The Franklin Mine is a thorium and ree 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
Lat, Long: 38.17444, -105.23056
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.
Franklin Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Franklin Mine
Secondary: Frankland Mine
Secondary: Francklyn Mine
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Location
State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Hardscrabble Mountain Area, Oak Creek (Ilse) District
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: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
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: Northwest-Trending Faults , Ilse Fault
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Argillization
Alteration Text: Argillization
Rocks
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 13-.17% E TH02, .02-.03% C TH02, .01-.18% RAE, .002% U308
Materials
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Clay
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Location): NEAR OAK CREEK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)
Comment (Workings): 3 SHAFTS, SEVERAL PROSPECT PITS; UNKNOWN LENGTH OF INACCESSIBLE ADIT
References
Reference (Deposit): HUNTER, J.F., 1915, SOME CERUSSITE DEPOSITS IN CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO, IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY: USGS BULLETIN 580, P. 25-37.
Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., BROCK, M.R., PEARSON, R.C., AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1959, GEOLOGY AND THORIUM DEPOSITS OF THE WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO, A PROGRESS REPORT: USGS BULL. 1072-H, P.531
Reference (Deposit): SCOTT, G.R., TAYLOR, R.B., EPIS, R.C. AND WOBUS, R.A., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE PUEBLO 10X20 QUADRANGLE, SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO: USGS MAPI-1022, SCALE 1: 250, 000
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. 121
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
