The Barite Lode is a thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,599 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: 8,599 Feet (2,621 Meters)
Commodity: Thorium
Lat, Long: 38.14611, -105.35250
Map: View on Google Maps
Satelite View
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Barite Lode MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Barite Lode
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Location
State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area
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
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Pete Cowan, County Road Commission Westcliffe, Co.; George Schweigert, Denver, Co.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Discovery Year: 1951
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
Model Name: Thorium-rare-earth veins
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains
Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones; Four Zones In En Echelon Arrangement
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: .07 TO .61% EQUIV TH02,
Analytical Data: 0.42% EQUIV. U, 0.001% U
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Silver
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Hematite
Comments
Comment (Location): LOCATED NEAR ROAD ON EAST SIDE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Workings): 5X8X10 PROSPECT SHAFT, SEVERAL SMALL PROSPECT PITS TO NW AND SE
References
Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., HEYMAN, A.M., DELLWIG, L.F, AND GOTT, G.B., 1953, THORIUM INVESTIGATIONS 1950-52, WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS CIRCULAR 290, P 21-25
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B., AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES, OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 40, P.119
Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R., AND SINGE WALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
