The Wheel Fo Fortune Mine is a lead, silver, and copper mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,629 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: 9,629 Feet (2,935 Meters)
Commodity: Lead, Silver, Copper
Lat, Long: 38.29972, -106.14278
Map: View on Google Maps
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Wheel Fo Fortune Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Wheel Fo Fortune Mine
Commodity
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Zinc
Location
State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek)
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: Vernon Robinson
Home Office: Denver, Co.
Years: 1959 -
Owner Name: Larson, William
Home Office: Salida, Co.
Years: 1959 -
Production
Year: 1926
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1927
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
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: SMALL ORE SHIPMENT RAN 12% PB, 0.7% CU, 22 OZ/TON AG
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Tennantite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Comments
Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ON KERBER CR. 900 FT SE OF ST. JOE MINE. SHAFT LIES APPROX. 1000 FT SE OF TUNNEL PORTAL ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
Comment (Production): PATTON REPORTS PRODUCTION OF APPROX. 100 TONS OF AG-PB ORE FOR 1881-1900.
Comment (Deposit): BLIND VEIN DEVELOPED BY TUNNEL TRENDS N80E, 50 TO 60 NW AND CONTAINS 2 TO 3 FT GOUGE. VEIN DEVELOPED BY SHAFT TRENDS N60W ON OUTCROP
Comment (Workings): SHAFT APPROX, 100 FT DEEP. TUNNEL DRIVEN S67E FOR 210 FT, THENCE (N80E FOR 60 FT, THENCE N27E FOR 50 FT. AT 100 FT INTO TUNNEL, DRIFT ALONG VEIN DRIVEN N80E FOR 230 FT. WINZE OF UNKNOWN DEPTH SUNK AT 80 FT INTO DRIFT.
References
Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.
Reference (Production): COLO. DIV. MINES ANN. OPERATOR REPTS.
Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAUGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO; COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136P.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
