Barite Lode

The Barite Lode is a thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,599 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

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Site Name

Primary: Barite Lode

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area

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

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Pete Cowan, County Road Commission Westcliffe, Co.; George Schweigert, Denver, Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Discovery Year: 1951
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: Thorium-rare-earth veins

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones; Four Zones In En Echelon Arrangement

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .07 TO .61% EQUIV TH02,
Analytical Data: 0.42% EQUIV. U, 0.001% U

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Silver
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Hematite

Comments

Comment (Location): LOCATED NEAR ROAD ON EAST SIDE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Workings): 5X8X10 PROSPECT SHAFT, SEVERAL SMALL PROSPECT PITS TO NW AND SE

References

Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., HEYMAN, A.M., DELLWIG, L.F, AND GOTT, G.B., 1953, THORIUM INVESTIGATIONS 1950-52, WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS CIRCULAR 290, P 21-25

Reference (Deposit): NELSON-MOORE, J.L., COLLINS, D.B., AND HORNBAKER, A.L., 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES, OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 40, P.119

Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R., AND SINGE WALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596

Colorado Mining Photos

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