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Rico-Aspen Mine

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

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10014138
MRDS ID D010785
Record type Site
Current site name Rico-Aspen Mine
Alternate or previous names Syndicate Tunnel, Patented Claims: Telegraph, MS 780, Syndicate, MS 2185a, Star, MS 6199, Silver Glance, MS 6201, Silver Glance No. 2, MS 6201, Snow Flake, MS 6216, Vestal, MS 6252, Aspen, MS 6512, Last Chance, MS 6512, Brittle Silver, MS 7458, Selenide, MS 7458, Silver Glance No. 4, MS 7976, Stephanite, MS 7980
Related records 10118618

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -108.02926, 37.67918 (WGS84)
Elevation 2757
Relative position 0.9 MILES S 1 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 039N;040N 011W;011W 01;36 N2 (01); S2 OF S2 OF SE (36) Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). MINE LIES AT SOUTH END OF NEWMAN HILL NORTH OF DEADWOOD GULCH, AND WORKINGS CONNECT WITH NEWMAN AND ENTERPRISE MINES (UNSURVEYED SECTIONS). RECORDS DO NOT CONFIRM THAT ALL PATENTED CLAIMS LISTED ABOVE HAD BEEN CONSOLIDATED BY OPERATOR, BUT THOSE LISTED OVERLIE MOST OF WORKINGS AS MAPPED BY RANSOME (1901). ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR PORTAL OF SYNDICATE TUNNEL JUST BEYOND WEST END OF TELEGRAPH CLAIM (NW NW SEC. 01) 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
Bismuth Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Argentite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Calcite Gangue
Dolomite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Siderite Gangue

Analytical data

Result TETRAHEDRITE-TENNANTITE-BEARING SPHALERITE FROM SYNDICATE DUMP CONTAINED 5.0% AG AND 0.5% BI

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 Hornblende Latite Porphyry
    Rock description Hornblende Latite Porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • 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) -108.02926, 37.67918
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

  • Limestone And Dissolution Gypsum Breccia Below Impermeable Shale Above Ne-Trending Vertical Fissures

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant Yes
Year of last production 1939

Mining district

District name Pioneer (Rico) District

Land status

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

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner G. S. Hicks
    Home office Rico, Co.
    First year 1939
  • Type Owner
    Owner Pelleyre Mining And Milling Co.
    Home office Salt Lake City, Ut.
    First year 1939

Production statistics

  • Year 1919
    Description Ap_Grade: ^100 Oz/Ton Ag, 10% Pb, 15% Zn, 0.75 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Zinc Zinc 15wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 10wt-pct
    Minor Gold Gold 21g/mt
    Major Ore Silver Silver 2823g/mt
  • Year 1920
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5 Oz/Ton Ag, 20% Pb, 25% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 20wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 141g/mt
    Major Zinc Zinc 25wt-pct
  • Year 1921
    Description Ap_Grade: ^100 Oz/Ton Ag, 12% Pb, 15.8% Zn, 1.8% Cu, 0.6 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Gold Gold 1wt-pct
    Minor Copper Copper 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 12wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 2824g/mt
    Major Zinc Zinc 16wt-pct
  • Year 1930
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5.9 Oz/Ton Ag, 21.35% Pb, 32.2% Zn, 1.21% Cu, 0.2 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 21wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 167g/mt
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 6g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 32wt-pct
  • Year 1937
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5.5 Oz/Ton Ag, 20% Pb, 30% Zn, 1% Cu, 0.23 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 6g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 20wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 155g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 30wt-pct
  • Year 1938
    Description Ap_Grade: ^4.5 Oz/Ton Ag, 20% Pb, 32% Zn, 1% Cu, 0.23 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 6g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 20wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 127g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 32wt-pct
  • Year 1939
    Description Ap_Grade: ^6.345 Oz/Ton Ag, 12.64% Pb, 41.26% Zn, 1.14% Cu, 0.459 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 13g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 13wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 179g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 41wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR YEARS PRIOR TO 1919. NO PRODUCTION IN 1922-1929, 1931-1936, AND AFTER 1939.

