Alpha Mine

The Alpha Mine is a silver mine located in Mineral county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,058 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: Alpha Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Antimony
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Lead

Location

State: Colorado
County: Mineral
District: Creede District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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: Underground

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1892
Discovery Year: 1883
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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Volcanic Field; La Garita, Creede, And Bachelor Calderas

Type: L
Description: Alpha-Corsair Fault; Creede Graben

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Bleaching, Variable Silicification And Argillization

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: AVG. 20 TO 60 OZ/TON A

Materials

Ore: Cerargyrite
Ore: Silver
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Chalcanthite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Stephanite
Gangue: Stibnite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Amethyst

Comments

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV DETERMINED FROM EMMONS AND LARSEN'S (1923) TOPO MAP (1:24,000), MINE OR CLAIM LIES AT SOUTH END OF MACKENZIE MTN AT SUNNYSIDE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Deposit): AVE. ATTITUDE OF MAIN FAULT ZONE BETW. ALPHA AND KREUTZER MINES

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY 3 TUNNELS OVER 125-FT VERTICAL DISTANCE ON HILLSIDE. NORTHEAST (?) OF LOWEST TUNNEL IS 155-FT WINZE ON 52 DEG INCLINE

Comment (Deposit): TOTAL PRODUCTION FROM ALPHA AND CORSAIR MINES ESTIMATED AT $600,000 (THRU 1908), MOSTLY AG, MOSTLY FROM CORSAIR MINE ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

References

Reference (Deposit): EMMONS, W.H., AND LARSEN, E.S. 1923, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE CREEDE DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 718, 198 P.

Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND RATTE, J.C., 1965, GEOLOGY AND STRUCTURAL CONTROL OF ORE DEPOSITION IN THE CREEDE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 487, 90 P.

Reference (Deposit): LINDEMANN, J.W., AND OTHERS, EDS., 1981, FIELD TRIP NOTES, CREEDE MINING DISTRICT, SAN JUAN VOLCANIC PROVINCE, COLORADO: DENVER REGIONAL EXPLORATION GEOLOGISTS SOC. GUIDEBOOK

Colorado Mining Photos

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