The Independence Mine is a gold, copper, and silver mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,501 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: 8,501 Feet (2,591 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Copper, Silver
Lat, Long: 37.94583, -105.64944
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.
Independence Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Independence Mine
Secondary: Independence Mill Site Alamosa
Secondary: Baca Grant No. 4
Secondary: Bonanza
Secondary: Eastern Star
Secondary: Independent
Secondary: Midnight Star
Secondary: Queen Estherr Claims
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Location
State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Crestone-Music 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: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Baca Grande Corp.
Home Office: Crestone, Co.
Years: 1979 -
Owner Name: Luis Marie Baca Mining And Development Co.
Home Office: Crestone, Co.
Years: 1938 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year Last Production: 1937
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: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: Sangre De Cristo Range, Sierra Blanca Massif, Rio Grande Rift
Type: L
Description: Sangre De Cristo Fault, Independence Mine Fault
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Upper Portions Oxidized To Limonite And Copper Carbonates
Rocks
Name: Diabase
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: GOLD VALUES WERE REPORTED IN DOLLARS/TON. USING AVG. PRICE OF $20.65/OZ FOR THOSE YEARS GIVES MOST COMMON GRADES OF 0.48 TO 0.97 OZ/TON, WITH LOW OF 0.17 OZ/TON AND HIGH 1.93 OZ/TON FOR YEARS 1900-1915
Materials
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Comments
Comment (Workings): MINE MANAGER'S REPTS. FOR 1912-13 INDICATE THAT INDIVIDUAL WORKINGS AMOUNT TO SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET SHAFT AND 1000 TO AT MOST 5000 FT OF TUNNELING AND DRIFTING. AGGREGATE EXTENT OF WORKINGS ON 25,000 AC WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 10,000 FT OF SHAFT, 1500 FT OF WINZES, 20,000 FT OF DRIFT, AND 6,000 FT OF CROSSCUTS.
Comment (Location): BACA GRANT ABOUT 4 MILES SE OF CRESTONE; CLAIMS LIE AT BASE OF MOUNTAIN RANGE BETWEEN SPANISH AND COTTONWOOD CREEKS. S-T-R ABOVE IS PROJECTED INTO UNSURVEYED LAND GRANT AREA. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Commodity): Rock chip and channel samples assayed from 0.035 to 0.555 oz/ton gold. (Sunshine files)
Comment (Deposit): VEINS LIE IN SHEAR ZONES AND IRREGULAR FRACTURES AND CONTAIN FREE-MILLING GOLD AND CONSIDERABLE PYRITE
Comment (Development): A mining company proposed an exploration program for 1989 on the basis of previous production and sampling that showed significant gold potential. (Sunshine files)
Comment (Geology): Gold mineralization hosted by sheared Precambrian gneiss next to thrust fault.
References
Reference (Deposit): JOHNSON, R.B., 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE TRINIDAD QUADRANGLE, SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO: USGS 1-558
Reference (Deposit): CLEMENT, J.F., 1952, THE GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHEASTERN BACA GRANT AREA, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES M.S. THESIS T-764
Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.
Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES MINE MANAGERS REPTS FOR 1900, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1912, 1913, 1915
Colorado Mining Photos
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