The Rawley Mine is a lead, zinc, copper, and silver mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,764 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: 10,764 Feet (3,281 Meters)
Commodity: Lead, Zinc, Copper, Silver
Lat, Long: 38.31444, -106.14278
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.
Rawley Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Rawley Mine
Commodity
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Tertiary: Manganese
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
Type: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: U.S. Silver Mining Co.
Home Office: Salida, Co.
Years: 1972 -
Production
Year: 1959
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1882
Year Last Production: 1969
Discovery Year: 1880
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
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE ANALYSES FROM DIFFERENT MINE LEVES: 200 LEVEL, 10 OZ/TON AG, 11.6% PB, 2.11% CU
Analytical Data: 1200 LEVEL (SOUTH), 4.48 OZ/TON AG, 0.8% PB, 0.59% CU. SEE ALSO ORE ANALYSES IN PRODUCTION TABLE.
Analytical Data: 1200 LEVEL (SOUTH), 25.2 OZ/TON AG, 3.2% PB, 3.6% CU
Analytical Data: 800 LEVEL (NORTH), 8.48 OZ/TON AG, 6.67% PB, 2.36% CU
Analytical Data: 700 LEVEL (NORTH), 16.0 OZ/TON AG, 1.5% PB, 6.33% CU
Analytical Data: 700 LEVEL (NORTH), 6.84 OZ/TON AG, 0.69% PB 2.25% CU
Analytical Data: 700 LEVEL (SOUTH), 11.8 OZ/TON AG, 2.41% PB, 3.17% CU
Analytical Data: 680 LEVEL (NORTH), 12.5 OZ/TON AG, 0.84% PB, 5.22% CU
Analytical Data: 680 LEVEL (SOUTH), 10.7 OZ/TON AG, 1.52% PB, 3.18% CU
Analytical Data: 600 LEVEL (NORTH), 15.1 OZ/TON AG, 2.06% PB, 5.07% CU
Analytical Data: 600 LEVEL (NORTH), 9.9 OZ/TON AG, 1.04% PB, 3.85% CU
Analytical Data: 600 LEVEL (SOUTH), 13.4 OZ/TON AG, 5.6% PB, 3.54% CU
Analytical Data: 500 LEVEL (NORTH), 6.77 OZ/TON AG, 3.31% PB, 2.79% CU
Analytical Data: 500 LEVEL (NORTH), 10.3 OZ/TON AG, 5.78% PB, 3.02% CU
Analytical Data: 500 LEVEL (SOUTH), 12.2 OZ/TON AG, 7.78% PB, 3.25% CU
Analytical Data: 400 LEVEL (NORTH), 9.86 OZ/TON AG, 11% PB, 2.45% CU
Analytical Data: 400 LEVEL (SOUTH), 6.75 OZ/TON AG, 12.5% PB, 1.57% CU
Analytical Data: 400 LEVEL (SOUTH), 12.8 OZ/TON AG, 18.5% PB, 1.4% CU
Analytical Data: 300 LEVEL, 9.72 OZ/TON AG, 12.7% PB, 1.7% CU
Materials
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Enargite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Stromeyerite
Gangue: Jasper
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pitchblende
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Uraninite
Comments
Comment (Workings): RAWLEY VEIN NORTH OF PARAGON VEIN AND 580 FT ON TIP TOP VEIN. INTERMEDIATE 950 LEVEL (EL. 10100 FT) DEVELOPED ON RAWLEY VEIN BY 270-FT DRIFT BETWEEN SHAFT AND PARAGON VEIN, CONNECTED BY RAISE FROM 1000 TO 900 LEVEL. 320 FT NORTH OF SHAFT, SECOND SUBLEVEL (EL. 10070 FT) HAS 170 FT AND IS CONNECTED TO RAISES FROM 1000 TO 900 LEVELS. 1000 LEVEL (EL. 9990 FT) DEVELOPED BY 7400 FT OF DRIFT FROM SHAFT. 1200 LEVEL (EL. 9850 FT) DEVELOPED BY 970 FT DRIFT ON RAWLEY VEIN. AT BOTTOM OF SHAFT, 1200 LEVEL IS TERMINATION OF RAWLEY DRAINAGE TUNNEL. PORTAL OF DRAINAGE TUNNEL LOCATED 1.15 MILES S55W OF 100 ADIT TUNNEL, DRIVEN 4080 FT N50E, THENCE 2000 FT N75E TO 1200 LEVEL. APPROX. 170 FT OF CROSSCUT AND DRIFT DEVELOPED ALONG CLARK VEIN OFF WINZE FROM 1200 LEVEL TO 1260 LEVEL. MISCELLANEOUS DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS TOTAL 1300 FT. RAISES AND WINZES INDICATED ON LONGITUDINAL SECTION TOTAL 5340 FT WITH 890-FT SHAFT. MEASUREMENTS FROM BURBANKS (1932) MAPS.
