The Big Five Tunnel is a silver and gold mine located in Clear Creek county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,598 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: 7,598 Feet (2,316 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Gold
Lat, Long: 39.74417, -105.53222
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.
Big Five Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Big Five Tunnel
Secondary: Central Tunnel
Secondary: Big Five - Belman
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Copper
Location
State: Colorado
County: Clear Creek
District: Idaho Springs 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
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Year: 1937
Time Period: 1901-37
Mined: 17219.560 mt
Material type: ore
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: 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
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Not available
Comments
Comment (Geology): The Big Five tunnel cuts Precambrian gneiss, amphibolite, granite and pegmatite, and Tertiary porphyry dikes, plus many veins.
Comment (Location): An access-drainage-exploration tunnel, the portal is located at highway level just west of Idaho Springs, in the W/2 sec. 35, T3 S, R 73 W.
Comment (Workings): The tunnel extends due north for about 10,000 feet, at an elevation of 7600 feet, under Pewabic Mountain.
Comment (Deposit): CERCLA (SUPERFUND) SITE. PROPERTY INCLUDED IN THE CLEAR CREEK/CENTRAL CITY MINING WASTE SITE ADDED TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) IN 1983. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INCLUDE: 1) ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS, AND 2) CONTAMINATED STORM- WATER RUNOFF.
References
Reference (Deposit): OME 6022 AND 6398
Reference (Workings): Moench, R. H., and Drake, A. A., Jr., 1966, Economic geology of the Idaho Springs district, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1208, 91 p.
Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.
Colorado Mining Photos
Check out this collection of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.
