Ruby Mine

The Ruby Mine is a silver and gold mine located in La Plata county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,201 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

Name: Ruby Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  La Plata

Elevation: 11,201 Feet (3,414 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Gold

Lat, Long: 37.42778, -108.00528

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Ruby Mine

Ruby Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Ruby Mine
Secondary: Patented Claim: Ruby
Secondary: Ms 1722


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Mercury


Location

State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: California (La Plata) 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

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1880
Year Last Production: 1898
Discovery Year: 1880
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

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Four Corners Platform

Type: L
Description: La Plata Dome, Lewis Mtn Diorite Stock


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Triassic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Triassic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SHIPPING ORE REPORTEDLY CONTAINED 34 OZ/TON AU AND 20 OZ/TON AG


Materials

Ore: Mercury
Ore: Amalgam
Ore: Sylvanite
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Workings): LOWER TUNNEL DRIVEN GENERALLY N 55 W FOR 150 FT, THENCE S 73 W FOR 90 FT TO FACE; AT 170 FT FROM PORTAL, BRANCH TUNNEL DRIVEN N 50 W FOR 60 FT TO FACE AND INCLINED RAISE TO FACE OF UPPER TUNNEL. UPPER TUNNEL LOCATED 180 FT NW OF LOWER TUNNEL, DRIVEN N 62 W FOR 40 FT, THENCE NORTH 20 FT TO FACE AND INCLINED RAISE FROM LOWER TUNNEL.

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON EAST FLANK OF LEWIS MTN IN HEADWATERS OF RUBY GULCH, 3.75 MILES NE OF LA PLATA TOWNSITE (UNSURVEYED SECTION). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1974

Comment (Development): MINE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF DISTRICT'S RICHEST SYLVANITE DEPOSITS. WORKED INTERMITTENTLY FROM ABOUT 1880 TO 1898.

Comment (Deposit): COUNTRY ROCKS CONSIST OF DOLORES AND CUTLER FM RED BEDS INTRUDED BY DIORITE-MONZONITE PORPHYRY SILLS AND DIKES AND BY TONGUE OF DIORITE FROM LEWIS MTN STOCK. RUBY VEIN TRENDS EAST-WEST AND CONSISTS OF WEAK PYRITIZED FRACTURE ZONE WITH A LITTLE VEIN QUARTZ.


References

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY MS 1722

Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., AND OTHERS, 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219, P. 73-76, 162-163.


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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