Magpie Mine

The Magpie Mine is a gold, copper, lead, and silver mine located in San Miguel county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,401 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: Magpie Mine
Secondary: Patented Claims: Magpie, MS 8608
Secondary: Sunlight, MS 8608
Secondary: Almeda, MS 8608

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Zinc

Location

State: Colorado
County: San Miguel
District: Mount Wilson 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

Not available

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: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Paradox Basin, San Miguel Mtns

Type: L
Description: Wilson Peak Stock

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CHEMICAL ANALYSES, 0.4 AND 2 PPM AU, 440 AND 1400 PPM AG, 390 AND 520 PPM CU, 2800 AND 16000 PPM PB, 28000 AND 37000 PPM ZN
Analytical Data: BROMFIELD AND OTHERS' (1972) SEMIQUANTITATIVE SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF SELECTED DUMP SAMPLES OF VEIN MATERIAL: 3 AND 10% FE, 0.5% MG, 1.5% CA, 0.15 AND 0.3% TI, GT 5000 AND 1500 PPM MN, 300 AND 500 PPM AG, 1500 AND 5000 PPM AS, LT 10 AND 20 PPM B, LT 20 AND 50 PPM BA, LT 10 PPM BI, 70 AND 100 PPM CD, LT 5 AND 5 PPM CO, 5 AND 15 PPM CR, 300 AND 500 PPM CU, LT 5 PPM MO, 5 AND 10 PPM NI, 2000 AND 7000 PPM PB, 1500 AND 2000 PPM SB, LT 10 PPM SN, LT 100 PPM SR, 10 AND 30 PPM V, GT 10000 PPM ZN

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): MINE LOCATED ON EAST WALL OF MAGPIE GULCH ABOUT 0.5 MILE WEST OF MORNING STAR MINE AND 1.4 MILE ENE OF WILSON PEAK. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Workings): CROSSCUT TUNNEL DRIVEN 50 FT PROBABLY TO SOUTH OR SE, WITH 175 FT OF DRIFT SW AND 125 FT TO NE.

Comment (Deposit): ALONG WEST EDGE OF NE EXTENSION OF WILSON PEAK STOCK, MAGPIE VEIN TRENDS ABOUT N 55 E, 65 NW, AND CUTS METAMORPHOSED MANCOS SHALE (HORNFELS) ALONG CONTACT WITH MICROGRANOGABBRO. UNSTOPED VEIN RANGES FROM TIGHT SEAM TO 6 INCHES WIDE.

References

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY MS 8608

Reference (Deposit): BROMFIELD, C.S., 1967, GEOLOGY OF THE MOUNT WILSON QUADRANGLE, WESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS BULL.

Reference (Deposit): BROMFIELD, C.S., AND OTHERS, 1972, MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE WILSON MOUNTAINS PRIMITIVE AREA, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1353-A, P. 47-48, 66-67

Colorado Mining Photos

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