The Aztec Mine is a gold and silver mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,831 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: 11,831 Feet (3,606 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Lat, Long: 37.59778, -107.61028
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.
Aztec Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Aztec Mine
Secondary: Patented Claims: Aztec, MS 14379
Secondary: Republic, MS 14379
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Lead
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Manganese
Tertiary: Molybdenum
Location
State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: Needle Mountain (Tacoma, Florida, Vallecito) 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
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: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, San Juan Basin, San Juan Volcanic Field
Type: L
Description: Needle Mtns Uplift, Chicago Basin Stock, Eolus Batholith, Trimble Stock
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-70.000000
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-20.000000
Dating Method: U-Pb (zircon)
Material Analyzed: Zircon
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-27.000000
Dating Method: Rb-Sr
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-20.000000
Dating Method: U-Pb (zircon)
Material Analyzed: Zircon
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-27.000000
Dating Method: Rb-Sr
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-70.000000
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-20.000000
Dating Method: U-Pb (zircon)
Material Analyzed: Zircon
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-27.000000
Dating Method: Rb-Sr
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-70.000000
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1460.000000+-70.000000
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-27.000000
Dating Method: Rb-Sr
Age Young: Precambrian
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 1466.000000+-20.000000
Dating Method: U-Pb (zircon)
Material Analyzed: Zircon
Age Young: Precambrian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 5-FT CHIP SAMPLE FROM FACE OF LONG TUNNEL CONTAINED 0.01% CU, TRACES OF AU, AG, PB, AND ZN
Analytical Data: STEVEN AND OTHERS' (1969) ASSAY OF SELECTED SAMPLES FROM DUMPS OF SHORT TUNNEL AND OPEN CUT CONTAINED 0.02 OZ/TON AU, 4.28 OZ/TON AG, 0.41% CU, 2.44% PB, 3.86% ZN
Analytical Data: CHEMICAL ANALYSIS CONTAINED 0.08 PPM AU, 40 PPM CU, 250 PPM PB, 480 PPM ZN.
Analytical Data: DUMP SAMPLE CONTAINED 0.02 OZ/TON AU, 0.44 OZ/TON AG, TRACES OF CU, PB, AND ZN. SEMIQUANTITATIVE SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF QUARTZ VEIN MATERIAL CONTAINING MOLYBDENITE CONTAINED 1500 PPM TI, 500 PPM MN, 5 PPM AG, LT 200 PPM AS, 700 PPM BA, 30 PPM BI, LT 20 PPM CD, 5 PPM CR, 50 PPM CU, 500 PPM MO, 300 PPM PB, LT 100 PPM SB, 10 PPM SN, LT 100 PPM SR, 20 PPM V, LT 50 PPM W, 700 PPM ZN
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Argentite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Molybdenite
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): JACKSON RIDGE COMPOSED OF NW- TO WEST-DIPPING JURASSIC SEDIMENTARY SECTION INTRUDED BY SYENITE PORPHYRY SILL AND DIORITE-MONZONITE PORPHYRY DIKES AND CUT BY NW-TRENDING VEINS AND FAULT ZONES. PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS ARE BLANKET-TYPE PYRITE REPLACEMENTS OF PONY EXPRESS LIMESTONE. MINOR PYRITE REPLACEMENT IN PARTING OF SLIGHTLY METAMORPHOSED SHALE ABOVE BILK CREEK SANDSTONE MEMBER OF WANAKAH FM. NEARLY ALL ORE WITHIN 250 FT OF SURFACE IS OXIDIZED TO SPONGY LIMONITE. SECONDARY DEPOSIT IS QUARTZ-PYRITE VEIN (AS DEVELOPED IN TIMBERLINE MINE) IN 5- TO 10-FT-WIDE SHEAR ZONE OR SERIES OF SLIGHTLY OVERLAPPING FRACTURES CUTTING MORRISON FM SHALES; VEIN TRENDS N 70 E, 68 TO 85 NW.