Comment (Deposit): DRANAGE TUNNEL.
Comment (Deposit): STRIKE OF RAWLEY VEIN IS IRREGULAR BUT GENERALLY RANGES FROM N9 TO 15W BECOMING CONCAVE EASTWARD AND BECOMING NE TRENDING AT NORTH END. FISSURE IS 2 TO 12 FT. WIDE, AVERAGING 4 FT. ORE FILLS FISSURE OPENINGS AND REPLACES WALLROCK AND BRECCIA, AND TENDS TO BE MORE UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS FISSURE RATHER THAN IN STREAKS. NO PRONOUNCED OXIDATION OR ENRICHMENTS EXCEPT WITHIN 50 FT OF SURFACE. SOME PB ENRICHMENT OCCURS NEAR PARAGON FAULT, WHICH INTERSECTS RAWLEY FISSURE NEARLY AT RIGHT ANGLE. RAWLEY FISSURE TRENDS MORE NORTHEASTERLY, WIDTH OF OPENINGS DECREASE, DIP FLATTENS, AND SPLITS APPEAR ALL TOWARD NORTH OR IN DIRECTION AWAY FROM PARAGON FAULT. TIP TOP VEIN SITUATED SOUTH OF PARAGON FAULT AND EAST OF PROJECTION OF RAWLEY FAULT INTO PARAGON'S HANGING WALL, TRENDS N15 TO 18W, 83SW, AND DEVELOPED ON 500 THRU 900 LEVELS. PARALLEL VEIN LIES IN FOOTWALL OF RAWLEY FAULT AND IS DEVELOPED ON 300 THRU 500 LEVELS. CLARK VEIN TRENDS SLIGHTLY NE, DIPS 35 TO 40 SE, DEVELOPED ON 1260 LEVEL BELOW
Comment (Workings): N15 TO 40E FOR 700 FT INTO ANTORO MINE WORKINGS AT 1120 FT ALONG MAIN DRIFT, A 130-FT CROSSCUT DRIVEN N65W TO PARALLEL VEIN. ON 400 LEVEL, INTERNAL SHAFT LIES 80 FT S15E OF 100 ADIT. 500 LEVEL (EL. 10580 FT) HAS 1040 FT DRIFT ON RAWLEY VEIN NORTH OF PARAGON VEIN. SOUTH OF PARAGON, 440 FT OF DRIFT DEVELOPED ON TIP TOP VEIN. ON 600 LEVEL (EL. 10480 FT), 1350 FT OF DRIFT DEVELOPED NORTH OF AND 120 FT SOUTH OF PARAGON VEIN, THENCE 60-FT EASTWARD CROSSCUT TO TIP TOP VEIN ALONG WHICH 350 FT OF DRIFT DEVELOPED ON 680 LEVEL (EL. 10400 FT), 960 FT OF DRIFT DISCONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPED NORTH OF PARAGON VEIN, AND 150-FT DRIFT DEVELOPED SOUTH OF PARAGON ON TIP TOP VEIN. ON 700 LEVEL (EL. 10300 FT), 1150 FT OF DRIFT DEVELOPED ON RAWLEY VEIN NORTH OF PARAGON VEIN AND 230 FT OF DRIFT ON TIP TOP VEIN SOUTH OF PARAGON. ON 800 LEVEL (EL. 10220 FT), 830 FT OF DRIFT DISCONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPED ON RAWLEY VEIN NORTH OF PARAGON VEIN. ON 900 LEVEL (EL. 10140 FT), 1010 FT OF DRIFT DISCONTINUOSLY DEVELOPED ON
Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ALONG RAWLEY GULCH ON SW SLOPE OF MOUNT MANITOU ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Production): PATTON REPORTS PRE-1900 PRODUCTION OF 500 TONS OF AU-AG-PB-CU ORE VALUED AT $15,000. NO DATA GIVEN FOR YEARS FROM 1900-1930 NOT LISTED IN TABLE. NO PRODUCTION IN 1931-1935, 1942, 1960-1967. ORE PRODUCTION REPORTED SEPARATELY FOR INDIVIDUAL MINE LEVELS 1939-1959
