The Superior Mine is a silver, copper, and lead mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,102 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: 11,102 Feet (3,384 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Copper, Lead
Lat, Long: 38.31694, -106.12611
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.
Superior Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Superior Mine
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Zinc
Location
State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek)
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: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: Sawatch Range, San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift
Type: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Early Barren Stage Of Alteration By Fumarolic Or Acid-Hot Spring Activity Resulted In Intense Silicification, Wallrock Replacement By Jasper And Alteration Products Hematite, Diaspore, Alunite, Barite, Zunyite, Rutile, And Kaolin Minerals. Later Mineralizing Stage By Alkaline Or Neutral Solutions Deposited Ore And Gangue And Caused Micaceous Alteration (Sericite And Chlorite) And Calcite, Quartz, And Pyrite.
Rocks
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: CRUDE ORE CONTAINED GROSS CONTENT OF 7 TO 18% PB, 0.6 TO 3% CU, 5 TO 20% ZN, 5 TO 40 OZ/TON AG, 0.017 TO 0.05 OZ/TON AU. AVERAGE CONTENT WAS 10% PB, 1.5% CU, 21 OZ/TON AG, 0.025 OZ/TON AU. VEIN SAMPLES ALSO CONTAINED 6 TO 19% FE.
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES NEAR TOP OF DIVIDE BETWEEN RAWLEY GULCH AND COPPER GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Development): ACTIVELY DEVELOPED IN 1881; SHAFT SUNK TO 100 FT IN 1882 WITH PB-CU ORE PRODUCED.
Comment (Workings): SUPERIOR SHAFT IS VERTICAL IN UPPER 25 TO 30 FT, THENCE INCLINED AT 60 DEG ON HEADING OF S35E. DEPTHS AND LENGTHS OF FOUR MAIN DEVELOPMENT DRIFTS OFF SHAFT ARE AS FOLLOW: 70-FT LEVEL, 170 FT; 140-FT LEVEL, 480 FT; 175-FT LEVEL, 225 FT; 225-FT LEVEL, 325 FT.
Comment (Production): NO PRODUCTION IN YEARS OMITTED SINCE 1902.
Comment (Deposit): FISSURE TRENDS N 60 TO 65 E, 40 TO 60 SE.
References
Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136 P.
Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.
Reference (Production): BURBANK (1932), AS COMPILED FROM USGS AND USBM FIGURES
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
