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Climax Molybdenum Deposit

Producer in Lake county in Colorado, United States with commodities Molybdenum, Tin, Tungsten, Sulfur-Pyrite, REE, Copper, Titanium, Metal, Zinc, Niobium (Columbium), Lead
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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. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Production statistics
  21. Reserves and resources
  22. Workings at the site
  23. Links to other databases
  24. Bibliographic references
  25. General comments
  26. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10214926
MRDS ID D001106
MAS/MILS ID 0080650003
Record type Deposit
Current site name Climax Molybdenum Deposit
Alternate or previous names Climax Mine Moly, Climax Mine, Climax Moly Mine
Related records 10008739

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -106.16839, 39.37027 (WGS84)
Elevation 3597
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position 10 MILES N35E FROM LEADVILLE

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Lake(county)

Colorado(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Climax(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)

Federal lands

Pike and San Isabel National Forests(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Lake

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
6th Principal 008 S 079 W 12 E2SWNE Colorado

Comments on the location information

  • ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF LEADVILLE, ON THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE JUST EAST OF FREMONT PASS, IN SEC. 12, T 8 S, R 79 W; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1980

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Molybdenum Primary
Tin Critical Secondary
Tungsten Critical Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Secondary
REE Critical Secondary
Copper Tertiary
Titanium, Metal Critical Tertiary
Zinc Critical Tertiary
Niobium (Columbium) Critical Tertiary
Lead Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • MO IS THE MAIN PRODUCT; BY-PRODUCTS ARE W AND SN, PYRITE CONCENTRATES AND RARE EARTH CONCENTRATES (AS MONAZITE).

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Cassiterite Ore
Huebnerite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Monazite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Wolframite Ore
Molybdite Ore
Alabandite Gangue
Biotite Gangue
Kaolinite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Orthoclase Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Brannerite Gangue
Chalcocite Gangue
Jarosite Gangue
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Rhodochrosite Unknown
Sericite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Topaz Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Potassic Metasomatism
  • (Local) Silicification
  • (Local) Sericitization
  • (Local) Oxidation Of Mo And Fe Sulfides

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 50
USGS model code 16
Deposit model name Climax Mo

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss
    Rock type qualifier biotite schist and gneiss, and banded granite gneiss and granulites
    Rock unit name Idaho Springs Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock type qualifier stocks, dikes, and sheets of medium-grained granite and pegmatite, and fine- to medium-grained equigranular granite, all emplaced in three phases
    Rock unit name Silver Plume Granite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid
    Rock type qualifier Composite Climax Stock was introduced as multiple (5) pulses over the period from 33 and 18 Ma.
    Mostly granite porphyry.
    Rock unit name Climax prophyry stocks (Alicante, Bartlett, Chalk Mtn., intermineral dikes, Wallace, late dikes, and Traver)
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -106.16839, 39.37027
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Park Range, Colorado Mineral Belt, Tenmile Range
Type of structure Local
Structure name Mosquito Fault, East Fault, South Fault, Precambrian Anticline

Ore body information

  • General form ORE ZONES ARE IRREGULARLY CIRCULAR TO OVAL IN PLAN, ARCUATE IN SECTION GIVING OVERALL SHAPES OF INVERTED HEMISPHERES OR CUPS
    Thickness 99M
    Length 1097M
    Width 823M
    Area 4458HA
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #2 DOMELIKE
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #3 PIPELIKE
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin MAGMATIC DIFFER
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 SERICITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 4458
    Date of Last Modification 801120

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Mosquito Fault

Comments on the geologic information

  • Hemispherical Zones Of Broken, Altered Rock Above And Flanking Multiple-Intruded Climax Stock In Footwall Of Mosquito Fault.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1879
Discoverer Charles J Senter
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1918
Milling method Flotation
Production years 1918-1997

Mining district

District name Robinson
District name Climax

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.
    ID 500354
    Interest 100
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1994
    First year 1994
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc
    Interest 100
    Home office Climax Molybdenum Co (Freeport-McMoRan )\n1626 Cole Blvd\nGolden CO 80401\n
    Year 2010
  • Type Joint Venture
    Owner Climax Molybdenum Co
    Year 2010

