Express Mine

The Express Mine is a silver and gold mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,268 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: Express Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Saguache

Elevation: 9,268 Feet (2,825 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Gold

Lat, Long: 38.25139, -106.10972

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 Express Mine

Express Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Express Mine
Secondary: Express-Headlight Mine


Commodity

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


Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek) District


Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Owner Name: Express-Headlight Mining And Development Co.
Years: 1928 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1928
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: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera

Type: R
Description: Sawatch Range, San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Early Barren Stage Of Alteration By Fumarolic Or Acid-Hot Spring Activity Resulted In Intense Silicification, Wallrock Replacement By Jasper And Alteration Products Hematite, Diaspore, Alunite, Barite, Zunyite, Rutile, And Kaolin Minerals. Later Mineralizing Stage By Alkaline Or Neutral Solutions Deposited Ore And Gangue And Caused Micaceous Alteration (Sericite And Chlorite) And Calcite, Quartz, And Pyrite.


Rocks

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Enargite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Stromeyerite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Pyrargyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ALONG EXPRESS GULCH 3.4 MILES SE OF BONANZA ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Development): MOSTLY EXPL. AND DEVEL. NO PRODUCTION. LAST RECORD OF ACTIVITY WAS SOME RETIMBERING AND DRIFTING IN 1933.

Comment (Workings): 240-FT-DEEP SHAFT WITH LEVELS DRIVEN AT DEPTHS OF 96, 150, AND 224 FT. APPROX. 150 FT OF DRIFTS ON 96 LEVEL AND 300 FT ON 224 LEVEL

Comment (Deposit): EXPRESS VEIN (ATTITUDE GIVEN ABOVE) IS 1- TO 4-FT-WIDE EPITHERMAL VEIN WHOSE PARAGENESIS WAS QUARTZ AND FLUORITE, BASE METAL SULFIDES WITH SMALL AMT. AG, QUARTZ-FLUORITE WITH SMALL AMT. SULFIDES, RHODOCHROSITE, BARREN CALCITE. VEIN IS PARTLY OXIDIZED ON 96 LEVEL BUT LITTLE OR NO OXIDATION ON 224 LEVEL.


References

Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136 P.

Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.


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.