The Mystery Lode is a thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,901 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: 8,901 Feet (2,713 Meters)
Commodity: Thorium
Lat, Long: 38.17528, -105.29306
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.
Mystery Lode MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Mystery Lode
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Barium-Barite
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Manganese
Tertiary: Gold
Location
State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area
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: Unknown
Ownership
Owner Name: Ernest Sparling, Rosita, Co. And Lawrence Knobbe, Spearville, Ks.
Years: 1951 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1950
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: Wet Mountains
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: .006 TO .1% EQUIV. U, 0.001% U, .03 TO .55% EQUIV TH02, 0.4% TH02, .23% RAE OXIDE, .63% TH02 + RAE OXIDE
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Barite
Ore: Rhodochrosite
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Comments
Comment (Location): SOUTH OF BONEYARD GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
Comment (Deposit): ORE IN SMALL MASSES IN QUARTZ
Comment (Workings): SHAFT, PIT
References
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B. AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 40, P. 122
Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., HEYMAN, A.M., DELLWIG, L.F. AND GOTT, G.B., 1953, THORIUM INVESTIGATIONS 1950-52, WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS CIRCULAR 290, P. 23, 26
Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
