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

Silver Swan Mine

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

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10014142
MRDS ID D010789
Record type Site
Current site name Silver Swan Mine
Alternate or previous names Patented Claims: N.A. Cowdrey, MS 6317, Little Maggie, MS 8070, Hardscrabble, MS 8070, Burchard, MS 8070, Sachem, MS 20620, Dawson, MS 20620, Silver Swan, MS 20620, Wamba, MS 20620, Katherine,Ms 20620, Twilight, MS 20622, Unpatented Claims: New Era, Nirvana, New Era Nos. 1-3, Nirvana Nos. 1-3, Frances, Tamale, Ruby, Ira, Alice, Eliese, Marjorie, Pine Knot, Panama, Crescent Romilda, Louise, Tango, White Hope, Rose, Eleanor, Signal and Sunrise, Champiton
Related records 10166402

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -108.03565, 37.68084 (WGS84)
Elevation 2650
Relative position 0.85 MILES S 22 W 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;039N 011W;011W 35;02 S2 (35); N2 (02) Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON WEST SIDE OF DOLORES RIVER JUST BELOW SULPHUR CREEK CONFLUENCE (UNSURVEYED SECTIONS). ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN 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

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Sphalerite Ore

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 Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite
    Rock unit name Hornblende Latite Porphyry;Augite Monzonite
    Rock description Hornblende Latite Porphyry;Augite Monzonite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Hermosa Formation
    Rock description Hermosa Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone

Nearby scientific data

(1) -108.03565, 37.68084
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

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

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Year of last production 1966

Mining district

District name Pioneer (Rico) District

Land status

Ownership category Private
Area name San Juan N. F.

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Rico-Argentine Mining Co.
    Home office Rico, Co.
    First year 1972

Production statistics

  • Year 1926
    Description Ap_Grade: ^3.5 To 4 Oz/Ton Ag, 15% Pb, 16% Zn, 0.1% Cu, 0.02 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Zinc Zinc 16wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 15wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 106g/mt
    Minor Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1927
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8 Oz/Ton Ag, 12% Pb, 12% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 0.02 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 12wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 226g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 12wt-pct
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1928
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.67 Oz/Ton Ag, 14.3% Pb, 12.9% Zn, 0.25% Cu, 0.0235 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 13wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 14wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 245g/mt
  • Year 1929
    Description Ap_Grade: ^14.58 Oz/Ton Ag, 23% Pb, 18.3% Zn, 0.94% Cu, 0.0105 Oz/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 18wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 403g/mt
    Major Ore Lead Lead 23wt-pct
  • Year 1949
    Description Ap_Grade: ^6 Oz/Ton Ag, 6.6% Pb, 7.8% Zn, 0.1% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 169g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 8wt-pct
  • Year 1950
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5.17 Oz/Ton Ag, 6.88% Pb, 7.01% Zn, 0.4% Cu, Trace Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 146g/mt
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 7wt-pct
  • Year 1951
    Description Ap_Grade: ^2.2 Oz/Ton Ag, 3.2% Pb, 4.16% Zn, Trace Cu, Trace Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 4wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 62g/mt
  • Year 1952
    Description Ap_Grade: ^2.54 Oz/Ton Ag, 3.47% Pb, 4.9% Zn, Trace Cu, Trace Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 5wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 72g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAIBLE FOR YEARS PRIOR TO 1926. NO PRODUCTION REPORTED FOR 1930-1948, 1954-1965, AND AFTER 1966. PRODUCTION FOR 1966 WAS DUMP ORE.

Comments on the workings information

  • BY 1953, WORKINGS CONSISTED OF CROSSCUT TUNNEL AT LEAST 2000 FT LONG AND DRIVEN GENERALLY WEST, WITH 150-FT RAISE AT END TO UPPER VENTILATION TUNNEL; SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OF DRIFTS, WITH RAISES AND WINZES. AT ABOUT 900 FT IN TUNNEL, OLD 60-FT RAISE CONNECTS TO SHORT UPPER LEVEL, FROM WHICH 12-FT RAISE DRIVEN TO HIGHER LEVEL.

Comments on development

  • EARLY HISTORY UNKNOWN, BUT IN LATER YEARS MINE WORKED BY RICO MINING AND REDUCTION CO. (1926), ST. LOUIS SMELTING AND REFINING CO. (1927-1929), AND RICO-ARGENTINE MINING CO. (1949-1972).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 361-362.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 6317, 8070, 20620, 20622

  • Production

    COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit TUNNEL DRIVEN INTO LOWER HERMOSA FM LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE, AND SHALE INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY. SMALL IRREGULAR VEIN IN LOWER LEVEL ENLARGES IN UPPER LEVEL AND TRENDS N 80 E, 70 NW, AND SHOWS ONE FOOT OF ORE ON HANGING WALL WITH SHEETED SANDSTONE AND ORE STRINGERS ON FOOTWALL. HIGHER LEVEL OFF RAISE FROM UPPER LEVEL SHOWS BLANKET REPLACEMENT CONSISTING OF LOWER 6 INCHES OF CLAY AND GOUGE OVERLAIN BY SHATTERED AND CRUSHED SHALE.

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.