Hidden Valley Claims

The Hidden Valley Claims is a barium-barite and thorium mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,901 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

Name: Hidden Valley Claims  

State:  Colorado

County:  Custer

Elevation: 8,901 Feet (2,713 Meters)

Commodity: Barium-Barite, Thorium

Lat, Long: 38.20222, -105.31889

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Hidden Valley Claims

Hidden Valley Claims MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Hidden Valley Claims
Secondary: Hidden Valley 1 Claim
Secondary: Hidden Valley 4 Claim


Commodity

Primary: Barium-Barite
Primary: Thorium


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

Type: Surface


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
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: LENS


Structure

Type: R
Description: Wet Mountains

Type: L
Description: Nw-Trending Shear Zones


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

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


Comments

Comment (Location): PRIMARY LOCATION IS FOR HIDDEN VALLEY 1 CLAIM; IT LIES IN CLUSTER OF HILLS BETWEEN BONEYARD GULCH AND RALPH GULCH; HIDDEN VALLEY 4 NEAR NORTHERN HEADWATERS OF RALPH GULCH ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1976

Comment (Deposit): LENSES UP TO THREE FT WIDE; MOST CONTINUOUS BARITE VEIN IN AREA; WORKED ALONG STRIKE

Comment (Workings): TRENCHES

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, 527


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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