Crystal Park Area

The Crystal Park Area is a gemstone and beryllium mine located in El Paso county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,399 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: Crystal Park Area

Commodity

Primary: Gemstone
Primary: Beryllium
Tertiary: Niobium (Columbium)
Tertiary: REE

Location

State: Colorado
County: El Paso
District: Crystal Park 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

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Front Range Uplift, Pikes Peak Batholith

Type: L
Description: Ute Pass Fault, Manitou Park Half Graben, Mt Rosa Intrusive Center

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Amazonstone
Ore: Zircon
Gangue: Columbite
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Hornblende
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Fluocerite

Comments

Comment (Location): COLLECTING SITES PROBABLY FOUND AT LEAST ONE MILE AROUND AND BEYOND SEC. 18. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR APPROX CENTER SEC. 18 AT CRYSTAL PARK. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1981)

Comment (Development): INTERMITTENT PRODUCTION OF GEM SPECIMENS FROM ONE OF STATE'S OLDEST AND BEST COLLECTING LOCALITIES.

Comment (Deposit): GEM AND MINERAL SPECIMENS OCCUR IN MIAROLITIC CAVITIES IN PEGMATITES UP TO 3 FT WIDE AND IRREGULARLY DISTRIBUTED--SOME ISOLATED, OTHERS CONNECTED BY SMALL VEINS.

Comment (Workings): NUMEROUS PROSPECT PITS AND DUMPS

References

Reference (Deposit): TRIMBLE, D.E., AND MACHETTE, M.N., 1979, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE COLORADO SPRINGS-CASTLE ROCK AREA, FRONT RANGE URBAN CORRIDOR, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-857-F.

Reference (Deposit): SCOTT, G.R., AND WOBUS, R.A., 1973, RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAP OF COLORADO SPRINGS AND VICINITY, COLORADO: USGS MAP MF-482.

Reference (Deposit): PEARL, R.M., 1965, COLORADO GEM TRAILS AND MINERAL GUIDE: DENVER, SAGE BOOKS, P. 169-171.

Reference (Deposit): OVER, EDWIN, JR., 1929, SOME MINERAL LOCALITIES OF EL PASO COUNTY: ROCKS AND MINERALS, V. 4, NO. 4, P. 106-107.

Colorado Mining Photos

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