The Schafer Ranch Deposit is a thorium mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,201 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: 7,201 Feet (2,195 Meters)
Commodity: Thorium
Lat, Long: 37.33333, -107.89222
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.
Schafer Ranch Deposit MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Schafer Ranch Deposit
Secondary: Uranium Queen Mine?
Secondary: Claim: Uranium Queen
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Titanium, Metal
Location
State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: Durango Area
Land Status
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F. (?)
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Rosco Schaffer
Home Office: Durango, Co.
Years: 1955 -
Owner Name: Uranium Enterprise, Inc.
Home Office: Durango, Co.
Years: 1954 -
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: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: Navajo Section
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: LENTICULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Basin
Type: L
Description: La Plata Dome, Perrins Peak Syncline, Durango Anticline
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Early Cretaceous
Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Early Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 30-TON CHANNEL(?) SAMPLE CONTAINED 1.52% THO2
Materials
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Anatase
Comments
Comment (Deposit): RADIOACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH ASPHALTITE ZONES NEAR TOP OF 10-FT FINE-GRAINED SANDSTONE. ASPHALTITE CONTAINS MINUTE CRYSTALS OF THORITE AND ANATASE AND IS UNUSUAL IN THAT RADIOACTIVITY CAUSED BY TH RATHER THAN U. DEPOSIT MAY HAVE BEEN DETRITAL HEAVY-MINERAL CONCENTRATION PREFERENTIALLY ATTACKED BY ASPHALTITE OR OTHER SOLUTIONS.
Comment (Workings): 100-FT DRIFT BRANCHING INTO "Y" AT 75 FT. AT END OF LEFT DRIFT IS 10-FT RAISE WITH 30-FT DRIFT AT TOP
Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ABOVE UNNAMED TRIBUTARY VALLEY EAST OF JUNCTION CREEK 0.4 MILE NW OF CHAPMAN LAKE AND NW OF ANIMAS CITY MTN. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :41? 01 1974
References
Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND OTHERS, 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE DURANGO QUADRANGLE, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-764.
Reference (Deposit): CHENOWETH, W.L., 1955, SCHAFER RANCH: AEC PRELIM. RECONN. REPT. ED R-553.
Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPTS.
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., AND OTHERS, 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULL. 40, P. 205.
Colorado Mining Photos
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