Production statistics

  • Year 1930
    Period 1916-1930
  • Year 1979
    Description 22,269,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 15128000 Mt Ore @ 0.282% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 1512800mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 26,635,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 15488000 Mt Ore @ 0.2915 Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 1548800mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description 22,600,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 15174000 Mt Ore @ 0.286% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 1517400mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 9,383,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 5516000 Mt Ore @ 0.317% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 5516000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 7,628,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 5000000 Mt Ore @ 0.292% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 5000000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 7,713,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 5466000 Mt Ore @ 0.273% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 5466000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 4,763,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 3242000 Mt Ore @ 0.268% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 3242000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 1,015,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 340000 Mt Ore @ 0.476% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 340000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description 1,828,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 9080000 Mt Ore @ 0.376% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 9080000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description 1,657,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 1076000 Mt Ore @ 0.305% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 1076000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description 1,387,000 Kgs Mo In Conc Produced 1048000 Mt Ore @ 0.262% Mos2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 1048000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1994
    Description Moly Production 57000000 Lb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Molybdenum Molybdenum 2585476.5mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Increase In Moly Production 78000000 Lb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Molybdenum Molybdenum 3538020.48mt

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCING IN AUGUST, 1979, TUNGSTEN AS BYPRODUCT AT RATE OF 1.9 MILLION POUNDS PER YEAR OF CONTAINED TUNGSTEN. AMAX 1978 10K, P5 REDUCED THROUGHPUT TO 6000 STPD IN 1986. SHUT DOWN NO. 2 MILL IN 1985.OPERATING LIMITED NUMBER OF MILLING SECTIONS IN MILL NO. 3 IN 1986.TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN MARCH 6,1987 OF MINE/MILL.IN FEB 1988 WROTE-DOWN COSTS TO SHUTDOWN UNDERGROUND MINE AND REMOVE CERTAIN RELATED SURFACE FACILITIES.THE OPEN PIT MINE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS WRITE-DOWN.THE ADVISED MINING-MILLING CAPACITY NOW IS 25MM POUNDS OF CONTAINED MOLYBDENUM ANNUALLY UPON OPEN PIT STARTUP. RESERVES 12/31/87 10K 124,286,000TONS, 0.192 %MO. 1991 UG CLOSED THIS PROPERTY WAS REVIEWED BY RC SMITH, 4-87. AT THIS TIME THE MINE WAS TEMPORARILY SHUTDOWN ON MARCH 6, 1987. THIS PROPERTY WAS UPDATED IN AUG 1992.
  • NEARLY COMPLETE PRODUCTION RECORD. SMALL BUT UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TONNAGE CITED FOR 1915-1916. NO PRODUCTION CITED IN 1917 OR 1920-1923. SEE SEPARATE PRODUCTION FILE FOR REMAINDER OF RECORD (1918-1977). 1980 IS LAST YEAR FOR WHICH FIGURES ARE AVAILABLE AT COLO. DIV. MINES. BY-PRODUCT RECOVERY OF SN, W, AND PYRITE BEGAN 1948 BUT PRODUCTION FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR 1948-1952. FIGURES FOR BY-PRODUCT MONAZITE RECOVERY (IF ANY) UNAVAILABLE FOR 1948-1952, 1954-1965, AND AFTER 1969. FIGURES FOR ORE AFTER 1957 AND FOR LB MO AFTER 1952 LISTED IN TABLE AS ESTIMATED DUE TO NECESSARY ROUNDING OF QUANTITIES OVER 10,000,000. ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE TOTALS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED AFTER SUMMATION OF ACTUAL ANNUAL FIGURES.,CUMULATIVE ORE AND LB MO CALCULATED FOR YEARS IN WHICH ACTUAL FIGURES WERE REPORTED. CUMULATIVE LB MO FOR 1953-1980 INCLUDES CALCULATED ESTIMATE FOR 1965. CUMULATIVE TOTALS FOR WO3, SN, AND PYRITE EXCLUDES INITIAL YEARS' RECOVERY (1948-1952) AND INCLUDES CALCULATED ESTIMATES FOR 1965.
  • Total production from 1918 to 1991 is about 470 million tons of ore at an average grade of 0.22% molybdenum. The mine was placed on a care-and-maintenance status in 1995. In April 2006, the company announced plans to re-open the mine in 2009.

