The Difficult Creek District is a gold and copper mine located in Pitkin county, Colorado at an elevation of 12,362 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: 12,362 Feet (3,768 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Copper
Lat, Long: 39.04583, -106.73889
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.
Difficult Creek District MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Difficult Creek District
Secondary: See Last Page
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Manganese
Location
State: Colorado
County: Pitkin
District: Difficult Creek 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
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: District
Operation Category: Occurrence
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1892
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 Uplift
Type: L
Description: Castle Creek Fault Zone, Grizzly Caldera
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Fe And Mn Oxides
Rocks
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: (SEE LAST PAGE)
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Malachite
Comments
Comment (Commodity): ANALYSES SHOWED TRACE CONCENTRATIONS OF TI, CO, CR, NI, PB, V, Y, ZN
Comment (Location): CLAIMS LIE ALONG DIFFICULT CREEK AND AROUND GOLD HILL. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE TOP OF GOLD HILL ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1977)
Comment (Development): CLAIMS STAKED BETWEEN 1892 AND 1900, BUT APPARENTLY LITTLE MORE THAN EXPLORATORY SHAFTS AND TUNNELS WERE DRIVEN. DISTRICT WAS SOON ABANDONED
Comment (Deposit): COPPER MINERALIZATION FOUND IN CHALCOPYRITE-QUARTZ-CARBONATE VEINS IN NE-TRENDING, STEEPLY DIPPING SHEAR ZONES CUTTING MUSCOVITE-BIOTITE SCHIST AND GNEISS THAT CONTAIN LENSES AND BODIES OF QUARTZ MONZONITE AND PEGMATITE. HIGHER AU VALUES MAY BE DUE TO NEAR-SURFACE ENRICHMENT. AGE OF DEPOSITS UNKNOWN; VEINS COULD BE MID TERTIARY ON BASIS OF ASSOCIATION WITH INDEPENDENCE DISTRICT AND GRIZZLY PEAK CAULDRON OR WITH WHITE ROCK PLUTON TO WEST.
Comment (Workings): NUMEROUS SURFACE PROSPECTS, SHAFTS, TUNNELS
References
Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 7437,7438,8666,8880,9262,9844,9895,12220,12910,12911
Reference (Deposit): BRYANT, BRUCE, 1979, GEOLOGY OF THE ASPEN 15-MINUTE QUADRANGLE, PITKIN AND GUNNISON COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 1073, P. 120-122
Colorado Mining Photos
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