Comments on the workings information

  • MINE DEVELOPED BY SILVER GLANCE, ASPEN, VESTAL, JUMBO, AND MONTEZUMA SHAFTS, AND BY SYNDICATE, STEPHANITE, AND SNOWFLAKE TUNNELS. SYNDICATE TUNNEL DRIVEN S 63 E FOR ABOUT 920 FT, THENCE S 73 E FOR AT LEAST 1750FT, WITH DRIFTS ON SYNDICATE VEIN AT 280 FT, MONTEZUMA-JUMBO VEIN AT 580 TO 700 FT, STAR VEIN AT 1430 FT, SELENIDE VEIN AT 1970 FT FROM PORTAL. STEPHANITE TUNNEL LOCATED 880 FT SW OF SYNDICATE AND DRIVEN N 54 E FOR 480 FT, THENCE BRANCHING TO CONNECT WITH SYNDICATE AND MONTEZUMA-JUMBO DRIFTS OFF SYNDICATE TUNNEL. SNOWFLAKE TUNNEL LOCATED 1400 FT SE OF SYNDICATE AND DRIVEN GENERALLY N 13 E FOR 990 FT. SILVER GLANCE SHAFT LOCATED ABOUT 1500 FT SE OF SYNDICATE; VESTAL SHAFT LOCATED 2580 FT ENE OF SYNDICATE; JUMBO SHAFT LOCATED 2020 FT NE OF SYNDICATE; MONTEZUMA SHAFT LOCATED 1750 FT NE OF SYNDICATE.

Comments on development

  • EARLY HISTORY UNKNOWN BUT DISCOVERY PROBABLY WAS RESULT OF HARRY IRVING'S DISCOVERY ON NEWMAN HILL IN 1879 AND SWICKHIMER'S GREAT DISCOVERY AT ENTERPRISE IN 1887. LATER OPERATORS INCLUDED SYNDICATE MINING ANDMILLING CO. 1919-1921 AND G.S. HICKS AND/OR HICKS BROTHERS 1930-1939.

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 MAP GQ-797.

  • Deposit

    RANSOME, F.L., THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 335-340.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 780, 2185A, 6199, 6201, 6216, 6252, 7458, 7459, 7976, 7980

  • Deposit

    BASTIN, E.S., 1922, SILVER ENRICHMENT IN THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 735-D, P. 114-115.

  • Production

    COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit SW-DIPPING LOWER HERMOSA FM SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND LIMESTONE ARE INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY SILLS AND DIKES. FISSURE VEINS CONTAINED IN NE-TRENDING VERTICAL FAULTS AND ARE CUT BY NUMEROUS NW-TRENDING BARREN CROSS FAULTS. FISSURE VEINS SPLIT INTO STRINGERS UPWARD TOWARD ENTERPRISE CONTACT AND ARE TOPPED BY BLANKET REPLACEMENTS IN LIMESTONE AND IN DISSOLUTION BRECCIA FROM OVERLYING GYPSUM. OTHER BLANKETS FORM NEXT TO NE VERTICALS CUTTING SHALE. FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, PRINCIPAL NE VEINS ARE SYNDICATE (EQUIVALENT TO STEPHENS AND EUREKA TO NE), MONTEZUMA-JUMBO, STAR (JUMBO NO. 3?), AND SELENIDE. SELENIDE VEIN CONSISTS OF NUMEROUS SMALL QUARTZ STRINGERS ON GENERALLY PARALLEL COURSE OF N 55 E, DYING OUT BEFORE REACHING BASE OF GYPSUM. SOUTH OF SILVER GLANCE SHAFT AND DEADWOOD GULCH AND NEAR DEADWOOD FAULT, BLANKET GREW THINNER AND DIPPED STEEPLY SOUTH. AFTER EXAMINING RICH ORE SAMPLES FROM SILVER GLANCE SHAFT AREA, BASTIN (1922) CONCLUDED THAT PEARCEITE, ARGENTITE, AND TENNANTITE
Deposit WERE ALL OF PRIMARY RATHER THAN SECONDARY ORIGIN IN GALENA AND CHALCOPYRITE ORE.

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.

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Authoritative Colorado resources

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