Geyser Mine

The Geyser Mine is a lead and silver mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,999 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

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Site Name

Primary: Geyser Mine
Secondary: Security-Geyser
Secondary: Fleetwood Tunnel

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Silver Cliff

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: Unknown

Ownership

Not available

Production

Year: 1911
Time Period: 1880-1911?
Year: 1882
Year: 1880

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1880
Year Last Production: 1911
Discovery Year: 1878
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Epithermal veins

Orebody

Form: VEINS

Structure

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

Type: L
Description: Silver Cliff Graben, Fault; Geyser Vent, Breccia Pipes

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Weak Argillization
Alteration Text: Weak Argillization

Rocks

Name: Gneiss
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Gneiss
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Gneiss
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: IN VEINS AVG 250-300 OZ/TON
Analytical Data: SB PRESENT

Materials

Ore: Polybasite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Argentite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Hessite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrargyrite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Topaz
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): NORTH OF CHLORIDE GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Workings): THIS IS THE DEEPEST MINE ON THE PLATEAU; MANY LEVELS INCLUDING 500, 700, 750, 1450, 1850, 2000, 2100 FT BELOW SURFACE; MINE BEGAN AT BASE OF SILVER CLIFF/RACINE BOY QUARRY; MOST WORKINGS TO WEST AND NORTHWEST, SOME SOUTH

Comment (Geology): CHARCOAL IS PRESENT TO AT LEAST 2000 FT BELOW SURFACE

Comment (Deposit): THIS MINE WAS INTENDED TO EXPLORE THE "ROOTS" OF THE ORE UNDER THE RACINE BOY AND SILVER CLIFF QUARRIES; HIT ORE AT DEPTH. SEVERAL HORIZONS IN SHAFT HIT WATER DISCHARGING AT GREATER THAN 100 GPM. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

Comment (Deposit): THE ORE BECAME RICHER AT DEPTH; VEINS NEARLY VERTICAL DIP; WHERE ORE IS BOTRYOIDAL ORDER OF DEPOSITION: 1) BARITE, 2) GALENA, ARGENTITE, 3) COPPER SULFIDES, 4) TETRAHEDRITE, 5) CHALCOPYRITE

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 (Production): COLORADO DIVISION MINES INSPECTOR REPORTS, ANNUAL REPORTS

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): 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

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