Anaconda Mine

The Anaconda Mine is a silver, copper, and gold mine located in Gunnison county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,930 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: Anaconda Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Gunnison

Elevation: 8,930 Feet (2,722 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Copper, Gold

Lat, Long: 38.34222, -107.10111

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 Anaconda Mine

Anaconda Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Anaconda Mine
Secondary: Patented Claims: Golden Dawn, MS 13178
Secondary: Copper Cap, MS 13178
Secondary: Headlight, MS 16336
Secondary: Poorman, MS 16336
Secondary: Portland, MS 16336
Secondary: Gray Horse, MS 16336
Secondary: Wade, MS 18125
Secondary: Baltimore, MS 19981
Secondary: Camp Bird, MS 19981
Secondary: Badger, MS 19983
Secondary: Portland Extension, MS 20114
Secondary: Camp Bird No. 1, MS 20114
Secondary: Camp Bird No. 2, MS 20114
Secondary: Boston Extension, MS 20115
Secondary: Headlight Extension, MS 20115
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Ginny Lou
Secondary: Betsy
Secondary: Margaret
Secondary: James Mack
Secondary: King
Secondary: Copper Queen
Secondary: Alberta Nos. 1-2
Secondary: Perry
Secondary: Don
Secondary: Dee
Secondary: Ester
Secondary: Sanches
Secondary: Louise
Secondary: Gladys May
Secondary: Alice's
Secondary: Golconda
Secondary: Copper Girl Nos. 1-3
Secondary: Audry
Secondary: Lewis G.
Secondary: Nancy
Secondary: Rudy
Secondary: Sandy Z.
Secondary: Smokey Joe
Secondary: Lee
Secondary: Grace
Secondary: Welch No. 1
Secondary: Cameron No. 2
Secondary: Jimmy V.
Secondary: Arelin
Secondary: Danni Nos. 1-2


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Zinc


Location

State: Colorado
County: Gunnison
District: Goose Creek District


Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Owner Name: Alberta Bronson And Paul La Plant
Home Office: Gunnison, Co.
Years: 1970 -

Owner Name: Sovereign Resources, Inc.
Home Office: Gunnison, CO
Years: 1970 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1915
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

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Gunnison Uplift, San Juan Volcanic Field

Type: L
Description: Gunnison Gold Belt, Iron Hill Alkalic Complex, Tolvar Peak Stock


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 0.004 TO 0.067 OZ/TON AU (0.13 TO 2.11 G/MT), AVERAGE 0.023 OZ/TON (0.71 G/MT).
Analytical Data: 0.096 TO 2.24 OZ/TON AG (3 TO 70 G/MT), AVERAGE 0.96 OZ/TON (30 G/MT)
Analytical Data: 0 TO 0.3% PB, AVERAGE 0.13%
Analytical Data: 0.1 TO GT 10% ZN, AVERAGE GT 6%
Analytical Data: OVERALL ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM EACH OF THE FIVE MINES IN AREA (ANACONDA, HEADLIGHT, IRONCAP, GOOD HOPE, VULCAN) CONTAINED 0.07 TO 7.0% CU, AVERAGE 2.3%


Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Malachite


Comments

Comment (Deposit): NELSON AND RIESMEYER (1983) DESCRIBE DEPOSIT AS PYRITIC CHERT LAYER TRENDING GENERALLY N 63 W, WITH FOLIATION IN ENCLOSING BASALT TRENDING PARALLEL IN STRIKE AND DIPPING 75 TO 90 NE. LENTICULAR MASSIVE SULFIDE LENS OCCURS WITHIN SEQUENCE OF UNALTERED BASALT; CONTAINS ANGULAR TO ROUNDED FRAGMENTS, COBBLES, AND PEBBLES OF PYRITIC CHERT; AND DISPLAYS NO CHEMICAL ZONATION NOR LAYERING. LENS IS INTERPRETED TO REPRESENT DEPOSITION AS DEBRIS FLOW.

Comment (Development): EARLY HISTORY OF MINE IS UNKNOWN. AT LEAST ONE OF THE SHAFTS WAS SUNK IN 1900 BUT ABANDONED SHORTLY THEREATER, MINE WAS OPERATED IN 1920 BY ANACONDA MINING CO. BUT DID NOT PRODUCE ORE. MINE OPERATED IN 1950 BY HERBERT H. AND MARGARET C. LUCE BUT PRODUCED NO ORE. EXPLORATION CONDUCTED BY SMOKEY WARD MINING CO. IN 1962. EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CU ORE WAS DONE IN 1969 BY SOVEREIGN RESOURCES. AT SOME TIME, ADJACENT PATENTED CLAIMS (INCLUDING HEADLIGHT MINE) WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO ANACONDA PROPERTY, HENCE THEIR INCLUSION AS PATENTED CLAIMS LISTED ABOVE (EXACT LOCATIONS OF UNPATENTED CLAIMS LISTED ARE UNKNOWN).

Comment (Location): ON EAST SIDE OF WILDCAT GULCH 0.1 MILE WEST OF COLORADO RTE 149. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Workings): 1962 CDM REPORT CITES 400-FT-DEEP SHAFT WITH LEVEL AT 200 FT. 1969 CDM REPORT CITES 220-FT-DEEP SHAFT WITH LEVELS AT 90 FT AND 200 FT. LATER REPORT CITES 200-FT-DEEP VERTICAL SHAFT WITH 4 LEVELS (LEVEL 1 AT 50 FT, LEVEL 3 AT 180 FT). NELSON AND RIESMEYER'S MAP SHOWS TWO SHAFTS.


References

Reference (Deposit): HEDLUND, D.C., AND OLSON, J.C., 1975, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE POWDERHORN QUADRANGLE, GUNNISON AND SAGUACHE COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-1178.

Reference (Deposit): TROST, P.B., 1975, GEOLOGIC REPORT ON THE VULCAN-ANACONDA-HEADLIGHT MINE AREA, DUBOIS GREENSTONE BELT, GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO: UNPUB. CONSULTING REPT.

Reference (Deposit): NELSON, A.P., (NO DATE), MINING DISTRICTS, PRODUCING MINES AND PROSPECTIVE PROPERTIES (OF GUNNISON COUNTY): COLORADO STATE PLAN. COMM. UNPUB. REPT., P. 6.

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

Reference (Deposit): SHERIDAN, D.M., AND OTHERS, 1981, PRECAMBRIAN SULFIDE DEPOSITS IN THE GUNNISON REGION, COLORADO, IN EPIS, R.C., AND CALLENDER, J.F., EDS., WESTERN SLOPE COLORADO: NEW MEXICO GEOL. SOC. 32D FIELD CONF. GUIDEBOOK, P. 273-277.

Reference (Deposit): NELSON, C.J., AND RIESMEYER, W.D., 1983, GEOLOGY OF THE ANACONDA-GUNNISON MINE AREA, GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO, IN HANDFIELD, R.C., ED., GUNNISON GOLD BELT AND POWDERHORN CARBONATITE FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK: DREGS, P. 8-18.

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 13178, 16336, 18125, 19981, 19983, 20114, 20115

Reference (Deposit): DROBECK, P.A., 1979, GEOLOGY AND TRACE ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY OF A PART OF THE GUNNISON GOLD BELT, COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES M.SC. THESIS T-2251, P. 142.


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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