The Smaller is a uranium mine located in Fremont county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,199 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: 8,199 Feet (2,499 Meters)
Commodity: Uranium
Lat, Long: 38.56889, -105.51417
Map: View on Google Maps
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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.
Smaller MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Smaller
Secondary: Smaller Lease
Commodity
Primary: Uranium
Secondary: Vanadium
Location
State: Colorado
County: Fremont
District: Tallahassee 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
Year: 1961
Time Period: 1957-1961
Description: Cp_Grade: ^0.30% U308
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface
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: Sandstone U
Orebody
Form: TABULAR, PODS
Structure
Type: R
Description: Thirty Nine Mile Volcanic Field, Currant Creek Basin
Type: L
Description: Echo Park Graben, Paleovalleys, Small Fault Strikes N 55 W, Dips 35 Ne
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation; Alteration Of Feldspar To Clay
Rocks
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Eocene
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Uraninite
Ore: Coffinite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Hematite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT ON WESTERN FOOT-WALL SIDE OF FAULT, ABUTTING PRECAMBRIAN GRANITE AND GNEISS ALONG MARY L FAULT
Comment (Location): PROPERTY ADJOINS LITTLE ABNER AND JOAN 2 MINES ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Workings): SHALLOW CUTS; OPEN PIT WITH UNDERGROUND WORKINGS LEADING OFF PIT WALLS
Comment (Geology): DEPOSITS LOCALIZED AND PRESERVED BY SLUGGISH GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT IN AREA. THOSE CONDITIONS STILL PRESENT AS EVIDENCED BY ARTESIAN PRESSURE IN WELLS AND SPRINGS ISSUING FROM ECHO PARK FORMATION AND BY A PRESENT URANIUM CONTENT OF GROUNDWATER IN AREA AS HIGH AS 900 PPB.
References
Reference (Deposit): DICKINSON, K.A., 1981, GEOLOGIC CONTROLS OF URANIUM MINERALIZATION IN THE TALLAHASSEE CREEK URANIUM DISTRICT FREMONT COUNTY, COLORADO: THE MOUNTAIN GEOLOGIST, V. 18, NO. 4, P. 88-94.
Reference (Deposit): BABCOCK, J.A., 1980, TALLAHASSEE CREEK URANIUM DEPOSITS: DENVER REGIONAL EXPLORATION GEOLOGISTS SOCIETY GUIDEBOOK, P. 15-31
Reference (Production): NELSON-MOORE AND OTHERS, 1978
Reference (Deposit): EPIS, R.C., WOBUS, R.A. AND SCOTT, G.R., 1979, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE, FREMONT AND PARK COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-1195, 1:62,500.
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B. AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULLETIN 40, P. 152.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
