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Aztec Mine

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

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10101863
MRDS ID D010699
Record type Site
Current site name Aztec Mine
Alternate or previous names Patented Claims: Aztec, MS 14379, Republic, MS 14379

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -107.61091, 37.59779 (WGS84)
Elevation 3606
Relative position 13.8 MILES S 12 E FROM SILVERTON

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

La Plata(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Columbine Pass(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Silverton(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Durango(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Animas(hydrologic unit)

Upper San Juan(hydrologic accounting unit)

San Juan(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)

Weminuche Wilderness(Wilderness)

Wilderness FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado La Plata

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 039N;038N 007W;007W 35;02 SW OF SW (35); E2 OF W2 (02) Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). CLAIMS EXTEND ACROSS EAST END OF AZTEC MTN; ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR TUNNEL SITE IN SEC. 35 ON NORTH SIDE OF AZTEC MTN, 0.45 MILE WSW OF COLUMBINE PASS. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974
  • (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ALONG UPPER EAST MANCOS RIVER BELOW RUXH BASIN AND NORTHWARD ACROSS JACKSON RIDGE. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR APPROX CENTER OF GROUP (NORTH STAR AND SUNDOWN MINES) IN E2 E2 SEC. 31. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1974)

Commodities

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

Comments on the commodity information

  • ORE MINERALS LISTED BASED MOSTLY ON OCCURRENCES AT AETNA MINE

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Argentite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Tetrahedrite Ore
Molybdenite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Rhodochrosite Gangue

Analytical data

Result STEVEN AND OTHERS' (1969) ASSAY OF SELECTED SAMPLES FROM DUMPS OF SHORT TUNNEL AND OPEN CUT CONTAINED 0.02 OZ/TON AU, 4.28 OZ/TON AG, 0.41% CU, 2.44% PB, 3.86% ZN
Result 5-FT CHIP SAMPLE FROM FACE OF LONG TUNNEL CONTAINED 0.01% CU, TRACES OF AU, AG, PB, AND ZN
Result DUMP SAMPLE CONTAINED 0.02 OZ/TON AU, 0.44 OZ/TON AG, TRACES OF CU, PB, AND ZN. SEMIQUANTITATIVE SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF QUARTZ VEIN MATERIAL CONTAINING MOLYBDENITE CONTAINED 1500 PPM TI, 500 PPM MN, 5 PPM AG, LT 200 PPM AS, 700 PPM BA, 30 PPM BI, LT 20 PPM CD, 5 PPM CR, 50 PPM CU, 500 PPM MO, 300 PPM PB, LT 100 PPM SB, 10 PPM SN, LT 100 PPM SR, 20 PPM V, LT 50 PPM W, 700 PPM ZN
Result CHEMICAL ANALYSIS CONTAINED 0.08 PPM AU, 40 PPM CU, 250 PPM PB, 480 PPM ZN.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 85
USGS model code 22c
Deposit model name Polymetallic veins
Mark3 model number 46

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method U-Pb (zircon)
    Type of media Zircon
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method Rb-Sr
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1460
    Dating method K-Ar
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock unit name Eolus Granite;Intrusive Bodies And Related Rocks (Younger And Older Bodies Of Chicago Basin Stock
    Rock description Eolus Granite;Intrusive Bodies And Related Rocks (Younger And Older Bodies Of Chicago Basin Stock
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1460
    Dating method K-Ar
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method U-Pb (zircon)
    Type of media Zircon
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method Rb-Sr
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1460
    Dating method K-Ar
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method Rb-Sr
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method U-Pb (zircon)
    Type of media Zircon
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock unit name Eolus Granite
    Rock description Eolus Granite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method U-Pb (zircon)
    Type of media Zircon
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1466
    Dating method Rb-Sr
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Precambrian
    Chronological age 1460
    Dating method K-Ar

Nearby scientific data

(1) -107.61091, 37.59779
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description San Juan Uplift, San Juan Basin, San Juan Volcanic Field
Type of structure Local
Structure description Needle Mtns Uplift, Chicago Basin Stock, Eolus Batholith, Trimble Stock

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Metalliferous Veins Controlled By Regional Rectangular Fracture System In Granites And By Local Radial Fracture System Associated With Emplacement Of Chicago Basin Stock.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discoverer Aztec Gold And Copper Mining Co. (Claimant)

