West Leviathan Mine

The West Leviathan Mine is a lead and silver mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,219 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: West Leviathan Mine
Secondary: West Leviathan-Stephen-Leavenworth vein

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Iron

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Rosita Hills 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
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1874
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: Epithermal veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Rosita Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns

Type: L
Description: Rosita Fault

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Weakly Argillized

Rocks

Name: Andesite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Trachyte
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Trachyte
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Stephanite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Clay

Comments

Comment (Location): IN POVERTY GULCH, 1/2 MILE NNW OF ROSITA, IN THE NE/4 SEC.29, T 22 S, R 71 W.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): A 1981 report suggested that silver deposits may occur along this NW extension of the Humboldt-Pocahontas vein. (Sunshine files)

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS REPORTEDLY CONSISTED OF SEVERAL SHALLOW SHAFTS AND PROSPECT PITS

References

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.

Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, 1896, GEOLOGY OF SILVER CLIFF AND THE ROSITA HILLS, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 263-403.

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W.N., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SILVER CLIFF AND ROSITA VOLCANIC CENTERS, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP I-1081, 1:24,000.

Colorado Mining Photos

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