The Yak Tunnel is a zinc, gold, silver, and lead mine located in Lake county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,801 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: 10,801 Feet (3,292 Meters)
Commodity: Zinc, Gold, Silver, Lead
Lat, Long: 39.2358, -106.26970
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.
Yak Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Yak Tunnel
Secondary: Leadville Deep Mines
Commodity
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Manganese
Location
State: Colorado
County: Lake
District: Leadville 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
Not available
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
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Not available
Comments
Comment (Development): A report urges development of ore adjacent to Yak Tunnel (and elsewhere) to feed Arkansas Valley plant. (Sunshine files, 1926?)
Comment (Location): An access-drainage-haulage tunnel, the portal is in California Gulch, just over 1 mile SE of Leadville, in the NW/4 SW/4 sec 30, T 9 S, R 79 W.
Comment (Production): A report indicates that lead sulfide and carbonate ores and zinc sulfide ore was being produced from several properties adjacent to the tunnel. (Sunshine files, 1926?)
Comment (Deposit): CERCLA (SUPERFUND) SITE. PROPERTY INCLUDED IN THE CALIFORNIA GULCH MINING WASTE SITE PLACED ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) IN 1983. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INCLUDE: 1) ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS, AND 2) MINE DUMPS AND MILL TAILINGS CONTAINING HEAVY METALS. DOI ALLEGED TO BE A PRP.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): A report indicates that areas below the Yak tunnel level, on the north end of Carbonate and Iron Hills, called the Leadville Deep Mines, have developed ore: 100,000 tons grading 3.5 oz/ton silver, 4.5% lead, and 25% zinc; and 60,000 tons averaging 8 oz/ton silver, 7% lead, and 18% zinc. (Sunshine files, 1926?)
References
Reference (Development): 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.
