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Union-Carbonate Mine

Past Producer in Dolores county in Colorado, United States with commodities Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Gold
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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 10014144
MRDS ID D010792
Record type Site
Current site name Union-Carbonate Mine
Alternate or previous names Patented Claims: Union, MS 5376, Carbonate, MS 5376, Zach Taylor, MS 5376, Fickle Goddess, MS 7330, Iron Silver, MS 7330, Chauncey, MS 7330, Unpatented Claims: Incas, Toltec, G. R., Drummer Boy, State, Parnell, Greenhorn, Buckhorn, Buckhorn No. 2, Diamond Dyes, Diamond H., Copper Dollar, Buckhorn Tunnel
Related records 10166673, 10288306

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -108.01315, 37.69195 (WGS84)
Elevation 3086
Relative position 0.9 MILES S 89 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;040N 011W;010W 36;31 E2 OF NE (36); W2 OF NW (31) Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). AT NE END OF NEWMAN HILL ON WEST SIDE OF NORTH PROJECTION OF DOLORES MTN. (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
Prehnite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Sulfur Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Oxidation Of Pb Sulfide To Carbonate; Alteration Of Pyrite; Silicification

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) 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
    Rock unit name Hermosa Formation
    Rock description Hermosa Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -108.01315, 37.69195
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

  • Bedding Fault In Shale; Intersection Of Shale And Nw-Trending Faults

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1877
Year of first production 1887
Year of last production 1937

Mining district

District name Pioneer (Rico) District

Land status

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

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Robert Baer And Associates
    Home office Rico, Co.
    First year 1937
  • Type Owner
    Owner George E. Collins And Associates
    Home office Denver, Co.
    First year 1937

Production statistics

  • Year 1925
    Description Ap_Grade: ^6.8 Oz/Ton Ag, 28.9% Pb, 2.3% Zn, 0.035 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 29wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 192g/mt
  • Year 1926
    Description Ap_Grade: ^10 Oz/Ton Ag, 27.5% Pb, 2.5% Zn, 0.06 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 2g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 28wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 282g/mt
  • Year 1927
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.17 Oz/Ton Ag, 24.17% Pb, 2.2% Zn, 0.03 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 24wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 231g/mt
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1928
    Description Ap_Grade: ^4 Oz/Ton Ag, 14.9% Pb, 21.28% Zn, 0.56% Cu, 0.01 Oz/Ton Au (Milling)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 21wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 15wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 113g/mt
  • Year 1928
    Description Ap_Grade: ^9.85 Oz/Ton Ag, 21.65% Pb, 3.1% Zn, 0.03 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 22wt-pct
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
    Major Ore Silver Silver 278g/mt
  • Year 1929
    Description Ap_Grade: ^2.73 Oz/Ton Ag, 11.2% Pb, 17.7% Zn, 0.34% Cu, 0.005 Oz/Ton Au (Milling)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 18wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 11wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 77g/mt
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
  • Year 1929
    Description Ap_Grade: ^3.76 Oz/Ton Ag, 13.8% Pb, 18.4% Zn, 0.49% Cu, 0.01 Oz/Ton Au (Milling)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 106g/mt
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Minor Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 18wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 14wt-pct
  • Year 1929
    Description Ap_Grade: ^5.83 Oz/Ton Ag, 18.35% Pb, 6.9% Zn, 0.01 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 7wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 18wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 165g/mt
  • Year 1931
    Description Ap_Grade: ^18.8 Oz/Ton Ag, 21.5% Pb, 2.2% Zn, 0.14 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 4g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 22wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 531g/mt
  • Year 1937
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.5 Oz/Ton Ag, 20.4% Pb, 1.8% Zn, 0.04 Oz/Ton Au (Crude)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 20wt-pct
    Major Ore Silver Silver 240g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR 1887-1924. NO PRODUCTION IN 1930, 1932-1936, AND AFTER 1937. THIRD FIGURE FOR 1929 IS MILLING ORE CREDITED TO BUCKHORN TUNNEL.

