The Tuttle Ranch is a ree, barium-barite, and thorium mine located in Fremont county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,949 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: 7,949 Feet (2,423 Meters)
Commodity: REE, Barium-Barite, Thorium
Lat, Long: 38.27111, -105.30778
Map: View on Google Maps
Satelite View
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Tuttle Ranch MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Tuttle Ranch
Secondary: Willis Tuttle Ranch
Commodity
Primary: REE
Primary: Barium-Barite
Primary: Thorium
Location
State: Colorado
County: Fremont
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
Owner Name: Tuttle, Willis
Years: 1953 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
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; Seven Mineralized Zones; Zone No. 5 Most Radioactive
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Light Green Clay Borders Mineralized Zone
Rocks
Name: Syenite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Syenite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: .000 TO .71% EQUIV. U, .001 TO .003% U, .01 TO 3.97% EQUIV. TH02, .57 TO 1.91% TH02
Materials
Ore: Barite
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Malachite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Siderite
Comments
Comment (Geology): SHEAR ZONE NO. 1 LESS THAN 500 FT LONG, ONE FOOT WIDE; VEIN WELL EXPOSED BY WORKINGS. SHEAR ZONE NO. 2 ABOUT 30 FT LONG AND 2.5 FT WIDE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 3 ABOUT 260 FT LONG, UP TO TWO FEET WIDE; CONTAINS RED, MASSIVE BARITE WITH WHITE CLEAVAGE MASSES. SHEAR ZONE NO. 4 ABOUT 50 FT LONG, .5 FT WIDE. THESE ZONES ONLY WEAKLY RADIOACTIVE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 5 MOST RADIOACTIVE ON PROPERTY; MOST MINERALIZATION AND RADIOACTIVITY CONCENTRATED IN SOUTHEASTERN 100 FT; OVERALL IT IS 2700 FT LONG, TO 4 FT WIDE; AT NORTHWEST END MINERALIZATION OCCURS WHERE SHEAR ZONE CUTS A SYENITE DIKE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 6 ABOUT 200 FT LONG AND 2 FT WIDE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 7 CONTAINS MALACHITE, COPPER SULFIDES IN QUARTZ-BARITE VEIN, WITH NO RADIOACTIVITY. MOST OF SHEAR ZONES HAVE STRONG FETID ODOR; SHEAR ZONES GENERALLY NUMBER FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST EXCEPT THAT SHEAR ZONES 6 AND 7 LIE BETWEEN SHEAR ZONES 1 AND 5 TO THE SOUTHEAST
Comment (Location): AREA NOT OFFICIALLY SECTIONED; SECTION EXTRAPOLATED FROM NEIGHBORING SECTION TO SOUTH; TO NORTHWEST OF MCKINLEY MOUNTAIN ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Deposit): RADIOACTIVITY STRONGEST IN SOUTHEASTERN PART OF SHEAR ZONE NO. 5
Comment (Workings): SEVERAL PROSPECT PITS, TRENCHES, ONE SHAFT
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1950'S
References
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. 19-20.
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. 522-523
Colorado Mining Photos
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