEL CUTS ACROSS BOTH HIGHER LEVELS.

Comments on development

  • AND WAS FIRST EVIDENCE OF FLAT BLANKET ORES. AFTER ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, ENTERPRISE VEIN DISCOVERED, AND BY 1890, SEVERAL CLAIMS HAD BEEN CONSOLIDATED INTO ENTERPRISE MINING CO. ENTERPRISE DISCOVERIES LED TO BOOM IN DISTRICT FROM 1887-1892. LATER HISTORY OF MINE NOT KNOWN, BUT IT DID PRODUCE ORE AT LEAST AS 1929 UNDER PELLEYRE MINING AND MILLING CO.
  • FOLLOWING HARRY IRVING'S ORE DISCOVERY ON NEWMAN HILL IN 1879, WORK BEGAN ON SWANSEA, SONGBIRD, AND ENTERPRISE CLAIMS. SWANSEA EXHAUSTED BY 1883. BECAUSE NATURE OF FAULTING WAS NOT YET KNOWN, MINERS THOUGHT VEINS TO BE DISCONTINUOUS; NEWMAN HILL DISCOVERIES WERE DISCREDITED AND CLAIMS ABANDONED. IN 1884, LARNED AND HACKETT WORKED SWANSEA LEVEL, DISCOVERED VEIN TO BE FAULTED, AND PRODUCED ORE. IN 1886, A.A. WAGGENER AND GEROGE BARLOW RELOCATED SONGBIRD CLAIM, BUT FLOODING AND LACK OF CAPITAL HINDERED DEVELOPMENT. AT END OF 1886, DAVID SWICKHIMER BOUGHT THEIR INTERESTS & FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN SWANSEA MINE, RECOMMENDED SINKING ENTERPRISE SHAFT. MEANWHILE IN 1887, LARNED AND HACKETT DROVE NORTHWARD TOWARD SWANSEA CLAIM BOUNDARY; SWICKHIMER HAD TO FIND ORE OR HIS CLAIM COULD BE DISPUTED. ON VERGE OF NOT KEEPING UP ASSESSMENTS, LOSING LOCAL CREDIT AND NOW UNPAID MINERS, SWICKHIMER'S WIFE WON LOUISIANA LOTTERY, WHICH PAID DEBTS AND BOUGHT SUPPLIES. ON 10/6/87, HE HIT ORE AT 262 FT IN SHAFT

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723, P. 73-75.

  • Deposit

    PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS

  • Deposit

    RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 308-328.

  • Deposit

    CROSS, WHITMAN, AND RANSOME, F.L., 1905, DESCRIPTION OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE: USGS FOLIO 130.

  • Deposit

    RICKARD, T.A., 1895, VEIN STRUCTURE IN THE ENTERPRISE MINE: COLORADO SCI. SOC. PROC., V. 5, P. 123-130

  • Deposit

    RICKARD, T.A., 1896, THE ENTERPRISE MINE, RICO, COLORADO: AIME TRANS., V. 26, P. 906-980.

  • Deposit

    FARISH, J.B., 1892, ON THE ORE-DEPOSITS OF NEWMAN HILL, NEAR RICO, COLORADO: COLORADO SCI. SOC. PROC., V. 4, P. 151-164.

  • Deposit

    BASTIN, E.S., 1922, SILVER ENRICHMENT IN THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 735-D, P. 115

  • Deposit

    COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

  • Deposit

    BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 5909, 5910, 5911, 5916, 5917, 5923, 6285, 6392, 6394, 6399

