The Mercury Mine is a uranium mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,311 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: 9,311 Feet (2,838 Meters)
Commodity: Uranium
Lat, Long: 38.30583, -106.76917
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.
Mercury Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Mercury Mine
Secondary: Smith Mercury Mine
Commodity
Primary: Uranium
Tertiary: Mercury
Location
State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Cochetopa (Cochetopa Creek) District
Land Status
Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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: Coltex Mining Co.
Years: 1962 -
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: San Juan Volcanic Field; Gunnison Uplift
Type: L
Description: Cochetopa Dome; Los Ochos Fault; Razor Creek Dome; Unnamed Fault
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Rhyodacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Name: Rhyodacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Name: Rhyodacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Rhyodacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Cinnabar
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Location): ON HILLSIDE WEST OF COCHETOPA CREEK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Development): DISTRICT MINED PREVIOUSLY FOR AU AND BASE METALS. GUNNISON MINING CO. DISCOVERED URANIUM IN 1954 ALONG LOS OCHOS FAULT. MERCURY WAS PROSPECTED FOR IN 1937
Comment (Deposit): PRINCIPAL FAULT ZONE TRENDS N 75 TO 80 W. CINNABAR REPORTEDLY ASSOCIATED WITH PYRITE AND VEIN QUARTZ IN BRECCIA IN QUARTZITE OR SILICIFIED PORPHYRY
Comment (Workings): TRENCHES 90 TO 110 FT LONG AND 8 TO 12 FT DEEP. 100-FT SHAFT WITH 45-FT DRIFT FROM BOTTOM.
References
Reference (Deposit): MALAN, R.C., AND RANSPOT, H.W., 1959, GEOLOGY OF THE URANIUM DEPOSITS IN THE COCHETOPA MINING DISTRICT, SAGUACHE AND GUNNISON COUNTIES, COLORADO: ECON. GEOLOGY, V. 54, NO. 1, P. 1-19.
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B., AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 40, P. 392
Reference (Deposit): OLSON, J.C., AND STEVEN, T.A., 1976, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP MF-733
Reference (Deposit): USBM MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1962, V. 3, P. 264
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
