The Paymaster-Wheelman Tunnel is a gold and tungsten mine located in Boulder 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
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.
Paymaster-Wheelman Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Paymaster-Wheelman Tunnel
Secondary: Pennsylvania
Secondary: Black Crystal
Secondary: Black Prince
Secondary: Mac Group
Secondary: Paymaster Consolidated
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Tungsten
Location
State: Colorado
County: Boulder
District: Boulder Tungsten 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
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: Alkaline Au-Te (Au-Ag-Te veins)
Model Name: W veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Telluride
Ore: Gold
Ore: Ferberite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Location): North side of Boulder Creek, near CO Hwy 119, adjoins Red Signe to east; two adits plus pits and trenches in NE/4 SE/4 sec.31, T1N, R71W. Previous site names Black Crystal, Black Prince, Mac Group, and Pennsylvania (above) appear to be separate nearby mines.
Comment (Production): About 250 units WO3; small production in 1955. Gold produced also, according to reports, but no record of significant gold production was found.
Comment (Workings): Wheelman adit close to hwy. 500 ft long bearing north Paymaster adit ~75 feet higher, 260 ft long on an easterly vein Ref.: CO MMFB, 1960, on Paymaster-Wheelman Tunnel
Comment (Workings): Paymaster Consolidated group: Pat'd claims are Winner, Teddy #1,2,3, Morning Star, Blue Jay, Oklahoma (unpat'd)
Comment (Commodity): Gold telluride minerals present.
Comment (Commodity): Reports show assays high in gold (to 40 oz/t).
Comment (Deposit): FULL INFO BY MINE NAME IN REFERENCE
Comment (Geology): Veins bearing gold, gold tellurides, and tungsten adjacent to Livingston breccia reef, a major NW-trending fault zone.
References
Reference (Deposit): Lovering, T. S., and Tweto, O. L., Geology and ore deposits, Boulder County tungsten district, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 245, p.
Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.
Reference (Deposit): Colorado Metal Mining Fund Board, 1960, Tungsten mines of Colorado: 78 p.
Reference (Deposit): CONSV. DIV. COMP. DATE, 1,62
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.