The Lower Star of the West Mine is a iron mine located in Costilla county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,521 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
Elevation: 9,521 Feet (2,902 Meters)
Commodity: Iron
Lat, Long: 37.61111, -105.27556
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.
Lower Star of the West Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Lower Star of the West Mine
Secondary: Stoddard Mine
Commodity
Primary: Iron
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Location
State: Colorado
County: Costilla
District: Grayback (Russell) District
Land Status
Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Trinchera (Estate)
Years: 1910 -
Owner Name: Otto Drum
Years: 1959 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Underground
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Skarn Fe
Orebody
Form: moderately dipping layer
Structure
Type: R
Description: Sierra Blanca Massif, Ft. Garland Embayment
Type: L
Description: Vega Cr. Anticline, Wagon Mesa Fault
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: AVERAGE OF FOUR ANALYSES ON ENTIRE IRON DEPOSIT YIELDED 53.78% FE AND 0.931%
Materials
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Magnetite
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Garnet
Comments
Comment (Deposit): IRON ORE REPLACES CALCITE IN CONTACT-METAMORPHOSED LIMESTONE. ORE CONFORMS WITH ORIGINAL BEDDING AND IS OVERLAIN BY 12-FT-THICK TACTITE. FAULT THAT OFFSETS ORE TRENDS S 40 E, 70 NE.
Comment (Location): ALTHOUGH DISTRICT ACTUALLY IS IN UNSURVEYED PRIVATE LAND GRANT, SECTIONS REPORTED ARE BASED ON PATTON AND OTHERS (1910) MAP RATHER THAN PROJECTIONS FROM ADJACENT QUADS. LAT-LONG AND ELEVATIONS DETERMINED FROM TOPO QUAD. MINE OR CLAIM LIES ALONG GRAYBACK CREEK 0.55 MILE SW OF SUMMIT OF GRAYBACK MTN. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1975)
Comment (Workings): ADIT DRIVEN NE TO ORE ZONE ON NW SIDE OF MONZONITE INTRUSION. TUNNEL TURNS RIGHT TO FOLLOW FAULT ZONE THAT OFFSETS ORE. ORE WORKED OUT ALONG FAULT ZONE FOR LENGTH OF 50 FT AND WIDTH OF 25 FT. TUNNEL CAVED BEYOND.
References
Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., AND OTHERS, 1910, GEOLOGY OF THE GRAYBACK MINING DISTRICT, COSTILLA COUNTY, COLORADO: CGS BULL. 2.
Reference (Deposit): WARNER, L.A., AND OTHERS, 1959, OCCURRENCE OF NONPEGMATITIC BERYLLIUM IN THE UNITED STATES: USGS PROF. PAPER 318, P. 165.
Reference (Deposit): HARRER; C.M., AND TESCH, W.J., JR., 1959, RECONNAISSANCE OF IRON OCCURRENCES IN COLORADO: USBM 1C-7918, P. 22.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
