Mary Murphy Group

The Mary Murphy Group is a lead, zinc, gold, and silver mine located in Chaffee county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,249 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: Mary Murphy Group  

State:  Colorado

County:  Chaffee

Gallery: View 5 Mary Murphy Group Photos

Elevation: 10,249 Feet (3,124 Meters)

Commodity: Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 38.66861, -106.34861

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 Mary Murphy Group

Mine Description

The Mary Murphy Mine was the principal gold mine of the Chalk Creek mining district of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States, near St. Elmo, Colorado. The Mary Murphy Mine operated continuously from 1870 to 1925, and produced 220 thousand ounces of gold, worth $4.4 million then (or about $180,000,000 in 2008), plus considerable silver, lead, and zinc. There were two aerial tramways connecting the mine to Romley, Colorado and the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad.

Wikipedia

Mary Murphy Group MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Mary Murphy Group
Secondary: Mary Murphey
Secondary: Mary Murphy Mine


Commodity

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


Location

State: Colorado
County: Chaffee
District: Chalk Creek (Alpine, Romley, St. Elmo)


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Year: 1951
Time Period: 1901-1949
Mined: 346361.540 mt


Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Name: Mary vein, West Pat vein, East Pat vein, Morley vein, Nelson vein
Form: vein


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Not available


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Gangue: Rhodonite
Trace: Psilomelane
Unknown: Anglesite
Unknown: Smithsonite
Unknown: Cerrusite
Unknown: Pyrite
Trace: Chrysocolla
Trace: Malachite
Trace: Pyrolusite
Trace: Azurite


Comments

Comment (Production): CHAFFEE CO. 1869-1961: 66,849.98 T. LEAD, 15,442.15 T. ZINC

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: PYRITIC QTZ VEINS. GALENA, SPHALERITE, CHALCOPYRITE, CERUSSITE, CALAMINE, SMITHSONITE, AND FREE GOLD IN THE VEIN

Comment (Deposit): RECORD DC04999 HAS BEEN MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED.


References

Reference (Location): Mine Map Repo #4 07576

Reference (Location): Mine Map Repo # 408148

Reference (Deposit): SHARPS, 1963, COLO. SCH. MINES MINERAL IND. BULL., V.6, NO.6

Reference (Reference): Dings and Robinson, 1957, USGS Prof. Paper 289, p. 98-101.


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.