Puzzle Mine

The Puzzle Mine is a gold and silver mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,181 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

Name: Puzzle Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  La Plata

Elevation: 11,181 Feet (3,408 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 37.40556, -108.02583

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 Puzzle Mine

Puzzle Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Puzzle Mine
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Puzzle Nos. 4-9
Secondary: Jennie Lind


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Lead
Tertiary: Tellurium
Tertiary: Antimony


Location

State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: California (La Plata) 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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.


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
Year First Production: 1902
Year Last Production: 1930
Discovery Year: 1880
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: Navajo Section


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Four Corners Platform

Type: L
Description: La Plata Dome


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Deposit): COUNTRY ROCKS CONSIST OF SW-DIPPING CUTLER FM RED BEDS INTRUDED BY DIORITE-MONZONITE PORPHYRY SILLS AND DIKES. VEIN FOLLOWS 1- TO 8-FT-WIDE FRACTURE ZONE AND TRENDS N 75 E, 70 NW. WALL ROCKS ARE FRACTURES FOR 10 FT ON EACH SIDE OF VEIN.

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY 300-FT ADIT AND SEVERAL OPEN CUTS; OTHER INACCESSIBLE WORKINGS.

Comment (Production): PROBABLE PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR YEARS PRIOR TO 1902. NO PRODUCTION REPORTED FOR 1902-1908, 1910-1912, 1914-1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926-1929, AND AFTER 1930.

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON SADDLE BETWEEN SOUTH-PROJECTING RIDGE FROM LEWIS MTN AND NE-PROJECTING RIDGE FROM BAKER PEAK IN UPPER LIGHTNER CREEK VALLEY, 2.1 MILES NE OF LA PLATA TOWNSITE (UNSURVEYED SECTION). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974


References

Reference (Production): ECKEL AND OTHERS, 1949, P. 160 (AS COMPILED FROM USGS AND USBM RECORDS)

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., AND OTHERS, 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219, P. 73-76, 160-161.


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.