    CUMULATIVE MONAZITE NOT CALCULATED DUE TO HIGH UNCERTAINTY OF ACTUAL YEARS OF RECOVERY.

Reserves and resources

  • Type Milling
    Estimate year 2010
    Reserves 187000000mt ore
    Remarks Millable Reserves\nFreeport-McMoRan 2010 10-K p. 33
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum 0.158 wt-pct Molybdenum Primary 2010
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Reserves 132000000mt
    Remarks AME, 1995
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum 0.23 wt-pct Molybdenum Primary 1994
  • Type Combined
    Estimate year 2005
    Reserves 156000000mt
    Demonstrated 87000000mt
    Remarks reserves at .19% and milling mineralized material at .25%\n(Phelps Dodge 2005 Annual Report)
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Reserves 310000000mt
    Remarks (Wallace and Snow, 1989)
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.33 wt-pct Molybdenum Primary 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Measured 123000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 123000000mt ore
    Total resources 123000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.32 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1993
  • Type Milling
    Estimate year 2010
    Total resources 306000000mt ore
    Remarks Milling Mineralized Material\nFreeport-McMoRan 2010 10-K, p. 39
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum 0.148 wt-pct Molybdenum Primary 2010
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Measured 136000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 136000000mt ore
    Total resources 136000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Tungsten Wo3 0.03 wt-pct Tungsten Minor 1996
    Tin Sn 0.0022 wt-pct Tin Minor 1996
    Molybdenum Mo 0.22 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1996

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 410HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 50
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 12
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 16330
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 3.453
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1992
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 55000M
    Overall depth 181M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BLOCK CAVING 10-79
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 15
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNSUPPORTING NO FLOW
    Mine Support Chars. STEEL W/LAGGING CONCRETE REINFOR
    Number of Shafts 3
    Length of Inclines (m) 755
    Slope of Inclines 1
    Number of Inclines 14
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 914
    Number of Adits 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Year of Information 1992

Comments on the workings information

  • PRINCIPAL PRODUCTION LEVELS ARE/WERE LEAL (EL. 12163), WHITE (EL. 11940), PHILLIPSON (EL. 11463), STORKE (EL. 11168), 500 (EL. 10968), 600 (EL. 10868), 929 (EL. 10539). LEAL OPENED 1918 AND WITH WHITE WAS ABANDONED IN 1930S. PHILLIPSON OPENED 1931 AND ABANDONED 1974. STORKE OPENED EARLY 1950S. CERESCO OPENED 1965 AND ABANDONED 1974. 600 OPENED 1972. OPEN PIT DEVELOPED 1973. NO. 4 SHAFT (754 FT DEEP,19-FT DIAM) SERVES 600 AND LOWER LEVELS FROM STORKE LEVEL. NO.(5 SHAFT ) SERVES 600 AND LOWER LEVELS FROM STORKE LEVEL. NO. 5 SHAFT (670 FT DEEP, 23-FT DIAM) FOR SERVICE. NO. 7 SHAFT (370 FT DEEP, 29-FT DIAM) PROVIDES POWER AND VENTILATION TO STORKE AND LOWER LEVELS. FACILITES INCLUDE SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND CRUSHERS, SURFACE GRINDING MILL, FOUR-STAGE FLOTATION, FILTERING AND PACKAGINE, BYPRODUCTS PLANT, TAILINGS DISPOSAL PONDS. DC00634 AND D000448 WERE MERGED INTO THIS RECORD AND DELETED.

Comments on other economic factors

  • PRODUCING IN AUGUST, 1979, TUNGSTEN AS BYPRODUCT AT RATE OF 1.9 MILLION POUNDS PER YEAR OF CONTAINED TUNGSTEN. AMAX 1978 10K, P5 REDUCED THROUGHPUT TO 6000 STPD IN 1986. SHUT DOWN NO. 2 MILL IN 1985.OPERATING LIMITED NUMBER OF MILLING SECTIONS IN MILL NO. 3 IN 1986.TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN MARCH 6,1987 OF MINE/MILL. IN FEB 1988 WROTE-DOWN COSTS TO SHUTDOWN UNDERGROUND MINE AND REMOVE CERTAIN RELATED SURFACE FACILITIES.THE OPEN PIT MINE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS WRITE-DOWN. THE ADVISED MINING-MILLING CAPACITY NOW IS 25MM POUNDS OF CONTAINED MOLYBDENUM ANNUALLY UPON OPEN PIT STARTUP. RESERVES 12/31/87 10K 124,286,000 TONS, 0.192 %MO. 1991 UG CLOSED.

