Atomic Mountain Claim

The Atomic Mountain Claim is a thorium and ree mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,740 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: Atomic Mountain Claim

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Wet Mountains Area; Mckinley Mountain 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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: E. Sparling And L. Knobbe
Years: 1953 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1952
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: IRREGULAR, PIPELIKE

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Silicification, carbonate
Alteration Text: Silicification

Rocks

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

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

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Cambrian

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Cambrian

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .001% U, .95 TO 2.12% EQUIV. TH02, .82 TO 1.98% TH02
Analytical Data: .17 TO .38% EQUIV. U

Materials

Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Galena
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): ON NORTH SLOPE NEAR HEADWATERS OF BONEYARD GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Workings): TWO ADITS, ONE SHAFT, MANY PROSPECT PITS

Comment (Geology): DEPOSITS GENETICALLY AND SPACIALLY RELATED TO CAMBRIAN ALKALIC COMPLEXES

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1950'S

References

Reference (Deposit): CHRISTMAN, R.A., BROCK, M.R., PEARSON, R.C. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1959, GEOLOGY AND THORIUM DEPOSITS OF THE WET MOUNTAINS, COLORADO, A PROGRESS REPORT: USGS BULLETIN 1072-H, P. 525

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

Colorado Mining Photos

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