Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel

The Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel is a silver, lead, and zinc mine located in Pitkin county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,100 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: Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel  

State:  Colorado

County:  Pitkin

Elevation: 8,100 Feet (2,469 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Lead, Zinc

Lat, Long: 39.18833, -106.82694

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 Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel

Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Aspen Mining and Drainage Tunnel
Secondary: A. M. & D. Tunnel, Copperopolis
Secondary: Claims: Aspen Mountain Tunnel Lode No. 1
Secondary: Copperopolis


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc


Location

State: Colorado
County: Pitkin
District: Aspen (Roaring Fork) 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: G. W. Thatcher
Home Office: Aspen, Co.
Years: 1919 -

Owner Name: John Peterson And Associates
Home Office: Aspen, Co.
Years: 1919 -


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

Form: IRREGULAR


Structure

Type: R
Description: Sawatch Uplift, Central Colorado Trough, Piceance Basin, White River Uplift, Elk Uplift

Type: L
Description: Pride Fault, Aspen Mountain Syncline


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Sphalerite


Comments

Comment (Deposit): TUNNEL INTERSECTED NORTH-SOUTH-TRENDING FAULT CLOSE TO AND EAST OF PRIDE FAULT. FOOTWALL CONTAINED PORPHYRY; HANGING WALL CONSISTS OF BRECCIATED SHALE, LIMESTONE, AND PORPHYRY. SULFIDES OCCUR IN IRREGULAR MASSES IN SPACES BETWEEN LIMESTONE FRAGMENTS IN FAULT ZONE.

Comment (Workings): ONE TUNNEL DRIVEN SW 1000 FT. AT 475 FT FROM PORTAL, 175-FT DRIFT DRIVEN WESTWARD

Comment (Location): AT NE BASE OF WEST ASPEN MTN. ELEV AND LAT-LONG APPROXIMATED FROM BRYANT (1972) ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1980)


References

Reference (Deposit): SPURR, J.E., 1898, GEOLOGY OF THE ASPEN DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS MON. 31, P. 166

Reference (Deposit): BRYANT, BRUCE, 1971, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE ASPEN QUADRANGLE, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-933.

Reference (Deposit): BRYANT, BRUCE, 1972, MAP SHOWING MINES, PROSPECTS, AND AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT SILVER, LEAD, AND ZINC PRODUCTION IN THE ASPEN QUADRANGLE, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-785-D

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 10035, 1759


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.