Barium Lode

The Barium Lode is a uranium and thorium mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,039 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: Barium Lode  

State:  Colorado

County:  Saguache

Elevation: 9,039 Feet (2,755 Meters)

Commodity: Uranium, Thorium

Lat, Long: 38.22139, -106.33778

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 Barium Lode

Barium Lode MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Barium Lode


Commodity

Primary: Uranium
Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Radium


Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache


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

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N


Physiography

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


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Bonanza Volcanic Field, San Juan Volcanic Field

Type: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera Radial Faults; Jacks Cr. Volcanic Center


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Jasperization, Iron Oxides


Rocks

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

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

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


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: BACKGROUND RADIOACTIVITY 0.05 MR/HR, RANGE 0.15 TO 0.5 MR/HR. GRAB SAMPLE ASSAYED 0.087% EQUIV. U, 0.044% U, 0.031% TH, WITH SOME RA.


Materials

Gangue: Specularite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Jasper


Comments

Comment (Location): ORIGINAL AEC DIRECTIONS TO PROSPECT ARE SOMEWHAT CONFUSING, BUT AEC'S AND BRUNS' MAPPING SUGGEST THAT SEC. 20 IS MORE LIKELY LOCATION THAN NELSON-MOORE AND OTHERS' SEC. 4. LAT-LONG AND ELEV. ARE FOR C OF SW OF SW OF SEC. 20 ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Workings): ONE SURFACE PROSPECT PIT


References

Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B., AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULL. 40, P. 388.

Reference (Deposit): BROWN, L.J., AND MALAN, 1966, U.S. AEC PRELIMINARY RECONNAISSANCE REPORTS ON REPORTED OCCURRENCES OF URANIUM DEPOSITS, COLORADO, SAGUACHE COUNTY: PB-172 567.

Reference (Deposit): BRUNS, D.L., 1971, GEOLOGY OF THE LAKE MOUNTAIN NE QUADRANGLE, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES M.S. THESIS T-1367.


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.