Schafer Ranch Deposit

The Schafer Ranch Deposit is a thorium mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,201 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: Schafer Ranch Deposit
Secondary: Uranium Queen Mine?
Secondary: Claim: Uranium Queen

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Titanium, Metal

Location

State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: Durango Area

Land Status

Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F. (?)

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Rosco Schaffer
Home Office: Durango, Co.
Years: 1955 -

Owner Name: Uranium Enterprise, Inc.
Home Office: Durango, Co.
Years: 1954 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: Navajo Section

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENTICULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Basin

Type: L
Description: La Plata Dome, Perrins Peak Syncline, Durango Anticline

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Early Cretaceous

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Early Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 30-TON CHANNEL(?) SAMPLE CONTAINED 1.52% THO2

Materials

Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Anatase

Comments

Comment (Deposit): RADIOACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH ASPHALTITE ZONES NEAR TOP OF 10-FT FINE-GRAINED SANDSTONE. ASPHALTITE CONTAINS MINUTE CRYSTALS OF THORITE AND ANATASE AND IS UNUSUAL IN THAT RADIOACTIVITY CAUSED BY TH RATHER THAN U. DEPOSIT MAY HAVE BEEN DETRITAL HEAVY-MINERAL CONCENTRATION PREFERENTIALLY ATTACKED BY ASPHALTITE OR OTHER SOLUTIONS.

Comment (Workings): 100-FT DRIFT BRANCHING INTO "Y" AT 75 FT. AT END OF LEFT DRIFT IS 10-FT RAISE WITH 30-FT DRIFT AT TOP

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ABOVE UNNAMED TRIBUTARY VALLEY EAST OF JUNCTION CREEK 0.4 MILE NW OF CHAPMAN LAKE AND NW OF ANIMAS CITY MTN. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :41? 01 1974

References

Reference (Deposit): STEVEN, T.A., AND OTHERS, 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE DURANGO QUADRANGLE, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-764.

Reference (Deposit): CHENOWETH, W.L., 1955, SCHAFER RANCH: AEC PRELIM. RECONN. REPT. ED R-553.

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

Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., AND OTHERS, 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULL. 40, P. 205.

Colorado Mining Photos

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