The Free Gold Claim is a gold mine located in Albany county, Wyoming at an elevation of 9,600 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
Elevation: 9,600 Feet (2,926 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 41.278, -106.17400
Map: View on Google Maps
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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.
Free Gold Claim MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Free Gold Claim
Secondary: Billy Waters
Secondary: Centennial Ridge District
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Platinum
Location
State: Wyoming
County: Albany
District: Centennial Ridge District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
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
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface
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
Form: VEIN
Structure
Type: R
Description: Mullen Creek-Nash Fork Shear Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Amphibolite Is Decomposed
Rocks
Name: Schist
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Schist
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: VEIN SAMPLE: AU=2.7-87 PPM (CONVERTED FROM OZ/TON)
Materials
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Deposit): DISSEMINATED IN 2 FT WIDE GRAY QUARTZ VEIN. LIMONITE BOXWORKS COMMON; UNPUBLISHED MODEL NAME: NEW RAMBLER CU-AU-PGE.
Comment (Commodity): UNVERIFIED REPORT OF PT
Comment (Location): NEAR TOP OF CENTENNIAL RIDGE
Comment (Workings): 30 FT SHAFT, 800 FT OF TRENCHES
Comment (Deposit): "The Free gold claim, originally known as the Billy Waters, is situated on top of Centennial Ridge. Narly 800 feet of surface workings have been developed along a two foot wide gray quartz vein that parallels schistosity of the surrounding hornblendic and chloritic schists of the Mafic Series. The quartz carries oxidized pyrite and free gold and reportedly at least 100 tons of ore was milled (Hess, 1926, p. 129)." (McCallum, 1968, p. 10)
References
Reference (Deposit): HAUSEL, W.D., 1989, THE GEOLOGY OF WYOMING'S PRECIOUS METAL LODE AND PLACER DEPOSITS: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING BULLETIN 68, P. 95.
Pages: p. 95.
Reference (Deposit): HESS, F.L., 1926, PLATINUM NEAR CENTENNIAL, WYOMING: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 780-C, P. 129.
Pages: p. 129.
Reference (Deposit): HAUSEL, W.D., 1980, GOLD DISTRICTS OF WYOMING: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 23, P. 34.
Pages: p. 34.
Reference (Deposit): MCCALLUM, M.E., 1968, THE CENTENNIAL RIDGE GOLD-PLATINUM DISTRICT, ALBANY COUNTY, WYOMING: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING PRELIMINARY REPORT 7, P. 8, 10.
Pages: p. 10, pl. 1.
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