Erie Mine

The Erie Mine is a zinc, lead, and silver mine located in Gunnison county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,401 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: Erie Mine
Secondary: Erie Tunnel
Secondary: includes Eureka, Nest Egg, and Silver Trowel Mines

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: Gunnison
District: Tomichi (Whitepine) 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
Deposit Type: Replacement
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: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): About 10 miles north of Sargents, and 1 mile east of Whitepine, in the SW/4 sec. 35, T 50 N, R 5 E.

Comment (Production): Production from 1901 to 1947, including some from nearby mines through the Erie tunnel, totaled 37,811 tons of ore, and metals recovered were: 399 oz. of gold, 168,360 oz. silver, 241,943 lb. copper, 7,049,842 lb. lead, and 11,134,673 lb zinc. (USGS Prof. Paper 289)

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Ore shoots in the Erie are mined out, but exploration targets nearby should be tested by drilling. (Sunshine files)

Comment (Geology): Replacement ore occurs near the top of the Leadville at the Belden contact.

References

Reference (Deposit): DMEA RECORDS

Reference (Deposit): Crawford, R. D., 1913, Geology and ore deposits of the Monarch and Tomichi districts, Colorado: Colorado Geological Survey Bulletin 4, 317 p.

Reference (Deposit): Dings, M. G., and Robinson, C. S., 1957, Geology and ore deposits of the Garfield quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 289, 110 p.

Reference (Deposit): CONSV. DIV. COMP. DATE, 9,65

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.