Plata Verde Mine

The Plata Verde Mine is a silver mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,501 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: Plata Verde Mine
Secondary: Plate Verde
Secondary: Plata Verda

Commodity

Primary: Silver

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Silver Cliff

Land Status

Land ownership: Federal
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

Type: Surface

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface
Discovery Year: 1895
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Epithermal veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Silver Cliff Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns, Wet Mtn Valley

Type: L
Description: North-Trending Fault

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Weakly Argillized

Rocks

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: FIRST LOT ASSAYED 5 OZ AG/TON, SECOND LOT 3 OZ AG/TON

Materials

Not available

Comments

Comment (Location): WEST SLOPE OF ROUND MTN ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Workings): PIT 90 FT DIAMETER, 60 FT DEEP

Comment (Deposit): PLATE VERDE MILL BUILT TO PROCESS ORE FROM MINE ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

References

Reference (Deposit): EMMONS, S.F., 1896, THE MINES OF CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 405-472.

Reference (Deposit): FIELDMAN, D.W. AND CROWLEY, F.P., 1980, SILVER DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE SILVER CLIFF CALDERA, IN SILVER CLIFF VOLCANIC CENTER AND TALLAHASSEE CREEK URANIUM DEPOSITS: DENVER REGIONAL EXPLORATION GEOLOGISTS GUIDEBOOK, P. 1-14.

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W.M., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SILVER CLIFF AND ROSITA VOLCANIC CENTERS, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-1081.

Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, 1896, GEOLOGY OF SILVER CLIFF AND THE ROSITA HILLS, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 263-403.

Colorado Mining Photos

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