The Science Tunnel is a gold and silver mine located in Rio Grande county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,877 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: 11,877 Feet (3,620 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Lat, Long: 37.42083, -106.59611
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.
Science Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Science Tunnel
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Location
State: Colorado
County: Rio Grande
District: Summit (Summitville) 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: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
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: Epithermal quartz-alunite Au
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Volcanic Field
Type: L
Description: Platoro Caldera, Summitville Caldera, Summitville Fault, South Mountain Dome
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Quartz-Alunite Solfataric Alteration
Rocks
Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene
Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Not available
Comments
Comment (Workings): 180-FT TUNNEL DRIVEN S 73 W TO SCIENCE VEIN; 100-FT NW-SE DRIFT, WITH SMALL STOPE NEAR NW END OF WORKINGS
Comment (Location): ON NE SLOPE OF SOUTH MTN 240 FT NW OF IOWA PORTAL. PORTAL ELEV FROM STEVEN AND RATTE (1960, PL. 4) ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975
Comment (Deposit): SCIENCE VEIN IS EXAMPLE OF WELL-MINERALIZED BUT HIDDEN VEIN IN QUARTZ-ALUNITE ROCK AND TRENDS N 36 W. WALLS COMPOSED OF SOFT ARGILLIZED ROCK. VEIN PINCHES OUT INTO HIGHLY ARGILLIZED ROCK AT NW END BUT SE END STILL IN SILICIFIED ROCK. NARROW VEIN LOCALLY CONTAINS ABUNDANT ENARGITE AND PYRITE.
References
Reference (Deposit): LIPMAN, P.W., 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE PLATORO CALDERA AREA, SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS MAP I-828.
Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND RATTE, J.C., 1960, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE SUMMITVILLE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 343
Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1917, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: CGS BULL. 13.
Colorado Mining Photos
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