Comments on development

  • DEPOSIT DISCOVERED IN 1879 BUT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS M0 UNTIL 1895. SEVERAL ORE SHIPMENTS WERE MADE IN 1915-17 BUT REAL PRODUCTION DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL 1918-19. LACK OF MARKETS CLOSED THE NINE UNTIL 1924 WHEN PEACETIME USES FOR MO IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY DEVELOPED. ALTHOUGH ORE GRADES HAVE DECREASED THROUGH THE YEARS, IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN MINING AND MILL RECOVERY. BY-PRODUCTS PLANT BUILT IN 1948 RECOVERS W (AS WO3), SN, PYRITE CONC., AND RARE-EARTH CONC. (AS MONAZITE).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BUTLER, B.S., AND VANDERWILT, J.W., 1933, THE CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM DEPOSIT, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 846-C.

  • Development

    Climax Molybdenum Co. and Phelps Dodge Corp. information accessed on the internet on May 25, 2006

  • Workings

    COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPORTS 1924-1980 (EXCEPT 1965) FOR TONS ORE (1924-1939, 1944-1964, 1966-1968, 1977-1978), TONS CONCENTRATE (1924-1926, 1930, 1933-1939), % MOS2 IN CONCENTRATE (1924, 1926, 1928, 1930-1933, 1936-1939), % MOS2 IN ORE (1927-1928, 1930-1933, 1938-1939, 1944-1950), LB MO (1953-1964, 1966-1980), LB WO3 (1953-1964, 1966-1980), % WO3 (1948-1950), LB SN (1953-1964, 1966-1980), % SN (1949-1950), TONS PYRITE CONCENTRATE (1953-1964, 1966-1980), LB MONAZITE CONCENTRATE (1953, 1966-1969). LB MO FOR 1918-1930 FROM BUTLER AND VANDERWILT (1933); LB MO FOR 1931-1945 FROM VANDERWILT (1947). ORE TONNAGE FOR 1940-1943 AND 1965 FROM CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM CO. (TERRY FITZSIMMONS, PERS. COMM., 8/82).

  • Deposit

    WALLACE, S.R., AND OTHERS, 1968, MULTIPLE INTRUSION AND MINERALIZATION AT CLIMAX, COLORADO, IN RIDGE, J.D., ED., ORE DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1933-1967: AIME GRATON-SALES VOLUME, V. 1, P. 605-640.

  • Geology

    WALLACE, STEWART R., ET AL, 1968, MULTIPLE INTRUSIONS AND MINERALIZATION AT CLIMAX, COLORADO. ORE DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES 1933-1967, AIME GRATON-SALES VOLUME (JOHN D.RIDGE, ED.) V.1, P 605-40.

  • Geology

    Wallace, S. R.,and Snow, G. G., 1989, The Porphyry Molybdenite Deposits at Climax, Colorado, in Mineral Deposits of North America;Vol 1. Mineral Deposits and Geology of Central Colorado, B. Bryant and D. Beaty Eds.: Am. Geophys Union, p. T 128 38-44

  • Deposit

    VANDERWILT, AND KING, R.U., 1955, HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AT THE CLIMAX MOLYBDENITE DEPOSIT: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 7, NO 1, P.41-53.

  • Geology

    White, W.H.,Bookstrom, A.A., Kamilli, R.J., Ganster, M.W., Smith, R.P., Ranta, D.E., and Steininger, R.C., 1981, Character and Orgin of Climax-type Molybdenum Deposits: in Economic geology; Seventy-fifth anniversary volume; 1905-1980, pgs 270-316

  • Production

    BORN, C. A., ET. AL., 1976, MOLYBENITE FLOTATION REAGENT DEVELOPMENT AT CLIMAX, COLORADO. FLOTATION. AIME A. M.GAUDIN MEMORIAL VOLUME.(M.C. FUERSTENAU, ED.) V.2 PP. 1147-1183.

