The California District is a copper, lead, silver, and gold mine located in La Plata county, Colorado.
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:
Commodity: Copper, Lead, Silver, Gold
Lat, Long: 37.3994, -108.06360
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.
California District MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: California District
Secondary: La Plata District
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Mercury
Secondary: Vanadium
Secondary: Uranium
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Tellurium
Tertiary: PGE
Tertiary: Iron
Location
State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: LA PLATA DISTRICT
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: District
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: VEIN, DISSEMINATION, REPLACEMENT, CONTACT METAMORPHIC, PLACER, WEATHERING RESIDUAL (BOG)
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1873
Year Last Production: 1980
Discovery Year: 1700
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Physiography
Not available
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: SAN JUAN UPLIFT, FOUR CORNERS PLATFORM
Type: L
Description: LA PLATA DOME, MAYDAY-IDAHO FAULT SYSTEM, PARROTT FAULT SYSTEM
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: SERICITIZATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (A) SERICITIZATION AND KAOLINITIZATION OF FELDSPAR IN PORPHYRY.
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: SILICIFICATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (D) SILIFICATION OF PORPHYRY AND SEDIMENTARY WALL ROCK NEAR ORE VEINS. OXIDATION OF AURIFEROUPYRITE AND CU SULFIDES. CONTACT METAMORPHISM NEAR NONPORPHYRITIC INTRUSIVES: (A) SILIFICATION OF SANDSTONES, (B) HORNFELSIZATION OF SHALE AND MUSTONE, (C) CALCITIZATION IN LIMESTONE AND LIMY NODULES, (D) GRAPHITIZATION OF CARBONACEOUS BEDS IN CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS.
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: LIMONITIZATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (C) LIMONITIZATION OF FERROMAGNESIAN MINERALS.
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: CHLORITIZATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (B) CHLORITIZATION OF FERROMAGNESIAN MINERALS.
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: KAOLINIZATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS:(A) SERICITIZATION AND KAOLINITIZATION OF FELDSPAR IN PORPHYRY
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: OXIDATION
Alteration Text: ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (D) OXIDATION OF AURIFEROUPYRITE AND CU SULFIDES. CONTACT METAMORPHISM NEAR NONPORPHYRITIC INTRUSIVES: (A) SILIFICATION OF SANDSTONES, (B) HORNFELSIZATION OF SHALE AND MUSTONE, (C) CALCITIZATION IN LIMESTONE AND LIMY NODULES, (D) GRAPHITIZATION OF CARBONACEOUS BEDS IN CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS.
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Not available
Comments
Not available
References
Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., AND OTHERS, 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219.
Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, AND OTHERS, 1899, DESCRIPTION OF THE LA PLATA QUADRANGLE: USGS FOLIO 60.
Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., 1938, COPPER ORES OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO, AND THEIR PLATINUM CONTENT: COLORADO SCI. SOC. PROC., V. 12, NO. 12, P. 647-664.
Reference (Deposit): PARKER, B.H., JR., 1974, GOLD PLACERS OF COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES QUART., V. 69, NO. 4, P. 194-197.
Reference (Deposit): HENDERSON,C.W., 1926, MINING IN COLORADO, A HISTORY OF DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRODUCTION: USGS PROF. PAPER 138, P. 52, 177-178.
Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., AND OTHERS, 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULL. 40, P. 204-206.
Reference (Deposit): HARRER, C.M., AND TESCH, W.J., JR., 1959, RECONNAISSANCE OF IRON OCCURRENCES IN COLORADO: USBM IC-7918, P. 48, 51-52.
Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES ONF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.
Reference (Deposit): UNPUBLISHED ENGINEERING REPTS. 1904-1936 (SEE INDIVIDUAL MINE RECORDS FOR SPECIFIC REFERENCES)
Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 1097.5
Colorado Mining Photos
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