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

Golden Fleece Mine

Past Producer in Hinsdale county in Colorado, United States with commodities Silver, Gold, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Tellurium, Uranium, Antimony, Manganese, Strontium, Bismuth, Phosphorus-Phosphates
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. Alteration
  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 10014678
MRDS ID D011559
Record type Site
Current site name Golden Fleece Mine
Alternate or previous names Hotchkiss Mine, Patented Claims: Golden Fleece, MS 1017, Pallas, MS 7668, Hinsdale, MS 7668, Golden Fleece Extension, MS 8550, Alpha, MS 8734, Omega, MS 8734, Enterprise, MS 8754, Yellow Jacket, MS 8978, Jason, MS 9118, Denver, MS 9118, Certified Check, MS 9364, Fleece Basin, MS 9364, Bank of Slumgullion, MS 9364, Kearsage, MS 12178, Colchis, MS 12234, Gold Pot, MS 12450, Gold Ram, MS 12450, Greek, MS 12948, Necessity, MS 12948, Iron Clad, MS 13393, Concord, MS 13393, Newbern, MS 16720
Related records 10239261

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -107.30063, 37.98057 (WGS84)
Elevation 2987
Relative position 3.5 MILES S 10 E FROM LAKE CITY

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Hinsdale(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Lake San Cristobal(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Silverton(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Durango(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Gunnison(hydrologic unit)

Gunnison(hydrologic accounting unit)

Gunnison(hydrologic subregion)

Upper Colorado(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Hinsdale

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 043N 004W 09,10,15,16,21 Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • MINE LIES IN GULCH ON HILLSIDE WEST OF NORTH END OF LAKE SAN CRISTOBAL, ADJOINING BLACK CROOK WORKINGS. SECTIONS LISTED INCLUDE THOSE COVERED BY CONSOLIDATION OF ADJACENT CLAIMS. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR PORTAL OF THIRD LEVEL TUNNEL, IN NE SE SE SEC. 16. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1977

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Gold Primary
Copper Primary
Lead Primary
Zinc Critical Secondary
Tellurium Critical Tertiary
Uranium Tertiary
Antimony Critical Tertiary
Manganese Critical Tertiary
Strontium Tertiary
Bismuth Critical Tertiary
Phosphorus-Phosphates Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • MINE HAS ONLY VERIFIED OCCURRENCE OF HINSDALITE (HYDRATED PB-SR PHOSPHATE).

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Altaite Ore
Bornite Ore
Covellite Ore
Galena Ore
Hessite Ore
Krennerite Ore
Petzite Ore
Pitchblende Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Sylvanite Ore
Barite Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Rhodochrosite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Surface Oxidation Of Fe Sulfides To Hematite And Limonite; Kaolinitization Of Feldspar In Tuff; Hypogene Alteration Of Argentiferous Cu Sulfide To Pyrargyrite, Covellite, And Bornite

Analytical data

Result CLASSES AND GRADES OF ORE: CLASS 1, 134.10 OZ/TON AU, 3077.0 OZ/TON AG
Result CLASS 2, 6.11 OZ/TON AU, 238.0 OZ/TON AG
Result CLASS 3, 2.0 OZ/TON AU, 53.0 OZ/TON AG
Result CLASS 4 (DUMP ORE), 0.40 OZ/TON AU, 15.0 OZ/TON AG. HIGH-GRADE ORE FROM MAIN LEVEL ASSAYED 1255 OZ/TON AG AND 125 OZ/TON AU. LARSEN AND SCHALLER'S (1911) ANALYSIS OF HINSDALITE: 31.75% PBO, 3.11% SRO, TRACE CAO, 26.47% AL2O3, 14.13% SO3, 14.50% P2O5, 10.25% H2O. MINERAL SAMPLE ANALYZED CONSISTED OF 82.56% 2PBO.3AL2O3.2SO3.P2O5.6H2O, AND 17.44% 2SRO.3AL2O3.2SO3.P2O5.6H2O (SVANBERGITE). COMPOSITION CITED BOTH AS (PB, SR) AL3(PO4) SO4) (OH)6 AND 2(PB, SR)0.3AL2O3.P2O5.2SO3.6H2O.

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
    Rock unit name Quartz Latite Of Volcanics Of Uncompahgre Peak;Biotite-Quartz Latite Of Burns Member Of Silverton Volcanics;Quartz Latite Of Red Mountain;Quartz Latite Of Grassy Mountain
    Rock description Quartz Latite Of Volcanics Of Uncompahgre Peak;Biotite-Quartz Latite Of Burns Member Of Silverton Volcanics;Quartz Latite Of Red Mountain;Quartz Latite Of Grassy Mountain
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite
    Rock unit name Local Volcaniclastic Sedimentary Rocks
    Rock description Local Volcaniclastic Sedimentary Rocks

Nearby scientific data

(1) -107.30063, 37.98057
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description San Juan Volcanic Field, San Juan Depression
Type of structure Local
Structure description San Juan-Uncompahgre Calderas, Lake City Caldera

