West Mancos River Placers

The West Mancos River Placers is a gold mine located in Montezuma county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,180 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

Name: West Mancos River Placers

State:  Colorado

County:  Montezuma

Elevation: 9,180 Feet (2,798 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 37.45639, -108.14639

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.


Satelite image of the West Mancos River Placers

West Mancos River Placers MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: West Mancos River Placers
Secondary: Golconda, Kebler, Senator, Cabezon, Spartacus, Red Cloud, Bed Rock,
Secondary: And Vulcan Placers
Secondary: Patented Claims
Secondary: Golconda Placer, MS 8203
Secondary: Kebler Placer, MS 8203
Secondary: Senator Placer, MS 8563
Secondary: Cabezon Placer, MS 8563
Secondary: Spartacus Placer, MS 8563
Secondary: Red Cloud Placer, MS 8564
Secondary: Bed Rockplacer, MS 8564
Secondary: Vulcan Placer, MS 8564


Commodity

Primary: Gold


Location

State: Colorado
County: Montezuma
District: California (La Plata) District


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: Placer
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: Canyon Lands


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Four Corners Platform

Type: L
Description: La Plata Dome


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Gold


Comments

Comment (Deposit): PLACER AU DERIVED FROM ERODED PORTIONS OF EXPOSED VEINS IN HEADWATERS OF RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. PLACERS IN AREA GENERALLY WERE OF LOW GRADE BECAUSE (1) MUCH PRIMARY AU IS TELLURIDE, RELATIVELY LIGHT, EASILY BROKEN DOWN INTO FINE PARTICLES. (2) CHEMICAL WEATHERING PRODUCES "MUSTARD" AU THAT CAN BE CARRIED GREATER DISTANCES, (3) ERRATIC CONCENTRATIONS IN SMALL POCKETS IN WIDE VALLEYS SCOURED BY GLACIATION.

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ALONG WEST MANCOS RIVER FROM POINT BELOW OWEN BASIN AT HEADWATERS OF SOUTH FORK WESTWARD THROUGH GOLCONDA SITE AND SOUTHWARD TO POINT ABOUT 2 MILES ABOVE MIDDLE MANCOS RIVER CONFLUENCE. CLAIMS ALSO COVER PORTION OF NORTH FORK OF WEST MANCOS RIVER. DEPOSITS ALSO EXTEND ONTO LA PLATA QUAD. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR CONFLUENCE OF NORTH AND SOUTH FORKS OF WEST MANCOS RIVER (NE SEC. 23, T37N, R12W). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974

Comment (Deposit): PLACERS ARE INCLUDED IN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT BUT BLM CLAIM RECORDS ASSIGN DISTRICT NAME "MANCOS" TO MS 8563 AND 8564. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT


References

Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., AND OTHERS, 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219, P. 76.

Reference (Deposit): PARKER, B.H., JR., 1974, GOLD PLACERS OF COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES QUART., V. 69, NO. 4, P. 194-197.

Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, AND OTHERS, 1899, DESCRIPTION OF THE LA PLATA QUADRANGLE: USGS FOLIO 60.

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 8203, 8563, 8564


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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