Ophir

The Ophir is a zinc, gold, lead, copper, and silver mine located in San Miguel county, Colorado.

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

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Site Name

Primary: Ophir

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: San Miguel
District: Ophir

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Hydrothermal Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1878
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Paradox Basin Of Southeastern Utah And Southwestern Colorado (Intracratonic Basin) Trending Northwest-Southeast Elongate Structure. Gypsum Valley Anticline, Dolores Anticline: Fold Axis Trending Northwest-Southeast

Type: L
Description: Series Of Northwest Trending Fractures From The Silverton Caldera, But The Most Productive Veins Trend Towards The West

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): SAN JUAN FM. - 35-30 MA: INTERMEDIATE-COMPOSITION MUDFLOWS, VOLCANICLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS, LAVA FLOWS, AND FLOW BRECCIAS. THE MOST PRODUCTIVE VEINS ARE IN THE SAN JAUN TUFF

Comment (Deposit): DISTRICT MAY BE CALLED IRON SPRINGS

References

Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1932-1945.

Reference (Deposit): KOSCHMANN, A.H., AND BERGENDAHL, M.H., 1968, PRINCIPAL GOLD-PRODUCING DISTRICTS OF THE UNITED STATES: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 610, 283 P.

Reference (Deposit): FRIEDMAN, JULES D., AND HELER, JOAN S., TECTONIC TRENDS OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARADOX BASIN, SOUTHEASTER UTAH AND SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO, AS DERIVED FROM LANDSAT MULTISPECTRAL SCANNER IMAGING AND GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOOGIC MAPPING: US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 200-C,D, 40 P.

Reference (Deposit): MOSIER, D.L., SINGER, D.A., AND SALEM, B.B., 1983, GEOLOGIC AND GRADE-TONNAGE INFORMATION ON VOLCANIC-HOSTED COPPER-ZINC-LEAD MASSIVE SULFIDE DEPOSITS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 83-89, 78 P.

Reference (Production): USBM YB (1932-45)

Colorado Mining Photos

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