Buckhorn Mine

The Buckhorn Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,301 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

Name: Buckhorn Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Saguache

Elevation: 9,301 Feet (2,835 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 37.94528, -106.30889

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 Buckhorn Mine

Buckhorn Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Buckhorn Mine
Secondary: Buckhorn
Secondary: Oceanic
Secondary: Queen of Sheba
Secondary: Adelia
Secondary: Baltic
Secondary: Celtic
Secondary: Atlantic
Secondary: Adriatic


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Copper


Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Crystal Hill District


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: John Hamm
Home Office: Center, Co.
Years: 1949 -

Owner Name: Crystal Hill Mining Co.
Home Office: Center, Co.
Years: 1949 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1886
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

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


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift

Type: L
Description: Biedell-Klondike Fault, Esperanza Fault Zone, Biedell Stock


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Pervasive Propylitization; Locally Intense Argillization; Kaolinitization, Silicification


Rocks

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

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

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

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


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: OSTERWALD'S GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSES SHOW 500 TO 5000 PPM CU, 3000 TO 6999 PPM PB, 20 TO 59 PPM MO


Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Wad
Ore: Cerargyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Malachite
Gangue: Beidellite
Gangue: Magnetite


Comments

Comment (Workings): SOUTH TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY EASTWARD FOR 200 FT, WITH 50 FT OF CROSSCUT AND 40 FT OF DRIFT. NORTH TUNNEL IS 200 FT TO NORTH, DRIVEN GENERALLY EASTWARD ALONG ESPERANZA FAULT ZONE FOR 370 FT. FIRST CROSSCUT DRIFT IS 56 FT LONG, DRIVEN AT RIGHT ANGLE TO TUNNEL 200 FT FROM PORTAL. SECOND CROSSCUT DRIFT IS 100 FT LONG, DRIVEN AT RIGHT ANGLE TO TUNNEL 300 FT FROM PORTAL. EVIDENCE OF OPEN PIT OPERATION.

Comment (Location): ON CRYSTAL HILL BETWEEN SANDERSON GULCH AND BIEDELL CREEK 8 MILES NW OF LA GARITA. PRINCIPAL MINE OPENING IS IN S2 SE NE SEC. 28 ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1977

Comment (Deposit): BIEDELL STOCK IS PORPHYRITIC QUARTZ LATITE INTRUSIVE BOUNDED ON SE BY BIEDELL-KLONDIKE FAULT AND CUT BY SMALLER NORMAL FAULTS ON SW AND ON NORTH BY EAST-WEST-TRENDING ESPERANZA FAULT ZONE. OXIDIZED MANGANIFEROUS ORES FILL VOID SPACES IN BRECCIA PIPE; SOME VEIN-TYPE OCCURRENCE MAY BE PRESENT IN ESPERANZA FAULT ZONE. MINERALIZING FLUIDS PROBABLY ORIGINATED FROM BIEDELL-KLONDIKE FAULT. ADVANCED HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AROUND BRECCIA PIPE. SILVER HALOID AND FREE GOLD IN MANGANESE IS CONSIDERED TO BE A COCKADE ORE IN THE OXIDIZED AND LEACHED ZONE. PRESENCE OF CU CARBONATES (AT ESPERANZA MINE) SUGGESTS SULFIDE ZONE AND ENRICHMENT MAY LIE AT DEPTH.


References

Reference (Deposit): LARSEN, E.S., JR., AND CROSS, WHITMAN, 1956, GEOLOGY AND PETROLOGY OF THE SAN JUAN REGION, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 258, P. 83-86.

Reference (Deposit): OSTERWALD, E.J., 1977, THE BEIDELL AND SANDERSON VOLCANIC CENTERS, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO STATE UNIV. M.S. THESIS, 145 P.


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.