Missionary Tunnel

The Missionary Tunnel is a gold and silver mine located in Rio Grande county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,381 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: Missionary Tunnel
Secondary: Claim: Missionary
Secondary: Ms 124?

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Colorado
County: Rio Grande
District: Summit (Summitville) 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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: M. E. Benton
Home Office: Peoria, Il.
Years: 1936 -

Owner Name: Asa Pangborn And Associates
Home Office: Del Norte
Years: 1936 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1874
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: San Juan Volcanic Field

Type: L
Description: Platoro Caldera, Summitville Caldera, Summitville Fault, South Mountain Dome

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Quartz-Alunite Solfataric Alteration

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Not available

Comments

Comment (Location): EXACT LOCATION UNCERTAIN BUT PROBABLY ALONG NE BASE OF SOUTH MTN. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR PROSPECT IN NE NW SEC. 30. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Deposit): MISSIONARY VEIN OCCURS ALONG NE MARGIN OF STOCK AT NORTH BASE OF SOUTH MTN. IN CONTRAST TO STEEPLY DIPPING TO VERTICAL VEINS IN OTHER MINERALIZED AREAS OF DISTRICT, MISSIONARY VEIN IS FLAT LYING AND APPEARS TO FOLLOW CONTACT BETWEEN STOCK AND SUMMITVILLE ANDESITE. SURFACE EXPOSURE IS HIGHLY SILICIFIED KNOB FLANKED BY LOWER GROUND OF HIGHLY ARGILLIZED AND PYRITIZED ANDESITE (ON ALL SIDES BUT SW). DUMP SHOWED ABUNDANT PYRITE AND ENARGITE IN HOLES OF STRONGLY LEACHED, VUGGY QUARTZ ROCK. ORE REPORTEDLY WAS REFRACTORY AND REQUIRED ROASTING BEFORE MILLING.

Comment (Workings): ONE TUNNEL

References

Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND RATTE, J.C., 1960, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE SUMMITVILLE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 343

Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1917, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: CGS BULL. 13.

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPT.

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY MS 124

Reference (Deposit): LIPMAN, P.W., 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE PLATORO CALDERA AREA, SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS MAP I-828.

Colorado Mining Photos

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