The Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel) is a zinc, silver, and lead mine located in Clear Creek county, Colorado.
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
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Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel) MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel)
Secondary: Mendota-Frostberg
Secondary: Mendota-Smuggler
Secondary: Mendota-Apex Shaft
Commodity
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Gold
Location
State: Colorado
County: Clear Creek
District: Georgetown-Silver Plume District
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: L
Description: granite wall rock and vein intersections are favorable
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: silicification, sericitization
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mesoproterozoic
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Name: Schist
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Commodity): Although early production was valued mostly for silver and lead, zinc values would be predominant in the ore today.
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: FISSURE VEINS, STRIKE NNE TO NEARLY EAST, DIP STEEPLY TO SOUTH WITH LOCAL REVERSING TO NORTH. VEINS ARE FILLED WITH COARSELY CRYSTALLINE BANDED QUARTZ AND SULFIDES.
Comment (Geology): 5 major sulfide veins: Mendota-Smuggler, Tishomingo, Silver Cloud, North Frostberg-Terrible, and S. Frostberg. Appear to be extensional fracture-filling in nature. Sunshine geologist predicted that this would be primarily a Zn mine at depth as Ag values drop off to <4 opt.
Comment (Location): The Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel) is at the west end of Silver Plume, at highway level, in the SE/4 SW/4 sec. 13, T 4 S, R 75 W.
Comment (Production): Probably several million dollars from the Terrible vein group, including the Mendota.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): A 1980 report estimated 650,000 tons of possible ore (projected to 300' below old mine workings). (Sunshine files)
Comment (Workings): Extensive workings include the main haulage adit (Victoria tunnel) (1850 feet long), and at least 8 levels above and 4 levels below that level.
References
Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.
Reference (Deposit): Spurr, J. E., Garrey, G. H., and Ball, S. H., 1908, Economic geology of the Georgetown quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 63, 422 p.
Reference (Deposit): CONSV. DIV. COMP. DATE, 6,63
Reference (Deposit): REF:CBM ANNUAL REPORT 1920 OWN/OP:WASATCH COLORADO MINING CO
Reference (Deposit): REF: REF: MINE MAP REPO. # 402390, MMR #405009,USGS CRIB
Reference (Deposit): USBM MINERAL EXAM. FILE, DENVER
Reference (Deposit): Lovering, T. S., and Goddard, E. N., 1950, Geology and ore deposits of the Front Range, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 223, 319 p.
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