Copper King Mine

The Copper King Mine is a gold, copper, and silver mine located in Gunnison county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,990 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: Copper King Mine
Secondary: Patented Claim: Copper King
Secondary: Ms 18761

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver

Location

State: Colorado
County: Gunnison
District: Goose Creek 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.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
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

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Chloritization, Sericitization

Rocks

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

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

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Sericite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): NELSON (1983) DESCRIBES DEPOSIT AS FELSIC VOLCANIC ROCK (RHYOLITE) ALTERED TO CHLORITE-SERICITE SCHIST AND CONTAINING UP TO 5% CHALCOPYRITE. CRENULATED SCHIST IS HIGHLY ATTENUATED IN EAST-WEST DIRECTION POSSIBLY THE RESULT OF SMALL-SCALE SHEARING. UNALTERED RHYOLITE TO EAST AND SOUTH DEFINES WEST-PLUNGING SYNFORM APPROXIMATELY ALONG TREND OF SYNFORM AT IRONCAP MINE TO WEST. DROBECK (1979) FOUND DISSEMINATED PYRITE AND CHALCOPYRITE IN CHLORITE-SERICITE ALTERED ROCKS CHARACTERIZED BY KINK-BANDED MICAS.

Comment (Workings): SEVERAL SHAFTS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH; TRENCHES AND OPEN CUTS

Comment (Development): MINE WAS ONE OF MAJOR CU LODES EXPLOITED IN EARLY 1900S.

Comment (Location): ON RIDGE BETWEEN TWO UNNAMED TRIBUTARIES OF WOLF CREEK AND ABOUT 1000 FT EAST OF IRONCAP MINE. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

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): 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): NELSON, A.P., (NO DATE), MINING DISTRICTS, PRODUCING MINES AND PROSPECTIVE PROPERTIES (OF GUNNISON COUNTY): COLORADO STATE PLAN. COMM. UNPUB. REPT., P. 5.

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. 116.

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY MS 18761

Colorado Mining Photos

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