Continental Chief

The Continental Chief is a silver, lead, and zinc mine located in Lake county, Colorado at an elevation of 12,720 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Name: Continental Chief

State:  Colorado

County:  Lake

Elevation: 12,720 Feet (3,877 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Lead, Zinc

Lat, Long: 39.23278, -106.17472

Map: View on Google Maps

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.


Satelite image of the Continental Chief

Continental Chief MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Continental Chief


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Copper


Location

State: Colorado
County: Lake
District: Horseshoe District


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Dolomite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Cerussite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Hydrozincite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Dolomite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Geology): Replacement and vein deposits in dolomite.

Comment (Location): Iowa Amphitheater at the head of Iowa Gulch, about 6 miles ESE of Leadville, in the SW/4 sec 25, T 9 S, R 79 W.

Comment (Production): Reported production valued at $3,000,000 before 1920.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): About 5,000 tons of proven ore averaging 17 oz/ton silver and 3 % lead; potential ore totals 20,000 tons at a similar grade. (Sunshine files, 1980)


References

Reference (Deposit): Behre, C. H., Jr., 1953, Geology and ore deposits of the west slope of the Mosquito Range (Colorado): U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 235, 176 p.

Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.

Reference (Deposit): Johansing, R. J., and Thompson, T. B., 1990, Geology and origin of Sherman-type deposits, central Colorado: Economic Geology Monograph 7, p. 367-394.

Reference (Deposit): MESA MET-NONMET MINE FILE REF OWNER-ROBERT R BENSON


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.