Mining district

District name Needle Mountain (Tacoma, Florida, Vallecito) District

Land status

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

Comments on the production information

  • PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR 1890-1897 AND INTERVENING YEARS FROM 1900-1933. NO PRODUCTION FOR 1935 OR APPARENTLY LATER YEARS. FIGURES FOR 1898-1899 ARE MILL RUN ORE BY MANCOS CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINES; 1907 FIGURE IS CRUDE ORE SOLD BY MANCOS CONSOLIDATED. FIGURE FOR 1910 IS CRUDE ORE SOLD BY DOYLE CONSOLIDATED MINES. FIGURES FOR 1934 ARE MILLED AND CRUDE ORE SOLD BY HESPERUS MINING CO. LAST 1934 FIGURES ARE CRUDE ORE CREDITED TO SASSER MINE (POSSIBLE ALTERNATE NAME).

Comments on the workings information

  • 50-FT ADIT DRIVEN S 10 W: SECOND DRIFT HEADING S 35 E FOR 115 FT, THENCE, S 55 E FOR 80 FT TO FACE; SMALL OPEN CUT SE OF SHORT TUNNEL
  • TIMBERLINE MINE DEVELOPED BY LOWER MAIN DRIFT TUNNEL DRIVEN N 70 W FOR 320 FT. FOUR RAISES 30 TO 50 FT HIGH CONNECT TO 180-FT-LONG UPPER LEVEL; TOTAL EXTENT OF WORKINGS APPROX 715 FT. NORTH STAR AND SUNDOWN MINES DEVELOPED BY TUNNELS AND INTER-CONNECTED DRIFTS AND FLAT STOPES. SUNDOWN TUNNEL DRIVEN N 15 W FOR 150 FT WITH APPROX 625 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS CONNECTING TO SECOND TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY N 30 TO 50 W FOR 715 FT WITH APPROX 1050 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS (EXCLUSIVE OF STOPES, RAISES, AND WINZES) CONNECTING TO NORTH STAR TUNNEL, WHICH IS DRIVEN GENERALLY N 25 W FOR 470 FT WITH APPROX 335 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS. NARROW GAGE MINE IS SHAFT OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. GEORGIA GIRL MINE IS CAVED ADIT AT LEAST 100 FT LONG WITH OTHER ADITS AND SHALLOW OPEN CUTS.

Comments on development

  • HOBO CLAIM LOCATED ABOUT 1888, FOLLOWED BY TIMBERLINE GROUP IN 1890, DURING WHICH TIME GEORGE A. JACKSON BEGAN DEVELOPMENT ON WEST MANCOS RIVER (PEERLESS MINE). REPLACEMENT DEPOSITS IN LIMESTONE DISCOVERED IN 1890S, AND ABOUT 1896-1897 JAMES DOYLE FORMED MANCOS CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINING AND DEVELOPMENT CO., WHICH DEVELOPED AND CONSOLIDATED MOST OF JACKSON RIDGE PROPERTIES AND BUILT 10-STAMP AMALGAMATION/CONCENTRATION MILL THAT RAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. OTHER ATTEMPTS TO WORK PROPERTIES MADE DURING 1902-1934. HESPERUS MINING CO. FORMED IN 1934 AND CONTROLED NEARLY ALL JACKSON RIDGE LAND, BUILT SMALL PILOT PLANT AND PRODUCED SOME ORE; MILL REPLACED IN 1935 BY LARGER FLOTATION MILL; CONSIDERABLE SURFACE DEVELOPMENT WORK DONE. FATAL SNOWSLIDE ENDED ACTIVITY IN 1936, BUT LATER IN 1937 SAN JUAN MILLING AND REFINING CO. BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF 200-TON FLOTATION MILL NEAR BRAYTON SWITCH SEVERAL MILES DOWNSTREAM.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    SCHMITT, L.J., AND RAYMOND, W.H., 1977, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE NEEDLE MOUNTAINS DISTRICT, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1434, 40 P.

  • Deposit

    STEVEN, T.A., AND OTHERS, 1969, MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE SAN JUAN PRIMITIVE AREA, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1261-F, P. 30-32, 55-67, 101-102, 162-163.

