Colorado Central Mine

The Colorado Central Mine is a zinc, lead, and silver mine located in Clear Creek county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,200 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Colorado Central Mine
Secondary: Equator Tunnel
Secondary: Marshall Tunnel
Secondary: Aliunde Tunnel and Shaft
Secondary: Ocean Wave Tunnel

Commodity

Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Colorado
County: Clear Creek
District: Georgetown-Silver Plume District

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: L
Description: vein junctions, dip changes, wall rock compentency

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: wall rock altered to sericite, quartz, siderite

Rocks

Name: Porphyry
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Tertiary

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Proterozoic

Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Proterozoic

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Proterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Proustite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Stephanite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Argentite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Polybasite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Pyrargyrite
Gangue: Ankerite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Siderite

Comments

Comment (Commodity): The mine is noted for its large production of rich silver ore; lead and zinc are of less value, and very little copper or gold is present.

Comment (Geology): The Colorado Central vein, a fissure sulfide vein, strikes NE and dips steeply NW or is vertical; in places it splits into the North and South veins and other veins branching between the two. The veins are often bounded by granite porphyry dikes.

Comment (Location): At the mouth of Leavenworth Creek, 1-1/2 miles SSW of Georgetown, secs.19-20, T 4 S, R 74 W.

Comment (Production): Estimate total value of output exceeds $8 million.

Comment (Production): High grade Ag ore in Colorado Central Mine ranged from 200-800 opt Ag. Colorado Central vein consistently produced ore in the 200 opt Ag range for 16 years after its discovery in 1872.

Comment (Workings): The veins are accessed by several tunnels: the Aliunde, Equator, Ocean Wave, and Marshall and many shafts. Workings extend to 1050-foot level and 3/4 mile along strike of the vein.

References

Reference (Deposit): Spurr, J. E., Garrey, G. H., and Ball, S. H., 1908, Economic geology of the Georgetown quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 63, 422 p.

Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.

Reference (Deposit): REF:BOM ANNUAL REPORT 1915

Reference (Deposit): Lovering, T. S., and Goddard, E. N., 1950, Geology and ore deposits of the Front Range, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 223, 319 p.

Colorado Mining Photos

Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.