Wheel Fo Fortune Mine

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

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.

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.