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Black Cloud Mine

Producer in Lake county in Colorado, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Lead, Silver, Zinc
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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. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10191170
MAS/MILS ID 0080650002
Record type Site
Current site name Black Cloud Mine
Alternate or previous names Leadville Unit, Resurrection Mine 0080650339, Irene Shaft, Yak Tunnel

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -106.22371, 39.22529 (WGS84)
Elevation 3505

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Lake(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Mount Sherman(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Leadville(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Leadville(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Arkansas Headwaters(hydrologic unit)

Upper Arkansas(hydrologic accounting unit)

Upper Arkansas(hydrologic subregion)

Arkansas-White-Red(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Lake

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
2nd Principal 009 S 079 W 33 SWNE Colorado

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Tertiary
Gold Tertiary
Lead Primary
Silver Tertiary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Dolomite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Gold Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Siderite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -106.22371, 39.22529
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 100M
    Length 365M
    Width 45M
    Area 44HA
    Depth to top 365M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Shape of Orebody #2 IRREGULAR
    Shape of Orebody #3 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 DOLOMITIZATION
    Minimum Depth to Top 335
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 44
    Date of Last Modification 801106

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Mining method Filled Stopes - Other Filled Stope Methods
Year of first production 1971
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Leadville

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Private Lease

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
    Interest 60
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1996
  • Type Operator
    Owner Resurrection Mining Co. (Newmont Corp)
    Interest 40
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1996
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
    ID 500516
    Interest 50
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1976
  • Type Owner
    Owner Newmont Mining - Resurrection Mining Co. Subsidiary
    ID 500516
    Interest 50
    Home office New York
    Year 1976

Comments on the ownership information

  • NEWMONT MINING THROUGH RESURRECTION-MINING SUBSIDIARY OWNS 46.9% PERCENT OF BLACK CLOUD PROPERTY. RANDOL, 1996/97; NEW OWNERSHIP DATA. RESURRECTION OWNES 40%.

Production statistics

  • Year 0
    Description Metals Produced
  • Year 1
    Description Pb, Mt Zn, Mt Ag, Kg Au, Kg
  • Year 1971
    Description 3,600 6,800 6,990 267 110000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1972
    Description 6,700 12,000 12,500 255 188000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1973
    Description 6,500 13,700 14,200 343 180000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1974
    Description 5,800 11,600 10,300 214 148000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1975
    Description 6,800 12,800 10,900 384 184000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1976
    Description 6,600 13,200 10,400 277 181000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1977
    Description 6,800 10,500 9,640 417 169000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1978
    Description 6,200 11,300 9,600 249 172000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1979
    Description 5,400 8,700 8,340 301 158000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1980
    Description 6,800 11,200 10,100 355 183000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1981
    Description 6,700 11,900 11,100 328 190000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1982
    Description 6,200 11,300 10,500 380 193000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1983
    Description 6,000 12,500 11,500 316 193000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1984
    Description 6,100 13,200 11,300 558 194000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1985
    Description 6,100 12,100 10,700 535 197000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1986
    Description 6,800 13,200 12,200 550 200000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1987
    Description 7,000 13,000 9,330 519 198000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1988
    Description 6,400 13,500 10,000 336 197000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1989
    Description 4,500 13,000 10,500 249 185000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1990
    Description 4,900 12,900 9,180 311 197000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1991
    Description 5,800 13,400 9,950 413 207000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1992
    Description 5,300 14,800 10,500 426 205000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1993
    Description 4,900 13,900 10,500 414 199000 Mt Milled
  • Year 1994
    Description Ore Milled 202000 Mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Silver Recovered 11832700 Gm
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 11832000g
  • Year 1995
    Description Lead Recovered 4536 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Lead Lead 4536mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Zinc Recovered 13971 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Zinc Zinc 13971mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Ore Milled 199000 Mt

