Thorium Mountain Mine

The Thorium Mountain Mine is a thorium and ree mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,301 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

Name: Thorium Mountain Mine

State:  Colorado

County:  Custer

Elevation: 8,301 Feet (2,530 Meters)

Commodity: Thorium, REE

Lat, Long: 38.20917, -105.33500

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.


Satelite image of the Thorium Mountain Mine

Thorium Mountain Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Thorium Mountain Mine


Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Secondary: Uranium


Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area; Mckinley 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

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Discovery Year: 1952
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

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Syenite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Cambrian


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .033 TO .21 % EQUIV. U, .001 TO .01 % U, .18 TO 1.12 % EQUIV. THO2, 1.26 % TH02, .38 % RAE OXIDES


Materials

Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Pyrite


Comments

Comment (Location): ON WEST SIDE OF UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO DEAD MULE GULCH, ABOUT 1.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF BEAR PEAK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Workings): SHAFT, PROSPECT PITS

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1950'S


References

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 BULLETIN 1072-H, P 522, 525


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.