The Hidden Valley Claims is a barium-barite and thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,901 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: 8,901 Feet (2,713 Meters)
Commodity: Barium-Barite, Thorium
Lat, Long: 38.20222, -105.31889
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.
Hidden Valley Claims MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Hidden Valley Claims
Secondary: Hidden Valley 1 Claim
Secondary: Hidden Valley 4 Claim
Commodity
Primary: Barium-Barite
Primary: Thorium
Location
State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area: Mckinley Mountain 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
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1952
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: LENS
Structure
Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains
Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Barite
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Location): PRIMARY LOCATION IS FOR HIDDEN VALLEY 1 CLAIM; IT LIES IN CLUSTER OF HILLS BETWEEN BONEYARD GULCH AND RALPH GULCH; HIDDEN VALLEY 4 NEAR NORTHERN HEADWATERS OF RALPH GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976
Comment (Deposit): LENSES UP TO THREE FT WIDE; MOST CONTINUOUS BARITE VEIN IN AREA; WORKED ALONG STRIKE
Comment (Workings): TRENCHES
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1950'S
References
Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., BROCK, M.R., PEARSON, R.C. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1959 GEOLOGY AND THORIUM DEPOSITS OF THE WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO, A PROGRESS REPORT: USGS BULLETIN 1072-H, P. 525, 527
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
