Pioneer Mine

The Pioneer Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,199 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: Pioneer Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Custer

Elevation: 9,199 Feet (2,804 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 38.11028, -105.33917

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 Pioneer Mine

Pioneer Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Pioneer Mine
Secondary: Big Bonnie
Secondary: Claims: Rocky Point, Delta Fox, Sunset


Commodity

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


Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Rosita Hills District


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: Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Art Williams
Home Office: Rockvale, Co.
Years: 1959 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1874
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
Model Name: Epithermal vein, generic


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Rosita Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns

Type: L
Description: Rosita Fault


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Strong Argillization


Rocks

Name: Trachyte
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Stephanite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Clay


Comments

Comment (Development): LAST DEVELOPMENT KNOWN IN 1960

Comment (Geology): Vein trends N15W, dips 65 east, and intersects Leavenworth vein; ore is concentrated near the intersection.

Comment (Location): ON SADDLE BETWEEN MT ROBINSON AND PRINGLE HILL, IN THE N/2 SEC.29, T 22 S, R 71 W; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Production): CREDITED BY MINT WITH $110,000 AU AND $37,000 AG PRODUCTION; GOLD VALUES DOUBTFUL

Comment (Reserve-Resource): A 1981 report suggested that low-grade, bulk-tonnage silver deposits may occur along the Pioneer vein and south of the Leavenworth-Humboldt-Pocahontas vein. (Sunshine files)

Comment (Workings): 235 FT SHAFT, 850 FT TUNNEL ADVANCED IN 1959


References

Reference (Production): EMMONS, S.F., 1896

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

Reference (Deposit): Emmons, S.F., 1896, The mines of Custer County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey 17th Annual Report, Pt. 2, pp. 405-472.

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W.N., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SILVER CLIFF AND ROSITA VOLCANIC CENTERS, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-1081, 1:24,000.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.


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.