Blue Bird Claim

The Blue Bird Claim is a thorium and barium-barite mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,871 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: Blue Bird Claim
Secondary: Greenwood Property

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Primary: Barium-Barite

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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: J. Susman And W.L. Susman
Years: 1953 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface-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

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones; Two Shear Zones

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Mafic Intrusive Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic

Name: Mafic Intrusive Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleoproterozoic

Name: Mafic Intrusive Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Mafic Intrusive Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: .007% EQUIV. U, .001% U, .03% EQUIV. TH02

Materials

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

Comments

Comment (Location): ON GREENWOOD PROPERTY, THREE MILES NORTH OF THE HAPUTA RANCH; ABOUT 3/4 MILE NE OF DRY LAKE, EAST OF HWY 143 ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

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

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

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. 17-19

Reference (Deposit): BROCK, M.R. AND SINGEWALD, Q.D., 1968, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MOUNT TYNDALL QUADRANGLE, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-596, 1:24,000

Colorado Mining Photos

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