The Joe Wheeler Mine is a silver, lead, and copper mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,732 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: 10,732 Feet (3,271 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Lead, Copper
Lat, Long: 38.35194, -106.10139
Map: View on Google Maps
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Joe Wheeler Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Joe Wheeler Mine
Secondary: Claim: Golden Wave
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Bismuth
Location
State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek) District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
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: Joe Wheeler Mining And Milling Co.
Years: 1928 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1917
Year Last Production: 1928
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
Form: LENTICULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Sawatch Range, San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift
Type: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Early Barren Stage Of Alteration By Fumarolic Or Acid-Hot Spring Activity Resulted In Intense Silicification, Wallrock Replacement By Jasper And Alteration Products Hematite, Diaspore, Alunite, Barite, Zunyite, Rutile, And Kaolin Minerals. Later Mineralizing Stage By Alkaline Or Neutral Solutions Deposited Ore And Gangue And Caused Micaceous Alteration (Sericite And Chlorite) And Calcite, Quartz, And Pyrite.
Rocks
Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 23-TON ORE SHIPMENT ASSAYED 8.4% PB, 5.7% ZN. A 16.4-TON ORE SHIPMENT ASSAYED 6.9 OZ/TON AG, 11.7% PB, 9.7% ZN, 11.4% S, 55.9% INSOL.
Materials
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Stromeyerite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Deposit): JOE WHEELER VEIN (ATTITUDE ABOVE) LIES IN 6- TO 8-FT-WIDE FAULT ZONE. ORE IS FOUND IN TWO LENSES-A 1- TO 4-FT-WIDE ZONE ON EAST WALL CONTAINING QUARTZ-BARITE GANGUE WITH CHALCOPYRITE, BORNITE, ARSENOPYRITE, AND SOME PYRITE, SPHALERITE, GALENA, AND 1- TO 2-FT-WIDE ZONE ON WEST WALL CONTAINING HIGHER AMOUNT OF GALENA. ZONES SEPARATED BY HORSE OF ALTERED ROCK AND LOW-GRADE VEIN MATTER. VEIN IS TRUNCATED BY SPHALERITE-GALENA-BEARING FAULT TRENDING N10 TO 20E. AT END OF TUNNEL FISSURE MAY SPLIT TO FORM ARCUATE BOUNDARIES OF GRABEN OF BONANZA TUFF. WEST BOUNDARY ZONE UP TO 200 FT WIDE ON SURFACE HIGHER UP HILLSIDE. PROSPECTS HERE SUGGEST THAT PB CONTENT DECREASES WITH DEPTH.
Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ON UNNAMED TRIBUTARY OF ALDER CREEK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
Comment (Production): ORE SHIPMENTS MADE IN 1917, 1919, 1926, 1927, AND 1928 TOTALLED 138 TONS, WHICH YIELDED 0.35 OZ AU, 1210 OZ AG, 39,653 LB PB, 840 LB CU, AND UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF ZN.
Comment (Workings): TUNNEL DRIVEN AT N12W FOR 100 FT, THENCE N59W FOR 190 FT, THENCE IRREGULARLY N12 TO 20W FOR 380 FT. SEVERAL OTHER TUNNELS AND SHAFTS OF UNKNOWN EXTENT.
References
Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136 P.
Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.
Colorado Mining Photos
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