Continental Chief

The Continental Chief is a silver, lead, and zinc mine located in Lake county, Colorado at an elevation of 12,720 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: Continental Chief

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: Lake
District: Horseshoe 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 replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Dolomite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Cerussite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Hydrozincite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Dolomite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): Replacement and vein deposits in dolomite.

Comment (Location): Iowa Amphitheater at the head of Iowa Gulch, about 6 miles ESE of Leadville, in the SW/4 sec 25, T 9 S, R 79 W.

Comment (Production): Reported production valued at $3,000,000 before 1920.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): About 5,000 tons of proven ore averaging 17 oz/ton silver and 3 % lead; potential ore totals 20,000 tons at a similar grade. (Sunshine files, 1980)

References

Reference (Deposit): Behre, C. H., Jr., 1953, Geology and ore deposits of the west slope of the Mosquito Range (Colorado): U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 235, 176 p.

Reference (Deposit): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.

Reference (Deposit): Johansing, R. J., and Thompson, T. B., 1990, Geology and origin of Sherman-type deposits, central Colorado: Economic Geology Monograph 7, p. 367-394.

Reference (Deposit): MESA MET-NONMET MINE FILE REF OWNER-ROBERT R BENSON

Colorado Mining Photos

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