Comment (Development): ONLY SMALL PRODUCTION OF LOW-GRADE ORE BEFORE 1902. NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MILL THEN HAD DIFFICULTY AND ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF CONCENTRATES SHIPPED UNTIL 1905 WHEN COMPANY REORGANIZED. DEVELOPMENT CONDUCTED UNTIL 1911 WHEN WORK BEGAN ON RAWLEY DRAINAGE TUNNEL (COMPLETED 1912). MINE IDLE TILL 1916. COMPLETION OF POWER LINE, 7.25-MILE AERIAL TRAM, AND COMPANY REORGANIZATION BY 1923 LED TO MORE PRODUCTIVE ERA FROM 1925-1930. MINING REVIVED IN LATE 1930S, 1940S, AND 1950S. LAST PRODUCTION IN 1969.
Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY 12 LEVELS ON RAWLEY, TIP, TOP, PARALLEL, AND PARTLY ON PARAGON VEINS. UPPER FOUR LEVELS DEVELOPED BY ADITS. SHAFT CONNECTS 400 AND ALL LOWER LEVELS. NUMEROUS RAISES CONNECT VARIOUS ADJACENT LEVELS. 100 LEVEL ADIT (EL. 10935 FT) DRIVEN APPROX. DUE NORTH FOR 210 FT. 200 LEVEL ADIT (EL. 10890 FT) LIES 255 FT DUE SOUTH OF 100 ADIT AND IS DRIVEN SLIGHTLY NE TO NW FOR 980 FT ON RAWLEY VEIN. AT 120 FT INTO TUNNEL, 100 FT OF DRIFT DEVELOPED ON PARAGON VEIN. 300 LEVEL ADIT (EL. 10770 FT) LIES 560 FT S15E OF 100 ADIT AND IS DRIVEN N25W FOR 350 FT TO PARAGON VEIN, THENCE 1010 FT NW ALONG RAWLEY VEIN. AT 360 FT ALONG RAWLEY DRIFT, 140-FT CROSSCUT DRIVEN N80W TO PARALLEL VEIN, ALONG WHICH 460-FT DRIFT DEVELOPED. ALSO ON 300 LEVEL IS 300-FT DRIFT ON PARAGON VEIN AND 1950-FT CROSSCUT EASTWARD TO MICHIGAN VEIN. 400 LEVEL ADIT (EL. 10680 FT) LIES 1110 FT S10W FROM 100 ADIT AND IS DRIVEN N68E FOR 660 FT. AT 525 FT, 230-FT DRIFT DEVELOPED S45E AND 1430 FT GENERALLY N15 TO 20W, THENCE
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 MINNING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, P.B., AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978 RADIOACTIVE MINERAL ACCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLO. GEOL.SURVEY BULL. 40, P. 393.
Reference (Production): PRODUCTION FIGURES FOR 1902-1930 FROM BURBANK (1932) AS COMPILED FROM USGS, USBM, AND COMPANY RECORDS. PRODUCTION FIGURES FOR 1936-1969 AND ORE GRADES FOR 1916-1969 COMPILED FROM COLO. DIVISION OF MINES ANNUAL OPERATORS REPTS.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
