Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel)

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

Name: Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel)  

State:  Colorado

County:  Clear Creek

Elevation:

Commodity: Zinc, Silver, Lead

Lat, Long: 39.69972, -105.73556

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 Mendota Mine (Victoria Tunnel)

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.


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.