John Spalding

The John Spalding is a barium-barite and thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,301 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

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Site Name

Primary: John Spalding
Secondary: Spaulding

Commodity

Primary: Barium-Barite
Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Lead

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area

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: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: John Spalding
Home Office: Ilse Route, Canon City, Co

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Discovery Year: 1951
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Thorium-rare-earth veins

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Shear Zone

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

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

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .002% U308, .03% EQUIV. TH02

Materials

Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Serpentine
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Hematite

Comments

Comment (Location): SOUTH OF OAK CREEK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Workings): SHAFT, 5 PROSPECT PITS

References

Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., HEYMAN, A.M., DELLWIG, L.F. AND GOTT, G.B., 1953, THORIUM INVESTIGATIONS 1950-52, WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS CIRCULAR 290, P. 27.

Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596, 1:24,000

Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B.AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 40, P. 121-122.

Colorado Mining Photos

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