Wheeler Bars

The Wheeler Bars is a gold mine located in San Miguel county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,680 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: Wheeler Bars
Secondary: Patented Claims: A Placer, MS 1026
Secondary: E. Placer, MS 1066

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

State: Colorado
County: San Miguel
District: Lower San Miguel 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: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1882
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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Paradox Basin, Uncompahgre, San Juan Volcanic Field, San Miguel Mtns

Type: L
Description: Placerville Anticline, Hyatt Draw Graben

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Deposit): SEVERAL REMNANTS OF QUATERNARY TERRACE GRAVEL LIE ON BOTH SIDES OF RIVER; CLAIMS APPARENTLY COVER THOSE ON NORTH SIDE. LOWER EDGES OF REMNANTS LIE ABOUT 100 TO 120 FT ABOVE STREAM LEVEL.

Comment (Workings): PRINCIPAL WORKING WAS 96-FT-LONG DRIFT TUNNEL, 8 FT HIGH, 5 FT WIDE

Comment (Location): ALONG NORTH SIDE OF SAN MIGUEL RIVER BETWEEN SAWPIT AND POINT ABOUT 1.5 MILES ABOVE PLACERVILLE. EXACT LOCATION UNCERTAIN. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR SMALL TERRACE GRAVEL REMNANT. 0.2 MILE BELOW SAWPIT ON "A" PLACER CLAIM (SE 07, T43N, R10W. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

References

Reference (Deposit): PARKER, B.H., JR., 1974, GOLD PLACERS OF COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES QUART., V. 69, NO. 4, P. 172-184.

Reference (Deposit): BUSH, A.L., AND OTHERS, 1960, AREAL GEOLOGY OF THE LITTLE CONE QUADRANGLE, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1082-G.

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 1026, 1066

Colorado Mining Photos

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