The Freeport Tunnel is a silver mine located in Mineral county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,151 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: 10,151 Feet (3,094 Meters)
Commodity: Silver
Lat, Long: 37.87139, -106.93389
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.
Freeport Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Freeport Tunnel
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Location
State: Colorado
County: Mineral
District: Creede 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
Type: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Minerals Engineering Co. (Meco) And Homestake Mining Co.
Home Office: Grand Junction, Co.
Years: 1981 -
Owner Name: Minerals Engineering Co. (Meco)
Home Office: Grand Junction, Co.
Years: 1981 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1919
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Volcanic Field; La Garita, Creede, And Bachelor Calderas
Type: L
Description: Amethyst Fault, Bachelor Mtn. Paleovalley (Controlled By Creede Graben)
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification
Rocks
Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: G.T. 3 OZ/TON AG
Materials
Ore: Acanthite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Jarosite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Hematite
Comments
Comment (Development): RICH ORES ASSAYING AS HIGH AS 800 OZ/TON AG WERE MINED AND QUICKLY DEPLETED FOLLOWING 1919 DISCOVERY. NO PROSPECTING UNTIL 1975 UNDER MECO-FREEPORT JOINT VENTURE; 1981 FEASIBILITY STUDY INDICATES PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES OF 3.348 MILLION TONS OF ORE AT 6.39 OZ/TON AG. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION CONTINUING.
Comment (Workings): ONE TUNNEL DRIVEN WESTERLY 680 FT
Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV DETERMINED FROM EMMONS AND LARSEN'S (1923) TOPO MAP (1:24,000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ON SE SIDE OF BACHELOR MTN. SW OF BACHELOR AND COMMODORE MINES. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
Comment (Deposit): AG SULFIDES WITH TRACE OF BASE METALS ARE VERY FINELY DISSEMINATED IN 1) CARBONACEOUS, TUFFACEOUS, SILTY TO COARSE-GRAINED SANDSTONE IN LOWER MONKEMEYER SS., AND 2) IN SANDY MATRIX OF COMMODORE CONGLOMERATE AND ASSOCIATED WITH FE AND MN OXIDE ALTERATION OCCURRING AS FRACTURE AND PORE SPACE COATINGS. MINERALIZATION FOUND BOTH IN SILICIFIED AND NONSILICIFIED ROCK.
References
Reference (Deposit): EMMONS, W.H., AND LARSEN, E.S. 1923, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE CREEDE DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 718, 198 P.
Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND RATTE, J.C., 1965, GEOLOGY AND STRUCTURAL CONTROL OF ORE DEPOSITION IN THE CREEDE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 487, 90 P.
Reference (Deposit): LINDEMANN, J.W., AND OTHERS, EDS., 1981, FIELD TRIP NOTES, CREEDE MINING DISTRICT, SAN JUAN VOLCANIC PROVINCE, COLORADO: DENVER REGIONAL EXPLORATION GEOLOGISTS SOC. GUIDEBOOK
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
