Tuttle Ranch

The Tuttle Ranch is a ree, barium-barite, and thorium mine located in Fremont county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,949 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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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.

Site Name

Primary: Tuttle Ranch
Secondary: Willis Tuttle Ranch

Commodity

Primary: REE
Primary: Barium-Barite
Primary: Thorium

Location

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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Tuttle, Willis
Years: 1953 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
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

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones; Seven Mineralized Zones; Zone No. 5 Most Radioactive

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Light Green Clay Borders Mineralized Zone

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .000 TO .71% EQUIV. U, .001 TO .003% U, .01 TO 3.97% EQUIV. TH02, .57 TO 1.91% TH02

Materials

Ore: Barite
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Malachite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Siderite

Comments

Comment (Geology): SHEAR ZONE NO. 1 LESS THAN 500 FT LONG, ONE FOOT WIDE; VEIN WELL EXPOSED BY WORKINGS. SHEAR ZONE NO. 2 ABOUT 30 FT LONG AND 2.5 FT WIDE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 3 ABOUT 260 FT LONG, UP TO TWO FEET WIDE; CONTAINS RED, MASSIVE BARITE WITH WHITE CLEAVAGE MASSES. SHEAR ZONE NO. 4 ABOUT 50 FT LONG, .5 FT WIDE. THESE ZONES ONLY WEAKLY RADIOACTIVE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 5 MOST RADIOACTIVE ON PROPERTY; MOST MINERALIZATION AND RADIOACTIVITY CONCENTRATED IN SOUTHEASTERN 100 FT; OVERALL IT IS 2700 FT LONG, TO 4 FT WIDE; AT NORTHWEST END MINERALIZATION OCCURS WHERE SHEAR ZONE CUTS A SYENITE DIKE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 6 ABOUT 200 FT LONG AND 2 FT WIDE. SHEAR ZONE NO. 7 CONTAINS MALACHITE, COPPER SULFIDES IN QUARTZ-BARITE VEIN, WITH NO RADIOACTIVITY. MOST OF SHEAR ZONES HAVE STRONG FETID ODOR; SHEAR ZONES GENERALLY NUMBER FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST EXCEPT THAT SHEAR ZONES 6 AND 7 LIE BETWEEN SHEAR ZONES 1 AND 5 TO THE SOUTHEAST

Comment (Location): AREA NOT OFFICIALLY SECTIONED; SECTION EXTRAPOLATED FROM NEIGHBORING SECTION TO SOUTH; TO NORTHWEST OF MCKINLEY MOUNTAIN ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Deposit): RADIOACTIVITY STRONGEST IN SOUTHEASTERN PART OF SHEAR ZONE NO. 5

Comment (Workings): SEVERAL PROSPECT PITS, TRENCHES, ONE SHAFT

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. 19-20.

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. 522-523

Colorado Mining Photos

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