  • Reserve-Resource

    AMAX SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, DEC 31, 1992. P. 18.

  • Workings

    BROWN, CALVIN C, ET AL, OCT 1968, OPEN PIT MINING AND MAINTENANCE AT THE CLIMAX MINE. MIN. CONGRESS J. PP 21-6.

  • Workings

    CHERRIER, T. E., APR 1972, OPEN PIT PLANNING AT CLIMAX MINE,COLORADO. AIME TRANS. V. 81, PP. A57-A61.

  • Workings

    EISENACH, E. J. & JAMES J. LUDWIG. FEB 1963. UNDERGROUND MINING PROGRESS. MIN. CONGRESS J. PP. 71-75.

  • Workings

    NEW 600 PRODUCTION LEVEL AT CLIMAX MINE. MAR 3, 1973, SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, V 62, N 9. PP 1 & 11

  • Deposit

    BURK, SNELL G, NOV 1959, NEW PLANT RECOVERS TUNGSTEN, TIN; MINING WORLD MAG., V 21, N 12, P 38-43.

  • Deposit

    CLIMAX DESIGN, AUG 1955, MINING ENGINEER, V 7, P 726-779.

  • Deposit

    HENDERSON, ROBERT, JUL 1955, COMMENTS ON CAVING AT CLIMAX,MINING CONGRESS J. P 45-8.

  • Deposit

    JULIAN, DOUGLAS E, SEP 20, 1975, FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN BLOCK CAVING, SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW. P 12-15.

  • Deposit

    MOLYBDENUM - THE FIRM BASE FOR AMAX DIVERSIFICATION, SEP 1972, ENG & MIN J. P 102-110.

  • Deposit

    MOLY NEWS - NUMEROUS ISSUES USED FOR EVALUATION FROM 1966-MAR 1979

  • Deposit

    OBERT, LEONARD, 1972, CAVING PROPERTIES OF THE CLIMAX ORE BODY, AIME INTERMTN SEC. MIN. CONFERENCE AT VAIL, CO, AUG 22, 1973, 22 PP.

  • Deposit

    TECHNICAL INFORMATION OF THE CLIMAX PROPERTY. AMAX CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM COMPANY. SPRING 1974. 36PP.

  • Deposit

    RYAN'S NOTES, NEWS, FEB., 13, 1995, "CLIMAX MOLY MINE TO OPEN IN APRIL".

  • Deposit

    AMAX 1985 ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Deposit

    AMAX 1983 ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Deposit

    AMAX SEC FORM 10-K REPORTS FOR YEARS 1979-1991.

  • Deposit

    DILLARD, GARY. MOTIVATION, AUTOMATION MEETING THE CHALLENGE. PAY DIRT MAG. (ROCKY MT ED.), JULY 1992, PP. 4A-6A.

  • Deposit

    MC CLEAN, STEVE. CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM TO RESUME MINE PRODUCTION AT CLIMAX. PAY DIRT MAG. (ROCKY MT ED.),NOV. 1990, P. 4A.

  • Deposit

    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 1942, TENMILE MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (UNCLASSIFIED MAP), SCALE: 1:12,000.

  • Deposit

    COLO. STATE METAL MINING FUND, 1960, TUNGSTEN MINES OF COLORADO, P.20.

Comments on the references

  • At the end of 2005, reserves were 156.4 million tons at a grade of 0.19% molybdenum plus 87 milllion tons of mineralized material at a grade of 0.25% molybdenum. (Phelps Dodge 2005 Annual Report)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit LITHOLOGY: THE ROCK TYPES ARE ALTERED QUARTZ MONZONTE PORPHYRY INTRUDED INTO HOST ROCK CONSISTING OF A BIOTITE SCHISTS AND GNEISS (PRE CAMBRIAN IDAHO SPGS FM) AND SILVER PLUME GRANITE (PRECAMBRIAN)

GEOLOGY IN PLAN VIEW THE SHAPE OF ORE BODY ELLIPSE IS - LARGE 1800 FT (550 M) RADIUS AND 1100 FT (340 M) SMALL RADIUS, WITH CENTRAL BARREN CORE. WIDTH ACROSS ORE ZONE AVERAGES 800 FT (240 M). IN SECTION VIEW, SHAPE APPEARS ARCUATE AND EXTENDS TO 1200 FT (370 M) DEPTH.

