The Gold Nugget Group is a copper and gold mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,800 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: 9,800 Feet (2,987 Meters)
Commodity: Copper, Gold
Lat, Long: 37.5125, -107.52611
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.
Gold Nugget Group MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Gold Nugget Group
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Gold Nugget Nos. 1-3
Secondary: Old Dominion Group
Secondary: Gold Nugget No. 1 & 2 Claims
Secondary: Gold Nugget Claims
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Tungsten
Location
State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: Vallecito Creek Area
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
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
Model Name: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, San Juan Basin
Type: L
Description: Needle Mtns Uplift
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-
Dating Method: Rb-Sr
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-
Dating Method: U-Pb (zircon)
Material Analyzed: Zircon
Age Young: Precambrian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: SELECTED SAMPLES ASSAYED 0.42% CU, 0.03 OZ/TON AU, AND 0.52% CU, 0.75 OZ/TON AU
Materials
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Scheelite
Comments
Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON HILLSIDE EAST OF VALLECITO CREEK AND SOUTH OF FIRST CREEK CONFLUENCE IN UNSURVEYED SECTION. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR PROBABLE ADIT SITE BASED ON AIRPHOTO EXAMINATION. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974
Comment (Development): CLAIMS ORIGINALLY STAKED AS OLD DOMINION GROUP; SMALL AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION TREATED AT STAMP MILL BUILT ON VALLECITO CREEK. PROPERTY LEASED IN 1933 TO BAYFIELD RESIDENTS WHO SHIPPED 5 TONS AU-CU ORE TO LEADVILLE; SMELTER RETURNS DID NOT COVER PRODUCTION COSTS. PROPERTY RESTAKED IN 1948 AS GOLD NUGGET NOS. 1-3. IN 1952 CLAIMANT APPLIED TO DMEA FOR CU EXPLORATION LOAN; PROPERTY EXAMINED BY USGS AND USBM.
Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT CONSISTS OF AU, FE AND CU SULFIDES, AND SCHEELITE OCCURRENCE IN 6- TO 12-INCH WEAKLY SILICIFIED ZONE NEAR EAST-WEST-TRENDING CONTACT BETWEEN VALLECITO CONGLOMERATE AND GRANITE (EOLUS GRANITE?). SECOND DEPOSIT IS CU AND FE SULFIDES AND OXIDES DISSEMINATED ALONG HANGING WALL OF 4- TO 5-FT STEEPLY DIPPING PEGMATITIC QUARTZ VEIN IN VALLECITO CONGLOMERATE.
Comment (Workings): OPEN CUT; 210-FT DRIFT WITH 40-FT WINZE
Comment (Deposit): Merged 5 records into this one. 10014108 includes 10009953, 10118100, and 10142429.
Comment (Reference): All deleted subsidiary records had no references.
References
Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND OTHERS, 1969, MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE SAN JUAN PRMITIVE AREA, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1261-F. P. 110-112.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
