The Swartz Ranch is a thorium, ree, and vermiculite mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,799 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: 8,799 Feet (2,682 Meters)
Commodity: Thorium, REE, Vermiculite
Lat, Long: 38.1475, -105.33111
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.
Swartz Ranch MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Swartz Ranch
Secondary: D.P. Van Nouhuys Property
Secondary: Iron Queen
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Primary: Vermiculite
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Beryllium
Location
State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountain 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
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: D. P. Van Nouhuys
Years: 1952 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface
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
Model Name: Thorium-rare-earth veins
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains
Type: L
Description: Shear Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification
Rocks
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: LA, CE, Y PRESENT
Analytical Data: .005% U, 6.51% TH02, 1.71% TH02
Materials
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Bertrandite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Vermiculite
Gangue: Hematite
Comments
Comment (Workings): 2 PROSPECT PITS
Comment (Location): ABOUT ONE MILE NORTH OF MOUNT TYNDALL; SWARTZ RANCH IS FIRST RANCH ON NORTH SIDE OF COLORADO ROUTE 96 EAST OF QUERIDA; DEPOSIT NORTH ON TYNDALL GULCH FROM RANCH BUILDINGS ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
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. 120
Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596
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.24, 29.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
