The Independence Mine is a copper mine located in Baca county, Colorado at an elevation of 4,610 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: 4,610 Feet (1,405 Meters)
Commodity: Copper
Lat, Long: 37.07556, -103.04583
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.
Independence Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Independence Mine
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Location
State: Colorado
County: Baca
District: Carrizo Creek District; Estelene District
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: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1900
Year Last Production: 1923
Discovery Year: 1889
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Interior Plains
Physiographic Province: Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section: Raton Section
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Sierra Grande Uplift
Type: L
Description: Tecolote And Pat Canyon Monoclines
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Malachite, Azurite, Hematite
Rocks
Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Triassic
Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Triassic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 0.005 OZ/ST AU
Analytical Data: 0.1 TO 0.2 OZ/ST AG (AVG. 0.13 OZ/ST)
Analytical Data: 0.05 TO 0.48% CU (AVG. 0.24%)
Materials
Ore: Chalcocite
Comments
Comment (Location): LAT-LONG IS FOR TOWN OF CRESTONE
Comment (Production): PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORDS. TOTALS FOR 1900-1931 NOT AVAILABLE
Comment (Deposit): VEINS LIE IN SHEAR ZONES AND IRREGULAR FRACTURES
Comment (Workings): 524-FT-LONG TUNNEL WITH TWO SHORT CROSSCUTS DEVELOPED AT THE 200-FT POINT. SECOND ADIT, 34 FT LONG, BEGUN 75 FT WEST OF MAIN ADIT.
Comment (Location): ON SOUTH SIDE OF SKULL CANYON
Comment (Commodity): SAMPLES FROM 5-FT AND 6-FT HORIZONTAL CUTS IN THE CROSSCUT TUNNELS
Comment (Production): NO PRODUCTION REPORTED FOR 1903-14; SHIPMENT OF UNKNOWN QUANTITY MADE IN 1923
Comment (Development): PROBABLY THE FIRST DISCOVERY IN AREA. ALSO IS MOST EXTENSIVELY DEVELOPED AND PROBABLY ONLY ONE FROM WHICH ANY PRODUCTION WAS MADE
Comment (Deposit): MINERALIZATION IS MOSTLY CONFINED TO THE JOINTS, THE WIDER OF WHICH SHOW CHALCOCITE CORE BORDERED BY MALACHITE ALTERATION. STRINGERS AVE. 0.24 IN. THICK WITH LOCAL BULGES UP TO 1 IN.
Comment (Geology): SANDSTONE BED WAS REPORTED TO BE 14 FT THICK AT THE MINE PORTAL DECREASING TO 5 FT AT THE TUNNEL FACE.
References
Reference (Deposit): FAY, R.O., 1981, TRIASSIC COPPER DEPOSITS IN THE SHEEP PEN SANDSTONE OF NORTHWESTERN CIMARRON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA: OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (IN PREPARATION).
Reference (Deposit): SOULE, J.H., 1956, RECONNAISSANCE OF THE "RED BED" COPPER DEPOSITS IN SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES INF. CIRC. 7740.
Reference (Deposit): MCLAUGHLIN, T.G., 1954, GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF BACA COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1256.
Reference (Production): COLORADO DIVISION OF MINES ANNUAL AND BIENNIAL REPORTS
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