Ore body information

  • General form IRREGULAR
    Thickness 3.05M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • East-West-Trending Radial Fault Related To Lake City Caldera Formation

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1874
Discoverer Enos F. Hotchkiss
Year of first production 1875
Year of last production 1963

Mining district

District name Lake (Lake City) District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Golden Fleece Mining Co.
    Home office Lake City, Co.
    First year 1964

Production statistics

  • Year 1963
    Description Ap_Grade: ^617.11 Oz/Ton Ag, 21.59 Oz/Ton Au, 0.5% Cu, 1.6% Pb, 0.55% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Zinc Zinc 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Lead Lead 2wt-pct
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Gold Gold 610g/mt
    Major Ore Silver Silver 17424g/mt
  • Year 1963
    Description Ap_Grade: ^46.89 Oz/Ton Ag, 0.943 Oz/Ton Au, 1.4% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.5% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Lead Lead 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Major Ore Gold Gold 27g/mt
    Major Ore Silver Silver 1323g/mt
    Minor Ore Zinc Zinc 1wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR ALL PRIOR YEARS. MINERAL RESOURCES U.S. VOLUMES CITE PRODUCTION IN 1906, 1909, 1916 (FROM DUMP), AND 1917; PRODUCTION NOT REPORTED SEPARATELY BUT COMBINED WITH THAT OF OTHER LAKE DISTRICT MINES. CDM CITES 22 ST CONCENTRATES (AT GRADE OF 1400 OZ/TON AG AND 18 OZ/TON AU) PRODUCED IN 1919. FIGURES LISTED FOR 1963 REPRESENT TWO TRIAL SHIPMENTS.

Comments on the workings information

  • MINE DEVELOPED BY THREE UPPER CROSSCUT TUNNELS AND LOWER DEEP TUNNEL. LOWER TUNNEL DRIVEN S 66 W FOR 2130 FT, WITH DE CAMP CROSSCUT TO BLACK CROOK MINE DRIVEN NW AT 1950 FT FROM PORTAL. AT 2080 FT FROM PORTAL, BRANCH DRIVEN SW AND WSW FOR ABOUT 1570 FT ON FLEECE VEIN. FIRST LEVEL PORTAL, LOCATED 2520 FT S 69 W FROM LOWER PORTAL, DRIVEN GENERALLY S 70 W FOR 700 FT ALONG VEIN, WITH 740 FT ADDITIONAL TUNNEL. SECOND LEVEL PORTAL, LOCATED 2380 FT S 67 W FROM LOWER PORTAL, DRIVEN GENERALLY S 70 W FOR 2000 FT ON VEIN. THIRD LEVEL PORTAL, LOCATED 2130 FT S 70 W FROM LOWER PORTAL, DRIVEN S 45 W FOR 380 FT, THENCE GENERALLY S 70 W FOR 1120 FT ON VEIN. CDM REPORT DESCRIBES ADDITIONAL WORKINGS ON THIRD LEVEL: AT 500 FT FROM PORTAL, 25-FT WINZE AND 50-FT WINZE WITH 60-FT DRIFT FROM BOTTOM. AT LEAST TWO OTHER LOWER LEVELS AGGREGATE ABOUT 1300 FT. 250-FT SHAFT FROM SURFACE TO FIRST LEVEL; RAISES OR WINZES CONNECT FIRST AND SECOND LEVELS; 300-FT WINZE SUNK FROM THIRD LEVEL TO LOWER LEVELS. OLD MILL
  • BUILT IN 1899 BY STEARNS, ROGER & CO. AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH ROLLS FOR CRUSHING, HUNTINGTON MILLS FOR REGRINDING, WILFLEY TABLES FOR CONCENTRATION, AND CANVAS PLANT FOR SLIMES. TREATMENT OF 18000 ST ORE OF ABOUT 1:1 AU-AG AVERAGED 45 TO 60% EXTRACTION (12:1 RATIO) WITH CONCENTRATES CONTAINING 55 TO 60 OZ/TON AG, 1 TO 3 OZ/TON AU, AND 12 TO 18% PB.