Comments on the workings information

  • MINE DEVELOPED BY 356-FT SHAFT WITH TUNNELS INTERSECTING AT 190-FT AND 210-FT LEVELS; SEVERAL INCLINES AND DECLINES. BY 1937, UPPER CARBONATE TUNNEL WAS 600 FT LONG AND LAY 70 FT ABOVE MAIN LEVEL OF FOREST-PAYROLL, INTO WHICH ORE WAS CHUTED AND TRANSPORTED OUT. BUCKHORN TUNNEL AT LEAST 1200 FT LONG, DRIVEN SE, WITH CROSSCUT AT TOP OF 180-FT RAISE. FICKLE GODDESS TUNNEL DRIVEN S 83 E FOR 682 FT, INTENDING TO CONNECT WITH DEEPENED SHAFT AT 800-FT LEVEL.

Comments on development

  • WORK ON MINE BEGAN IN 1879, BUT LITIGATION KEPT MINE IDLE FROM 1880-1887, AFTER WHICH CONTESTANTS AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER. UNION AND CARBONATE CLAIMS SURVEY 1888 AND PATENTED 1892 BY FENNO WAKEMAN. ORE MINED UNTIL 1894. LATER OPERATION INCLUDED UNION CARBONATE MINES, INC., 1925-1931 AND ROBERT BAER AND ASSOCIATES, 1937.

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., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 341-346

  • 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 5376, 7330

  • Production

    COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Discovery Year: LATE 1870S
Deposit SW-DIPPING LOWER HERMOSA SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND LIMESTONE ARE INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY SILLS AND DIKES. NE-AND NORTH-SOUTH-TRENDING FISSURES IMPORTANT AS ORE VEINS IN ENTERPRISE MINE AREA ARE NOT PROMINENT IN UNION-CARBONATE. MOST FISSURES HERE TREND N 60 TO 75 W WITH MOST PROMINENT TRENDS NEAR EAST-WEST. SMALL-DISPLACEMENT FISSURES SOMETIMES COMPOSED OF QUARTZ WITH PYRITE AND LOW-GRADE GALENA ORE. VEINS USUALLY CARRY NO WORKABLE ORE. PRINCIPAL DEPOSIT IS BLANKET ORE IN APPARENT BEDDING FAULT AND CONSISTING OF 4 TO 5 FT OF BRECCIA (SHALE AND PORPHYRY FRAGMENTS IN CLAY MATRIX) ABOVE PORPHYRY SILL AND BELOW SHALE BED. NORTH OF SHAFT, BRECCIA LIES ENTIRELY WITHIN PORPHYRY. WHERE ROOF IS SHALE, BRECCIA GRADES INDISTINCTLY INTO LESS DISTURBED SHALE. SHALE FRAGMENTS BLEACHED, ALTERED, AND REPLACED BY PYRITE, OR BY QUARTZ AND PYRITE; QUARTZ ALSO FILLS VUGS. BRECCIA INTENSELY ALTERED ABOVE 190 LEVEL WHERE BLANKET LIES BETWEEN PORPHYRY SHEETS ABOVE PROMINENT NW-TRENDING VEIN.
Deposit BLANKET REPLACEMENT CAN BE EITHER SOLID BODY OF QUARTZ AND PYRITE OR GALENA-BEARING PYRITE MASSES, OR POROUS STRUCTURE CONTAINING PYRITE AND SULFUR. VEINS PASS UNDISTURBED UPWARD THROUGH BLANKET, RATHER THAN SPLITTING INTO STRINGERS AS AT ENTERPRISE. BELOW PRINCIPAL BLANKET, OTHER LESS IMPORTANT BLANKETS OCCUR IN THIN ALTERED SHALE BETWEEN SANDSTONE AND PORPHYRY; UNFAULTED BLANKETS CONTAIN OXIDIZED PB ORE (CARBONATE) WITH SOME RESIDUAL SULFIDE EXTENDING INTO SHALE ON BOTH SIDES OF VERTICAL FISSURE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-SEP-1983 Schwochow, Stephen D. (Hasler, J. William) Colorado Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

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