  • Production

    COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS. (SHAMROCK, ATLANTIC CABLE, AND ENTERPRISE MINES

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit LOWER HERMOSA FM SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND LIMESTONE TREND GENERALLY N 60 TO 75 E, DIP 10 TO 15 SE. PRINCIPAL NE-TRENDING, SMALL-DISPLACEMENT, NEAR-VERTICAL FISSURE VEINS INCLUDE (FROM NW TO SE) SWANSEA (N 48 E), KITCHEN (N 53 E), ENTERPRISE (N 50 E), SONGBIRD (N 47 E), HIAWATHA (N 40 E), EUREKA (N62 E), JUMBO NO. 2 (N 34 E), AND JUMBO NO. 3 (N 32 E). VEINS CHARACTERIZED BY WELL FORMED BANDS OF QUARTZ AND RHODOCHROSITE OFTEN RIMMING LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE INCLUSIONS, STREAKS OF GALENA AND SPHALERITE, THIN DISCONTINUOUS CLAY SELVAGES, AND CASINGS OF SANDSTONE AND CRUSHED ROCK. ALTHOUGH EVIDENCE SUGGESTS ALL BANDING WAS DEPOSITIONAL, JUMBO 3 SHOWS POST-ORE REOPENING AND REDEPOSITON. ALSO SLIGHT OFFSETS OF FAULT ALONG BEDDING PLANE SLIPS. VEINS FLATTEN SLIGHTLY WHEN TRAVERSING LIMESTONE; IN SANDSTONE, VEINS STRAIGHTEN AND SHOW ENRICHMENT INORE. UNLIKE WALLS APPEAR BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR RICHER ORES, BEST WHERE FOOTWALL IS SANDSTONE AND HANGING WALL IS LIMESTONE. SELVAGES MOST NOTICEABLE IN
Deposit LIMESTONE, INFREQUENT IN SANDSTONE. LARGER-DISPLACEMENT CROSS VEINS TREND FROM NEARLY NORTH-SOUTH TO ABOUT N 45 W AND DIP AS SHALLOW AS 40 NE OR SW. SOME DISPLACE NE PAY VEINS WHILE OTHERS DO NOT. VEINS CONTAIN CRUSHED ROCK, QUARTZ GOUGE, SOME PYRITE, AND SOME AU AND AG. RICKARD BELIEVED BETTER ORE IN CROSS VEINS RESULTED FROM DRAG THROUGH OFFSET ACROSS NE PAY VEINS. RICHEST ORES FOUND IN BLANKET REPLACEMENTS ABOVE CONTACT LIMESTONE. BED IS AVERAGE 6-FT-THICK BRECCIATED SHALE OCCASIONALLY CONTAINING SANDSTONE FRAGMENTS FROM OVERLYING BEDS. RICKARD DESCRIBED CONTACT ORE AS OCCURRING (1) CRYSTALLINE LIMESTONE OVERLAIN BY BLACK SHALE AND UNDERLAIN BY SANDSTONE, (2) LIMESTONE BRECCIA OVERLAIN BY ANDSTONE AND UNDERLAIN BY GRAY LIMESTONE, (3) CRUSHED LIMESTONE OVERLAIN BY BLACK SHALE AND UNDERLAIN BY BLOCKY LIMESTONE. IN PLACES SUCH AS IN JUMBO VEIN, HORIZON IS OCCUPIED BY GYPSUM LAYER SHOWING IRREGULAR SOLUTION FEATURES. BLANKET ORE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED PARTLY AS INTERSTITIAL
Deposit FILLING AND PARTLY AS METASOMATIC REPLACEMENT OF BRECCIA MATERIAL. LITTLE ORE FOUND IN BLANKET NE OF LAURA SHAFT. BLANKETS ARE TABULAR AND LINEAR FEATURES FORMING RHOMBOID PLAN AND LOCALIZED OVER NE AND NW FISSURE VEINS. PECULIAR ASPECT IS THAT BOTH SETS OF VEINS SPLIT INTO QUARTZ STRINGERS AND VEINLETS AND BECOME IMPOVERISHED ON APPROACH TO CONTACT LIMESTONE, USUALLY WITHIN 20 TO 30 FT AND ESPECIALLY IN ZONE OF THINBEDDED SANDSTONES AND SHALES BENEATH CONTACT LIMESTONE. BLANKET ORES PROVED LARGER AND RICHER ABOVE NW CROSS VEINS THAN OVER NE PAY VEINS, BUT NOT ALL NW CROSS VEINS TOPPED BY BLANKET ORE. NO VEIN ORE FOUND ABOVE BLANKET, BUT SOME EVIDENCE OF DISRUPTION AND FLEXURE NOTED IN SHALES ABOVE FISSURES.

Reporter information

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

Beyond USGS

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

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.