Puzzle Mine

The Puzzle Mine is a silver mine located in Dolores county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,524 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Puzzle Mine
Secondary: Patented Claims: Puzzle, MS 374
Secondary: John B., MS 679
Secondary: Stephen B., MS 680
Secondary: Minnie May, MS 1465
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: May Lode
Secondary: Gulch Lode
Secondary: Black Diamond Nos. 1-2

Commodity

Primary: Silver

Location

State: Colorado
County: Dolores
District: Pioneer (Rico) 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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Mcintyre Mining Co.
Home Office: Denver, Co.
Years: 1921 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1900
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: Canyon Lands

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin

Type: L
Description: Rico Dome

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation Of Ag Sulfide

Rocks

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Silver
Ore: Argentite
Ore: Bromyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Allophane

Comments

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON SOUTH SIDE OF HORSE CREEK 1.1 MILES ABOVE DOLORES FIVER CONFLUENCE. ELEV AND LAT-LONT GIVEN ARE FROM PRATT AND OTHERS (1969). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Deposit): LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE, AND SHALE OF PROBABLE MIDDLE HERMOSA FM INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY SILLS. WORKINGS PASS THROUGH STREAM ALLUVIUM AND LANDSLIDE DEBRIS INTO PROBALBE DISLOCATED BLOCKS OF COUNTRY ROCKS. DEPOSIT BELIEVED TO BE IRREGULAR REPLACEMENT IN FOSSILIFEROUS LIMESTONE, GREATLY FRACTURED AND ELEVATED TOWARD SOUTH BY SUCCESSIVE SMALL-DISPLACEMENT STEP FAULTS. HESS AND GARREN TUNNEL ENCOUNTERED CRUSHED SHALE- AND GOUGE-FILLED BEDDING FAULT ABOVE MASSIVE, NORTH-DIPPING LIMESTONE. ORE BELIEVED TO BE ARGENTITE PARTLY OXIDIZED TO NATIVE AG AND EMBOLITE. ALLOPHANE OCCURENCE IN PUZZLE EXTENSION SUGGESTS ALTERATION OF UNKNOWN BRECCIATED MATERIAL.

Comment (Workings): 40-FT SHAFT; HESS AND GARREN TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY SOUTH FOR UNKNOWN DISTANCE, WITH 20-FT WINZE AT ABOUT 100 FT FROM PORTAL; PUZZLE EXTENSION INCLINE DRIVEN GENERALLY SOUTH FOR UNKNOWN DISTANCE.

References

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 374, 679, 680, 1465

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN, REPT., PT. 2, P. 352-354.

Reference (Deposit): PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797

Reference (Deposit): MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723.

Colorado Mining Photos

Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.