Comment (Production): PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR 1890-1897 AND INTERVENING YEARS FROM 1900-1933. NO PRODUCTION FOR 1935 OR APPARENTLY LATER YEARS. FIGURES FOR 1898-1899 ARE MILL RUN ORE BY MANCOS CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINES; 1907 FIGURE IS CRUDE ORE SOLD BY MANCOS CONSOLIDATED. FIGURE FOR 1910 IS CRUDE ORE SOLD BY DOYLE CONSOLIDATED MINES. FIGURES FOR 1934 ARE MILLED AND CRUDE ORE SOLD BY HESPERUS MINING CO. LAST 1934 FIGURES ARE CRUDE ORE CREDITED TO SASSER MINE (POSSIBLE ALTERNATE NAME).
Comment (Deposit): GROUP INCLUDES: DOYLE, GEORGIA GIRL, NARROW GAGE, NORTH STAR, SUNDOWN, AND TIMBERLINE MINES; PATENTED CLAIMS: (R. A. P., MS 9217); (HOWE G. JR., MS 9217); (MONTEZUMA, MS 9813); (GOLD BED, MS 9814); (COLUMBINE, MS 9815); (OUT OF SIGHT, MS 11768); (HOBO, MS 12123); (BROKEN HILL, MS 13006); (POINT, MS 13006); (SUN DOWN, MS 13007); (LINNIE B., MS 13008); (TENDERFOOT, MS 13009); (SUNRISE, MS 13013); (NORTH STAR, MS 13171); (GOLDEN WEDGE, MS 13171); (PENNSYLVANIA GIRL, MS 13171); (NARROW GAUGE, MS 14931); (NARROW GAUGE EXTENSION, MS 14931); (PEARL PAYNE, MS 15256); (PTOLEMY, MS 15257); (TRIANGLE, MS 15258); (TENDERFOOT NO. 2, MS 15258); (PAYMASTER, MS 15258); (MIDNIGHT, MS 15259); (SNOW FLAKE, MS 15259); (BEAR TRAIL, MS 15259); (DAYLIGHT, MS 15259); (SKY LIGHT, MS 15338); (YELLOW BOY, MS 15365); (MAY FLOWER, MS 15365); (OLD HUNDRED, MS 15398); (SLIVER, MS 15547); (TIMBERLINE, MS 15564); (GEORGIA GIRL, MS 15564); (TRAIL, MS 15564); (CORBETT, MS 15564); (RIGHT COLOR, MS 15564); (FRACTION, MS
Comment (Development): HOBO CLAIM LOCATED ABOUT 1888, FOLLOWED BY TIMBERLINE GROUP IN 1890, DURING WHICH TIME GEORGE A. JACKSON BEGAN DEVELOPMENT ON WEST MANCOS RIVER (PEERLESS MINE). REPLACEMENT DEPOSITS IN LIMESTONE DISCOVERED IN 1890S, AND ABOUT 1896-1897 JAMES DOYLE FORMED MANCOS CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINING AND DEVELOPMENT CO., WHICH DEVELOPED AND CONSOLIDATED MOST OF JACKSON RIDGE PROPERTIES AND BUILT 10-STAMP AMALGAMATION/CONCENTRATION MILL THAT RAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. OTHER ATTEMPTS TO WORK PROPERTIES MADE DURING 1902-1934. HESPERUS MINING CO. FORMED IN 1934 AND CONTROLED NEARLY ALL JACKSON RIDGE LAND, BUILT SMALL PILOT PLANT AND PRODUCED SOME ORE; MILL REPLACED IN 1935 BY LARGER FLOTATION MILL; CONSIDERABLE SURFACE DEVELOPMENT WORK DONE. FATAL SNOWSLIDE ENDED ACTIVITY IN 1936, BUT LATER IN 1937 SAN JUAN MILLING AND REFINING CO. BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF 200-TON FLOTATION MILL NEAR BRAYTON SWITCH SEVERAL MILES DOWNSTREAM.
Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ALONG UPPER EAST MANCOS RIVER BELOW RUXH BASIN AND NORTHWARD ACROSS JACKSON RIDGE. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR APPROX CENTER OF GROUP (NORTH STAR AND SUNDOWN MINES) IN E2 E2 SEC. 31. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1974)
Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). CLAIMS EXTEND ACROSS EAST END OF AZTEC MTN; ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR TUNNEL SITE IN SEC. 35 ON NORTH SIDE OF AZTEC MTN, 0.45 MILE WSW OF COLUMBINE PASS. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974
Comment (Commodity): ORE MINERALS LISTED BASED MOSTLY ON OCCURRENCES AT AETNA MINE
Comment (Deposit): MINE DEVELOPED IN QUARTZ VEINS TRENDING N 54 W AND N 35 W, 63 SW, APPARENTLY MORE NORTHWESTERLY TRENDING OFFSHOOT VEINS FROM PRINCIPAL NNW-SSE-TRENDING RADIAL FRACTURE FROM CHICAGO BASIN STOCK. FACE OF LONG TUNNEL INTERSECTS VERTICAL VEIN TRENDING N 3 W.
Comment (Workings): 50-FT ADIT DRIVEN S 10 W: SECOND DRIFT HEADING S 35 E FOR 115 FT, THENCE, S 55 E FOR 80 FT TO FACE; SMALL OPEN CUT SE OF SHORT TUNNEL
Comment (Deposit): 15564); (PIKE, MS 16729); (FREE GOLD, MS 17740); (ALFALFA, MS 18446); (INDIANA, MS 18655); (OREGON, MS 18655); (PORTO RICO, MS 18655); (PLUM PUDDING, MS 18655); (GREAT REPUBLIC, MS 18655); (MOUNTAIN QUEEN, MS 18655); (INDEPENDENCE, MS 19282)
Comment (Workings): TIMBERLINE MINE DEVELOPED BY LOWER MAIN DRIFT TUNNEL DRIVEN N 70 W FOR 320 FT. FOUR RAISES 30 TO 50 FT HIGH CONNECT TO 180-FT-LONG UPPER LEVEL; TOTAL EXTENT OF WORKINGS APPROX 715 FT. NORTH STAR AND SUNDOWN MINES DEVELOPED BY TUNNELS AND INTER-CONNECTED DRIFTS AND FLAT STOPES. SUNDOWN TUNNEL DRIVEN N 15 W FOR 150 FT WITH APPROX 625 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS CONNECTING TO SECOND TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY N 30 TO 50 W FOR 715 FT WITH APPROX 1050 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS (EXCLUSIVE OF STOPES, RAISES, AND WINZES) CONNECTING TO NORTH STAR TUNNEL, WHICH IS DRIVEN GENERALLY N 25 W FOR 470 FT WITH APPROX 335 FT OF BRANCH WORKINGS. NARROW GAGE MINE IS SHAFT OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. GEORGIA GIRL MINE IS CAVED ADIT AT LEAST 100 FT LONG WITH OTHER ADITS AND SHALLOW OPEN CUTS.
References
Reference (Deposit): SCHMITT, L.J., AND RAYMOND, W.H., 1977, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE NEEDLE MOUNTAINS DISTRICT, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1434, 40 P.
Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND OTHERS, 1969, MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE SAN JUAN PRIMITIVE AREA, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1261-F, P. 30-32, 55-67, 101-102, 162-163.
Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, AND OTHERS, 1905, DESCRIPTION OF THE NEEDLE MOUNTAINS QUADRANGLE, COLORADO: USGS FOLIO 131.
Reference (Deposit): TRIPPE, T.M., 1905, REPORT ON THE AETNA MINE ACCOMPANIED BY A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ADJOINING AZTEC AND REPUBLIC CLAIMS, LA PLATA COUNTY: COLORADO DIV. MINES FILES, UNPUB. ENG. REPT., 3 P.
Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY 14379
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