FOUR SEPARATE MINERALIZATIONS. SOUTHWEST MASS OF THE CLIMAX STOCK AND AN ASSOCIATED IRREGULAR AND ANASTOMOSING DIKE SWARM, RELATED TO CERESCO ORE BODY. CENTRAL MASS OF THE CLIMAX STOCK AND RELATED ARCUATE DIKES AND SHEETS RELATED TO UPPER ORE BODY. APLITIC PORPHYRY PHASE OF THE CLIMAX STOCK AND INTRAMINERAL PORPHYRY DIKES (RADIAL DIKE SWARMS) RELATED TO THE LOWER ORE BODY. THE PORPHYRITIC GRANITE PHASE OF THE CLIMAX STOCK AND LATE RHYOLITE PORPHYRY DIKES RELATED TO LATE BARREN" STAGE OF MINERALIZATION. TUNGSTEN MINERALIZATION IS OUTSIDE DOMES OF MOLYBDENITE MINERALIZATION. ALL BY-PRODUCT WO3 PRODUCTION IS FROM A 700 FT TO 1000 FT THICK ZONE AROUND THE LOWER ORE BODY . PYRITE-TUNGSTEN ZONE ON UPPER AND OUTER EDGES OF UPPER ORE BODY IS APPROX. 4000 FT WIDE, 300-500 FT THICK, AND AVERAGES 0.06% NO3.. PYRITE-TUNGSTEN ZONE ON UPPER AND OUTER EDGES OF UPPER ORE BODY IS APPROX. 4000 FT WIDE, 300-500 FT THICK, AND AVERAGES 0.06% NO3. THE CLIMAX ORE DEPOSIT IS BOUNDED ON THE WEST BY THE MOSQUITO FAULT.

LOWER, UPPER, AND CERESCO ORE BODIES OF MULTIPLE-INTRUSION ORIGIN FORM TILTED STACK OF APPROX. COAXIAL MINERALIZED ZONES, EACH CONNECTED TO NEXT LOWER ZONE ON LOWER EDGE. EACH MO ZONE LIES BETWEEN PYRITE-W MINERALIZED ZONE (ABOVE) AND QUARTZ ZONE (BELOW). MO OCCURS IN 1) 0.25 INCH QUARTZ-FILLED FRACTURES AND VEINLETS; 27 TABULAR STRUCTURES EQUILAVENT TO VEINS; 37 DISSEMINATIONS IN PEGMATITES AND APLITE DIKES; 4) INCLUSIONS AND FRAGMENTS IN YOUNGER INTRUSIVE ROCK AND BRECCIA; 5) CLOTS AND SPARSE CRYSTALS IN HIGH-SILICA ROCK; 6) FRACTURE/JOINT COATINGS. MOST BY-PRODUCT PYRITE AND W COMES FROM 700- TO 1000-FT-THICK ZONE ABOVE AND PARTLY COINCIDENT WITH LOWER ORE BODY.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 02-OCT-96 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 16-AUG-07 Melton, Greg U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 04-AUG-11 Causey, J Douglas U.S. Geological Survey Combined duplicate records 10008739 and 10008739 and then deleted the duplicates.
Reporter 01-APR-73 Elliott, James E. (King, Rubert U.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-OCT-81 Schwochow, Stephen D. Colorado Geological Survey
Updater 31-JUL-92 Beougher, Dee (Spanski, Gregory T.) U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 09-JUN-92 Mosier, Dan U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 25-MAY-06 Beach, Richard A. Colorado Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 01/30/2012
MSHA mine ID0500354
Mine name (MSHA)Climax Underground
Current operatorClimax Molybdenum Company
Current controller (parent)Freeport-McMoRan Inc
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:

  • Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. — now part of Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Formed by merger of Cyprus Minerals and AMAX in 1993; acquired by Phelps Dodge in 1999; Phelps Dodge acquired by Freeport-McMoRan in 2007.

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.

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.