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCTION DATA IS FROM ASARCO ANNUAL REPORTS AND SEC FORM 10-K REPORTS.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Indicated 602000mt ore
    Demonstrated 602000mt ore
    Total resources 602000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Lead Pb 3.17 wt-pct Lead Major 1994
    Zinc Zn 8.1 wt-pct Zinc Major 1994
    Silver Ag 47 g/mt Silver Trace 1994
    Gold Au 2.4 g/mt Gold Trace 1994
    Copper Cu 0.15 wt-pct Copper Trace 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 725000mt ore
    Total resources 725000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Zinc Zn 8.66 wt-pct Zinc Major 1996
    Lead Pb 2.82 wt-pct Lead Major 1996
    Silver Ag 70 g/mt Silver Trace 1996

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RESERVES GIVEN ON BASIS OF 181,400 MT/Y, 6 YR LIFE, 85% MINE RECOVERY. M9C4=M1C1
  • RESERVE DATA FROM SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, 12/31/93, PP. A16-A18. OTHER NAMES: IRENE SHAFT, LEADVILLE UNIT; RESURRECTION MINE (HAS SEQ# 0080650339), ND YAK TUNNEL. 1993 ALSO HAD 2.4 G/MT AU, AND .15% CU.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 4000M
    Overall depth 450M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OTHER FILLED STOPE METHODS
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 5
    Percent Recovery 85
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. TIMBER
    Number of Shafts 3
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 756
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 68.71
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 240
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1990

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    ASARCO 1995 10-K, PP A17-A21 93,94,95

  • Production

    DENVER POST-OCTOBER 24. 1996. PP 1C-3C.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ASARCO 1993 SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, 12/31/93, PP. A16-A19.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ASARCO 1995 10-K, PP A17-A21

  • Deposit

    BEHRE, C.H. JR.,1929, REVISION OF STRUCTURE AND STRATIGRAPHY

  • Deposit

    MOSQUITO RANGE AND LEADVILLE, COLORADO: COLO. SCI. SOC. PR

  • Deposit

    NO. 3,P. 37-57

  • Deposit

    -------,1932, THE WESTON PASS MINING DISTRICT, LAKE AND PARK

  • Deposit

    COUNTIES, COLORADO: COLO. SCI. SOC. PR. V. 13, NO. 3, P. 5

  • Deposit

    -------,1939, PRELIMINARY GEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE WEST SLOP

  • Deposit

    THE MOSQUITO RANGE IN THE VICINITY OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO:

  • Deposit

    SCI. SOC. PR. V. 14, NO. 2, P. 49-79

  • Deposit

    -------,1953, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSTS OF THE WEST SLOPE OF T

  • Deposit

    MOSQUITO RANGE: USGS PROF. PAPER 235, 176P.

  • Deposit

    CHAPMAN, E.P., 1941,NEWLY RECOGNIZED FEATURES OF MINERAL PAR

  • Deposit

    GENEIS AT LEADVILLE, COLORADO: AIME TR., V. 144, P. 264-27

  • Deposit

    CHAPMAN, E.P. AND STEVENS, R.E., 1933, SILVER AND BISMUTH-BE

  • Deposit

    GALENA, LEADVILLE: ECON. GEOL., V. 28, P. 678-685

  • Deposit

    DAVIDSON, R.N.,1950, HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION, EFFECTS IN THE

  • Deposit

    VILLE LIMESTONE AND THEIR RELATION TO MINERALIZATION: (ABS

  • Deposit

    SOC. AMER., V. 61 P. 1551

  • Deposit

    EMMONS, S.F. AND OTHERS, 1927, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF T

  • Deposit

    LEADVILLE MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 148,

  • Deposit

    LOUGHLIN, G.F., 1918, THE OXIDIZED ZINC ORES OF LEADVILLE,

  • Deposit

    COLORADO: USGS BULL. 681, 91P.

