Starbuck Claim

The Starbuck Claim is a thorium and ree mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,770 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: Starbuck Claim

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area; Mckinley Mountain Area

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: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: E. Sparling And L. Knobbe
Years: 1953 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Discovery Year: 1952
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: Thorium-rare-earth veins

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR PIPELIKE

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Schist
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Schist
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .021 TO .30% EQUIV. U, .001 TO .002% U, .11 TO 1.67% EQUIV. TH02, .81 TO 1.59% TH02, .12% RAE OXIDES

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Hematite

Comments

Comment (Location): ON NORTH SIDE OF RIDGE NEAR "ATOMIC MOUNTAIN" CLAIMS; TO NE OF BEAR PEAK ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Workings): 8 PITS, PARTIALLY CAVED ADIT

Comment (Geology): THE ENTIRE SHEAR ZONE IS WEAKLY RADIOACTIVE WITH CONCENTRATIONS OF THORIUM MINERALS NEAR THE ADIT AND THE SOUTHEASTERN PROSPECT PITS

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1950'S

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. 23, 27-28.

Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., BROCK, M.R., PEARSON, R.C. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1959, GEOLOGY AND THORIUM DEPOSITS OF THE WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO, A PROGRESS REPORT: USGS BULLETIN 1072-H, P. 525-526.

Colorado Mining Photos

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