Michigan Mine

The Michigan Mine is a lead, silver, copper, and gold mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,460 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

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: Michigan Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Zinc

Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek)

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

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
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: Sawatch Range, San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift

Type: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Early Barren Stage Of Alteration By Fumarolic Or Acid-Hot Spring Activity Resulted In Intense Silicification, Wallrock Replacement By Jasper And Alteration Products Hematite, Diaspore, Alunite, Barite, Zunyite, Rutile, And Kaolin Minerals. Later Mineralizing Stage By Alkaline Or Neutral Solutions Deposited Ore And Gangue And Caused Micaceous Alteration (Sericite And Chlorite) And Calcite, Quartz, And Pyrite.

Rocks

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE PRODUCTION FROM 1881 TO 1900 INDICATES AVERAGE CONTENT OF 20 TO 25 % PB AND 8 TO 10 OZ/TON AG. SMALL ORE SHIPMENT FROM MICHIGAN VEIN NEAR INTERSECTION WITH PARAGON VEIN ASSAYED 8.9 % PB, 2.9 % CU, 9.1 OZ/TON AG, 0.03 OZ/TON AU.

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Jasper
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Production): PATTON ESTIMATES 700 TONS ORE VALUED AT $24,500 PRODUCED FROM 1881 TO 1900. PRODUCTION IN 1888 INCLUDED $5,337 AG AND $8,253 PB. PRODUCTION IN 1890 INCLUDED $1,337 AG AND $2,471 PB. PRODUCTION IN 1920, 1921, AND 1939 COMBINED WITH PARAGON AND OTHER PROPERTIES, SEE PARAGON MINE FOR PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD.

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ON SOUTH SLOPE OF MOUNT MANITOU ABOVE RAWLEY GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Deposit): MICHIGAN VEIN TRENDS N 20 TO 25E, DIPPING 45 TO 58 SE AND APPEARS TO BE NE-TRENDING BRANCH OF PARAGON FAULT, CONFINED TO FOOTWALL OF PARAGON FAULT. NEAR THEIR INTERSECTION, MICHIGAN VEIN BECOMES COMPLEX FISSURE ZONE 30 FT OR MORE WIDE. MINERALIZED PART OF MICHIGAN FISSURE TURNS SHARPLY TO PARALLEL PARAGON FAULT NEAR INTERSECTION. ORE MOSTLY ZINC WITH MINOR PB HERE. FARTHER NE AT MICHIGAN WORKINGS, EARLY SHIPPING ORES WERE OXIDIZED, CONTAINING PB CARBONATE.

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY ONE SHAFT OF UNKNOWN DEPTH AND TWO TUNNELS SW (DOWNSLOPE) FROM SHAFT. UPPER TUNNEL 350 FT SW OF SHAFT AND DRIVEN APPROX. 175 FT NE ALONG VEIN. LOWER TUNNEL IS APPROX. 570 FT SW OF SHAFT AND DRIVEN APPROX. 100 FT NE ALONG VEIN.

References

Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136 P.

Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.

Colorado Mining Photos

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