Star Mine

The Star Mine is a silver and aluminum mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,229 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

Name: Star Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Custer

Elevation: 9,229 Feet (2,813 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Aluminum

Lat, Long: 38.11972, -105.33278

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.


Satelite image of the Star Mine

Star Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Star Mine


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Aluminum
Tertiary: Gold


Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Rosita


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

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1882
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 quartz-alunite Au


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Rosita Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns

Type: L
Description: Faults, Volcanic Vent, Rhyolite Dike


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: advanced argillic -alunite diaspore
Alteration Text: Weak Argillization


Rocks

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Diaspore
Gangue: Alunite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1870-1895

Comment (Workings): SHAFT OF UNKNOWN DIMENSIONS

Comment (Commodity): ALUNITE 8.26 PERCENT AND DIASPORE 4.5 PERCENT IN RHYOLITE DIKE

Comment (Location): ON ROBINSON PLATEAU 0.4 MILE SSE OF QUERIDA ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Deposit): THE STAR MINE SMELTER WAS BEGUN IN 1882 WITH THE IDEA OF ACCOMODATING ORE FROM THE MINE, BUT THE SMELTER NEVER OPERATED ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT


References

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

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

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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