Carrizo Creek District
The Carrizo Creek District lies in the southeastern portion of Baca County, approximately 45 miles southwest of Springfield. The District is known for its stratabound, red-bed copper deposit with considerable amounts of silver.
The mineralization occurs in the Purgatoire Formation of the Cretaceous Dakota Group. The host formation is described as a fine, porous arkosic sandstone, nearly flat-lying with a slight North dip. Copper mineralization consists of black chalcocite in irregularly-shaped volumes particularly concentrated along sandstone fracture planes. Malachite and azurite also occur toward the rim of these volumes.
According to Soule (1956), the Independence Mine was first opened in 1889. The U.S. Bureau of Mines estimates total production of 407 ounces of silver and 33,500 pounds of copper. Other claims around the Independence include the Loclin No. 3, the Crazy No. 8, the United Claims. Calculations by Sunshine Mining Company (Sunshine Mining Company unpublished files) estimate over 36 million tons of ore with a total considerable resources of copper and silver. The mine(s) produced at least through 1915. Exploration was rejuvenated in 1968 at the Dunlap Mine and a small leaching plant was developed south of Utleyville. No production was ever reported.