  • Deposit

    LOUGHLIN, G.F. AND BEHRE, C.H. JR., 1933, LEADVILLE MINING D

  • Deposit

    IN COLORADO: 16TH INT. GEOL. CONG., GUIDEBOOK 19 P. 77-91

  • Deposit

    -------, 1942, LEADVILLE DISTRICT, COLORADO IN NEWHOUSE, W.H

  • Deposit

    ORE DEPOSITS AS RELATED TO STRUCTURAL FEATURES: PRINCETON

  • Deposit

    PRESS, P. 203-206.

  • Deposit

    -------, 1947, LEADVILLE MINING DISTRICT, LAKE COUNTY IN VAN

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RES. BD., P. 350-370

  • Deposit

    TWETO, O., 1968 LEADVILLE DISTRICT, COLORADO IN RIDGE, J.D.

  • Deposit

    ORE DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES 1933-1967: CHAP. 32, V.

  • Deposit

    GENTRY,D.W.,LEAD ZINC DEPOSITS IN COCLRADO AND

  • Deposit

    WYOMING. FINAL REPORT PREPARED FOR U.S. BUREAU OF MINES.

  • Deposit

    CONTRACT AGREEMENT G.O. 264005,1976.

  • Deposit

    MORTENSEN,D.K.,FORMER MILL SUPERINTENDANT (BLACK CLOUD

  • Deposit

    MINE).'LEADVILLE AGAIN',PAPER TO BE REPRESENTED TO THE

  • Deposit

    INTERMOUNTAIN MINERALS CONFERENCE, AIME,COLORADO.JULY1971.

  • Deposit

    INFORMATION REPORT, LEADVILLE UNIT-ASARCO (BLACK CLOUD)

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF MINES,DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES,STATE OF

  • Deposit

    COLORADO.CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN IFOC FILES. YEARS

  • Deposit

    1970 THROUGH 1977.

  • Deposit

    DENVER POST-OCTOBER 24. 1996. PP1C-3C.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL., 107, #45, NOV., 6, 1996, P3.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY, 1996/97, MINES & MINING COMPANIES,

  • Deposit

    PP. 170, 176.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL., 107, #51, DEC., 18, 1996, P1.

  • Deposit

    PAYDIRT, FEB., 1997, #692, P14.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit BLACK CLOUD MINE - LEADVILLE UNIT ASARCO - JOINT VENTURE OPERATOR: AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY EXPLORATION: THE PROPERTY WAS EXPLORED FROM 1950 TO 1960, INITIAL WORK WAS DONE BY CORE DRILLING. ONGOING EXPLORATION IS GENERALLY DONE BY LONG HOLE. ROCK: THE DENSITY OF THE IN PLACE ORE IS ABOUT 3.7 GM/CM3. MINING: VENTILATION INTAKE IS VIA THE ECLIPSE SHAFT, EX- HAUST IS VIA THE IRENE AND BLACK CLOUD SHAFTS. THE YAK TUNNEL IS PARTLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH OLD WORKINGS AROUND THE IRENE SHAFT. PROPERTY UPDATED NOVEMBER 1990. MINE DUE TO BE SHUT DOWN ON DECEMBER 31,1996 DUE TO DEPRESSED PB ZN PRICES-AMM OCT 24, 1996. MINE WAS NOT SHUT DOWN BUT REMAINED OPEN. PRICES INCREASED. MAS HAS TWO MILL PROPERTY FILES FOR THIS PROPERTY: BLACK CLOUD MILL MAS SEQ 0080650123 AND LEADVILLE UNIT MILL 0080650254:

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 30-OCT-1997 Difrancesco, Carl A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 10/10/2000
MSHA mine ID0500516
Mine name (MSHA)BLACK CLOUD MINE - LEADVILLE UNI
Current operatorAsarco Inc
Current controller (parent)Grupo Mexico S A B de C V
Mine typeUnderground (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.) — acquired by Asarco LLC, subsidiary of Grupo México (2009)
    American Smelting and Refining Co. Filed Chapter 11 in 2005; acquired out of bankruptcy by Grupo México in 2009.

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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.