Free Gold Mine

The Free Gold Mine is a silver and gold mine located in Larimer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,409 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: Free Gold Mine
Secondary: Patented Claims: Air Dale Lode
Secondary: Copper Butte
Secondary: Big Horn No. 1
Secondary: Free Gold
Secondary: Gold Spark
Secondary: Silver Dollar
Secondary: Lancaster, MS 17457
Secondary: U Npatented Claims: Pandora Nos. 1-7
Secondary: Lucky Horseshoe

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Copper

Location

State: Colorado
County: Larimer
District: Manhattan 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: Tim Sullivan
Home Office: Log Cabin
Years: 1939 -

Owner Name: Sackett, T. H. And Others
Home Office: Livermore
Years: 1939 -

Production

Year: 1938
Description: Ap_Grade: ^0.12 Oz/Ton Au (Milling Ore)

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1939
Discovery Year: 1905
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, Sherman Batholith

Type: L
Description: Poudre River Shear Zone, Elkhorn Creek Shear Zone

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite

Comments

Comment (Development): ASSESSMENT WORK FROM 1927-31. PRODUCTION OF CRUDE ORE, MILLING OR E, AND MILL CONCENTRATES FROM 25-TPD MILL IN 1938 AND 1939.

Comment (Deposit): AIRPHOTOS INDICATE PROBABLE QUARTZ MONZONITE DIKE TRENDING N63W I N N2 SEC. 29 SOUTH OF PRESUMED CLAIM LOCATION. VEIN IS EXTENSION OF CO LORADO AND MONTE CRISTO VEINS.

Comment (Location): NORTH OF SEVENMILE CREEK ON EDGE OF OVERLAND EROSIONAL SURFACE 0.5 TO 0.7 MILE SOUTH OF MANHATTAN. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR APPRO X CENTER OF BIG HORN CLAIM ON SOUTH QUARTER CORNER OF SEC. 20 ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1980

Comment (Workings): SURFACE CUTS; 30-FT VERTICAL SHAFT, 175-FT INCLINED SHAFT WITH ON E LEVEL

References

Reference (Deposit): LOVERING, T.S., AND GODDARD, E.N., 1950, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS O F THE FRONT RANGE, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 223, P. 285-286.

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPT. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

Colorado Mining Photos

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