Comments on development

  • WHILE SURVEYING TOLL ROAD FROM SAGUACHE TO LAKE CITY IN 1874, ENOS F. HOTCHKISS FOUND CONSPICUOUS OUTCROP OF GOLDEN FLEECE VEIN AND LOCATED IT AS "HOTCHKISS" MINE. HIS ASSESSMENT WORK REVEALED NO ORE. AFTER HOTCHKISS ABANDONED CLAIM, IT WAS RELOCATED IN 1875 BY GEORGE WILSON AND CHRIS JOHNSON AS "GOLDEN FLEECE" MINE. THEY BEGAN NO. 1 TUNNEL BUT FOUND ONLY STRINGERS OF RICH ORE, AND WORK WAS ABANDONED. O.P. POSEY SHIPPED SMALL AMOUNT OF RICH ORE FROM OUTCROP ABOVE NO. 1 TUNNEL. BETWEEN 1876 AND 1878, JOHN J. CROOKE TOOK LEASE AND BOND AND EXTRACTED $30,000 WORTH OF ORE FROM OUTCROP. CHARLES DAVIS ALSO WORKED OUTCROP AND IN 1889 SUNK 30-FT SHAFT THAT STRUCK RICH ORE. LATE IN 1889, GEORGE W. PIERCE BOUGHT MINE, CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION, EXTENDED NO. 2 TUNNEL UNTIL RICH ORE WAS FOUND. MINE PRODUCED $1.4 MILLION WORTH OF ORE UP TO 1904. CONCENTRATION MILL ERECTED IN 1899. ABOUT 1900 OR 1901, DEEP TUNNEL DRIVEN FROM NEAR SITE AT BASE OF HILL. MINE LATER PRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY IN
  • 1906, 1909, 1916-1919. EXPLORATION IN 1963 BY C. N. MORITZ; EXPLORATION/DEVELOPMENT AND TRIAL ORE SHIPMENTS IN 1964 BY GOLDEN FLEECE MINING CO.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: (11) CHASE, E.E., 1898, REPORT ON THE GOLDEN FLEECE MINE: COLORADO STATE PLANNING COMM. UNPUB. REPT., 6P.; (12) HOLMES, W.I., )NO DATE), GOLDEN FLEECE MINE: COLORADO STATE PLANNING COMM. UNPUB. REPT., 1 P.; (13) IRVING, J.D., 1905, ORE DEPOSITS IN THE VICINITY OF LAKE CITY, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 260, P. 78-84; (14) RICKARD, T.A., 1903, ACROSS THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS: ENG. MINING JOUR., V. 76, P. 307-308; (15) RICKARD, T.A., 1904, REPORT ON THE GOLDEN FLEECE MINE: COLORADO STATE PLANNING COMM. UNPUB. REPT., 2 P. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT
Deposit VEIN WAS DISTINCT, NARROW FISSURE WITH DEFINITE WALLS, SPLITTING INTO SMALLER BRANCHES ALONG STRIKE. ORE CHARACTERIZED BY TELLURIDES AND SECONDARY PYRARGYRITE AND OCCURRED IN WEST-PITCHING SHOOT MEASURING ABOUT 750 FT ALONG LEVELS. INTERIOR OF SHOOT CONTAINED RICH TELLURIDE ORE. VEIN CONTAINS BANDS OF NEARLY PURE, COARSELY CRYSTALLINE HINSDALITE. BANDS BORDERED BY FINELY CRYSTALLINE AGGREGATES OF QUARTZ AND HINSDALITE IN WHICH WELL-FORMED CRYSTALS OF HINSDALITE ARE EMBEDDED. VEIN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO PREDATE COLLAPSE OF LAKE CITY CALDERA, BASED ON WESTWARD TERMINATION OF VEIN AND ALTERED ROCKS AT APPARENT EAST TOPOGRAPHIC WALL. SLACK (1980) RELOCATED TOPOGRAPHIC WALL AT BASE OF HIGHER STRATIGRAPHIC UNIT AND DEMONSTRATED THAT UPPER PART OF VEIN CUTS TOPOGRAPHIC WALL, THUS POSTDATING COLLAPSE.
Deposit MINE LOCATED ON EAST RIM OF LAKE CITY CALDERA ON ENE-WSW-TRENDING RADIAL FAULT/FRACTURE IN SLACK'S (1980) BARITE/PRECIOUS METALS ASSEMBLAGE, INNER QUARTZ-SPHALERITE ZONE. CALDERA WALL TRUNCATES SEQUENCE OF UNCOMPAHGRE CALDERA MOAT-FILL ROCKS, CONSISTING OF HENSON MBR QUARTZ LATITE, VOLCANICLASTICS (TUFFACEOUS SANDSTONE AND SHALE), AND UNCOMPAHGRE PEAK QUARTZ LATITE. THIS AREA OF LAKE CITY CALDERA FILLED BY RED MOUNTAIN QUARTZ LATITE INTRUDED ALONG RING FRACTURE AND PARTLY OVERLAIN BY GRASSY MOUNTAIN QUARTZ LATITE. PRINCIPAL VEIN IS GOLDEN FLEECE, TRENDING GENERALLY N 85 E, 65 SE ON OUTCROP, LYING AT APPROX RIGHT ANGLES TO ILMA/BLACK CROOK CONCENTRIC VEIN DEVELOPED AT BLACK CROOK MINE JUST TO NORTH. VEIN IS 8- TO 10-WIDE IRREGULAR ZONE CONSISTING OF BROKEN COUNTRY ROCK WITH INTERSTICES FILLED WITH QUARTZ AND FRAGMENTS OF ALTERED SILICEOUS ROCK IMPREGNATED WITH ORE. IN UPPER LEVELS, VEIN LACKED DEFINITE WALLS AND GRADED OUTWARD INTO LESS BROKEN AND UNMINERALIZED ROCK. IN LOWER LEVELS,

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAR-1984 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.