  • Deposit

    CROSS, WHITMAN, AND OTHERS, 1905, DESCRIPTION OF THE NEEDLE MOUNTAINS QUADRANGLE, COLORADO: USGS FOLIO 131.

  • Deposit

    TRIPPE, T.M., 1905, REPORT ON THE AETNA MINE ACCOMPANIED BY A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ADJOINING AZTEC AND REPUBLIC CLAIMS, LA PLATA COUNTY: COLORADO DIV. MINES FILES, UNPUB. ENG. REPT., 3 P.

  • Deposit

    BLM MINERAL SURVEY 14379

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MINE DEVELOPED IN QUARTZ VEINS TRENDING N 54 W AND N 35 W, 63 SW, APPARENTLY MORE NORTHWESTERLY TRENDING OFFSHOOT VEINS FROM PRINCIPAL NNW-SSE-TRENDING RADIAL FRACTURE FROM CHICAGO BASIN STOCK. FACE OF LONG TUNNEL INTERSECTS VERTICAL VEIN TRENDING N 3 W.
Deposit 15564); (PIKE, MS 16729); (FREE GOLD, MS 17740); (ALFALFA, MS 18446); (INDIANA, MS 18655); (OREGON, MS 18655); (PORTO RICO, MS 18655); (PLUM PUDDING, MS 18655); (GREAT REPUBLIC, MS 18655); (MOUNTAIN QUEEN, MS 18655); (INDEPENDENCE, MS 19282)
Deposit JACKSON RIDGE COMPOSED OF NW- TO WEST-DIPPING JURASSIC SEDIMENTARY SECTION INTRUDED BY SYENITE PORPHYRY SILL AND DIORITE-MONZONITE PORPHYRY DIKES AND CUT BY NW-TRENDING VEINS AND FAULT ZONES. PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS ARE BLANKET-TYPE PYRITE REPLACEMENTS OF PONY EXPRESS LIMESTONE. MINOR PYRITE REPLACEMENT IN PARTING OF SLIGHTLY METAMORPHOSED SHALE ABOVE BILK CREEK SANDSTONE MEMBER OF WANAKAH FM. NEARLY ALL ORE WITHIN 250 FT OF SURFACE IS OXIDIZED TO SPONGY LIMONITE. SECONDARY DEPOSIT IS QUARTZ-PYRITE VEIN (AS DEVELOPED IN TIMBERLINE MINE) IN 5- TO 10-FT-WIDE SHEAR ZONE OR SERIES OF SLIGHTLY OVERLAPPING FRACTURES CUTTING MORRISON FM SHALES; VEIN TRENDS N 70 E, 68 TO 85 NW.
Deposit GROUP INCLUDES: DOYLE, GEORGIA GIRL, NARROW GAGE, NORTH STAR, SUNDOWN, AND TIMBERLINE MINES; PATENTED CLAIMS: (R. A. P., MS 9217); (HOWE G. JR., MS 9217); (MONTEZUMA, MS 9813); (GOLD BED, MS 9814); (COLUMBINE, MS 9815); (OUT OF SIGHT, MS 11768); (HOBO, MS 12123); (BROKEN HILL, MS 13006); (POINT, MS 13006); (SUN DOWN, MS 13007); (LINNIE B., MS 13008); (TENDERFOOT, MS 13009); (SUNRISE, MS 13013); (NORTH STAR, MS 13171); (GOLDEN WEDGE, MS 13171); (PENNSYLVANIA GIRL, MS 13171); (NARROW GAUGE, MS 14931); (NARROW GAUGE EXTENSION, MS 14931); (PEARL PAYNE, MS 15256); (PTOLEMY, MS 15257); (TRIANGLE, MS 15258); (TENDERFOOT NO. 2, MS 15258); (PAYMASTER, MS 15258); (MIDNIGHT, MS 15259); (SNOW FLAKE, MS 15259); (BEAR TRAIL, MS 15259); (DAYLIGHT, MS 15259); (SKY LIGHT, MS 15338); (YELLOW BOY, MS 15365); (MAY FLOWER, MS 15365); (OLD HUNDRED, MS 15398); (SLIVER, MS 15547); (TIMBERLINE, MS 15564); (GEORGIA GIRL, MS 15564); (TRAIL, MS 15564); (CORBETT, MS 15564); (RIGHT COLOR, MS 15564); (FRACTION, MS

Reporter information

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

Beyond USGS

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