Expectation Mine

The Expectation Mine is a copper mine located in Dolores county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,561 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: Expectation Mine
Secondary: Engel Mine
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Expectation
Secondary: Thirteenth
Secondary: Johnny Miller
Secondary: Alf
Secondary: Edna
Secondary: Rosemary
Secondary: Mae
Secondary: Mae No. 1
Secondary: Hornet
Secondary: Babe
Secondary: V. J. K.
Secondary: Victor
Secondary: Aviator
Secondary: C. M. E.

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Colorado
County: Dolores
District: Pioneer (Rico) District

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Engel, Charles
Home Office: Rico, Co.
Years: 1956 -

Owner Name: E. J. Lane
Home Office: Wilcox, Az.
Years: 1956 -

Production

Year: 1918
Material type: ORE CU AU ACC
Description: Ap_Grade: ^0.16 Oz/Ton Au, 1.9% Cu

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1918
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: Canyon Lands

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin

Type: L
Description: Rico Dome

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Tetrahedrite

Comments

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). SW OF SULPHUR CREEK ON EAST SLOPE OF EXPECTATION MTN (UNSURVEYED SECTION). ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FROM RICO TOPO MAP (1960 BASE). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Production): PARTIAL(?) PRODUCTION RECORD. NO PRODUCTION REPORTED IN 1919 AND 1921.

Comment (Deposit): NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE, BUT TUNNEL DRIVEN INTO UPPER HERMOSA FM AND/OR CUTLER FM SEDIMENTARY ROCKS, PROBABLY INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY SILLS. ORES COULD BE RELATED TO BLANKET REPLACEMENT IN LIMESTONE NEAR PORPHYRY SILL.

Comment (Workings): MAIN TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY WEST FOR 1500 FT, WITH 20-FT RAISE AND 18- AND 30-FT WINZES

References

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2.

Reference (Deposit): MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723.

Reference (Deposit): PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797.

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

Reference (Production): COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPT.

Colorado Mining Photos

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