The Crystal Silica Mine is a mica mine located in Larimer county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,780 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: 9,780 Feet (2,981 Meters)
Commodity: Mica
Lat, Long: 40.53472, -105.43556
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.
Crystal Silica Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Crystal Silica Mine
Secondary: Claim: Crystal Silica Placer
Commodity
Primary: Mica
Tertiary: Niobium (Columbium)
Tertiary: Beryllium
Location
State: Colorado
County: Larimer
District: Crystal Mountain (Storm Mountain) Pegmatite 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: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1900
Discovery Year: 1900
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: IRREGULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Front Range Uplift
Type: L
Description: Thompson Canyon Fault, Mt Olympus Batholith, Ne-Trending Folds
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Tonalite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Tonalite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Beryl
Ore: Muscovite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Columbite
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Albite
Gangue: Apatite
Comments
Comment (Development): MINE REPORTEDLY PRODUCED PRIOR TO 1900, BUT NO RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE.
Comment (Location): ON RIDGE BETWEEN CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN AND LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 0.35 MILES SW OF CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1980)
Comment (Deposit): ZONED PEGMATITE CONSISTS OF 1) WALL ZONE OF FINE-GRAINED QUARTZ-MICROCLINE-MUSCOVITE-PLAGIOCLASE PEGMATITE, 2) INTERMEDIATE ZONE OF DISCONTINUOUS MUSCOVITE-BERYL PEGMATITE WITH ACCESSORY ALBITE, MICROCLINE, QUARTZ, APATITE, AND COLUMBITE, 3) UNIT OF MICROCLINE-QUARTZ-MICA PEGMATITE, AND 4) MASSIVE QUARTZ PEGMATITE CORE.
Comment (Workings): FOUR LARGE OPEN CUTS, 19 SMALL OPEN CUTS AND PROSPECT TRENCHES, 40-FT-DEEP VERTICAL SHAFT, TWO ADITS.
References
Reference (Deposit): THURSTON, W.R., 1955, PEGMATITES OF THE CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN DISTRICT, LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1011, 185 P., 13 PLS.
Reference (Deposit): HANLEY, J.B., AND OTHERS, 1950, PEGMATITE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO, WYOMING, AND UTAH, 1942-1944: USGS PROF. PAPER 227, P. 93-96.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
