Cat Creek Area

The Cat Creek Area is a silver, lead, and gold mine located in Conejos 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

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: Cat Creek Area
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Riverview
Secondary: Riverview No. 1
Secondary: Riverview No. 2
Secondary: Silver Dollar
Secondary: Star Nos. 1 Through 3
Secondary: Lj Nos. 1 Through 61
Secondary: Cat Nos. 1 Through 112

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Aluminum

Location

State: Colorado
County: Conejos
District: Cat Creek Area

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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: Anaconda Minerals Co. (Division Of Atlantic Richfield) (Cat Claims ; Cruson And Pansze (Lj Claims
Years: 1982 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: District
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Volcanic Field

Type: L
Description: Cat Creek Stock, Platoro Caldera, Unnamed Fault

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: See Comments

Rocks

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: LARSEN AND CROSS (1956) GIVE MICROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION OF MINERAL COMPOSITION OF MONZONITE: 72% CALCIC ANDESINE, 16% PERTHITE, 2% BIOTITE, 8% PYROXENE (NOW CALCITE AND CHLORITE), 2% MAGNETITE. LIPMAN (1975) GIVES TWO ANALYSES OF MONZONITE: 59.6 TO 63.2% SIO2, 16.7 TO 18.1% AL203, 2.7 TO 3.7% FE203, 2.6 TO 2.9% FEO, 2.1 TO 2.4% MGO, 4.05 TO 5.07% CAO, 3.7 TO 4.2% NA20, 3.1 TO 3.5% K20, 0.36 TO 0.81% TIO2, 0.34 TO 0.38% P205, 0.11% MNO, 2500 TO 2800 PPM BA, LT 2 PPM BE, 10 TO 28 PPM CO, 22 TO 200 PPM CR, 23 TO 34 PPM CU, 20 TO 40 PPM GA, 15 TO 19 PPM NI, 12 TO 21 PPM SC, 320 TO 480 PPM SR, 90 TO 200 PPM V, LT 40 PPM Y, LT 2 PPM YB, 160 TO 170 PPM ZR
Analytical Data: NORMS: 9.2 TO 16.4% QUARTZ, 18.3 TO 20.9% ORTHOCLASE, 31.7 TO 35.9% ALBITE, 17.8 TO 21.2% ANORTHITE, 0.61% WOLLASTONITE, 5.3 TO 5.9% ENSTATITE, 1.4 TO 1.8% FERROSILITE, 3.96 TO 5.4% MAGNETITE, 0.69 TO 1.5% ILMENITE, 0.81 TO 0.91% APATITE.

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Unknown: Alunite

Comments

Comment (Geology): GENERAL EVOLUTION OF PLATORO-SUMMITVILLE CALDERA (LIPMAN, 1975); (1) WIDESPREAD ANDESITIC-RHYODACITIC VOLCANISM AND VOLCANICLASTIC DEPOSITION FROM CLUSTER OF 6 TO 7 OLIGOCENE STRATOVOLCANOES; (2) ERUPTION OF LA JARA CANYON MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF QUARTZ LATITE (30-29 MY), INITIAL COLLAPSE OF PLATORO CALDERA, PONDING OF LATE LA JARA CANYON ASH FLOWS; (3) INITIAL ASYMMETRICAL RESURGENCE BOUNDED ON SE BY CALIFORNIA GULCH ARCUATE FAULT AND ON SW BY PLATORO FAULT ZONE HINGE LINE; (4) MOAT FILLING BY FISHER GULCH RHYODACITE AND LOWER SUMMITVILLE ANDESITE (29.8-29.1 MY) AND ASSOCIATED LAKE-DELTAIC SEDIMENTS; (5) ERUPTION OF OJITO CREEK MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF BEFORE MOAT FILLING COMPLETE, FOLLOWED BY INFERRED INITIAL COLLAPSE OF SUMMITVILLE CALDERA, BOUNDED ON SE BY CORNWALL FAULT RING FRACTURE TRUNCATING PLATORO RESURGENT BLOCK; (6) ERUPTION OF RA JADERO MBR OF TREASURE MTN TUFF FOLLOWED BY SECOND COLLAPSE OF SUMMITVILLE CALDERA, WITH RENEWED MOVEMENT AFTER ERUPTION OF UPPER SUMMITVILLE

Comment (Deposit): ON SOUTH AND SE BY PORPHYRITIC PHASE, ON MOST SIDES BY RADIATING RHYODACITE PORPHYRY DIKES, AND BY SEVERAL SATELLITIC MONZONITE AND RHYODACITE PORPHYRY LACCOLITHS. SEQUENCE LAST INTRUDED BY ANDESITE PORPHYRY DIKES. GENERALLY N 40 E-TRENDING FAULT ONE MILE SE OF STOCK DOWNDROPS OLDER TREASURE MTN TUFF QUARTZ LATITE ASH OUTFLOWS ON SE AGAINST PRECALDERA CONEJOS FM. LIPMAN (1974) MAPS HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION IN SOUTH HALF OF MONZONITE STOCK, EXTENDING THROUGH PORPHYRITIC PHASE, AND SE ACROSS CONEJOS FM, THE FAULT, AND AFFECTING DOWNDROPPED TREASURE MTN TUFF. CDM MINE INFORMATION REPORTS INDICATE PRESENCE OF VEINS CONTAINING AU, AG, AND PB. QUARTZ-PYRITE VEIN OCCURRENCE IS SUGGESTED.

Comment (General): Not a site. But not really a deposit or district either. A rather nebulous area of interest covering as much as 15 sq. miles.

Comment (Workings): PROSPECTS DEVELOPED BY SURFACE PITS, SHAFT, AND CROSSCUT TUNNELS

Comment (Deposit): ONE RECORD PREPARED FOR RIVERVIEW OR EL RICO MINE (NONPRODUCER; LOCATION UNCERTAIN) ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Geology): GRANDE DEPRESSION IN SAN LUIS VALLEY.

Comment (Location): AREA LIES NORTH OF TERRACE RESERVOIR ALONG UPPER CAT CREEK DRAINAGE ABOVE DEER CREEK CONFLUENCE AND INCLUDES PORTIONS OF NORTH FORK AND SOUTH FORK (CAT CREEK) AND ALL OF WILLOW CREEK. BOUNDED ON NORTH BY DEER CREEK AND ON SOUTH BY CAT CREEK-ALAMOSA RIVER DIVIDE. AREA ACCESSIBLE VIA ROAD ALONG ALAMOSA RIVER SE FROM JASPER AND NW FROM CAPULIN; ALSO VIA ROAD AND TRAIL UP SOUTH FORK ROCK CREEK SW FROM MONTE VISTA. AREA ALSO EXTENDS ONTO TERRACE RESERVOIR QUAD. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR JUNCTION OF NORTH AND SOUTH FORKS CAT CREEK, APPROX CENTER OF INTRUSIVE COMPLEX (SE SEC. 33, T37N, R6E). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1977

Comment (Deposit): CAT CREEK STOCK LIES 3 MILES EAST OF EASTERN RIM OF PLATORO CALDERA AND IS BELIEVED TO REPRESENT INTRUSIVE CORE OF STRATOVOLCANO THAT ERUPTED GREEN RIDGE VOLCANICS. ERUPTIONS WERE ONE OF SERIES OF IGNEOUS EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED COLLAPSE OF SUMMITVILLE CALDERA (SEE CALDERA EVOLUTION STAGES 7 AND 8 UNDER GEOLOGY COMMENTS). IN CONTRAST TO JASPER, ALAMOSA RIVER, AND SOUTH MTN STOCKS EMPLACED WITHIN CALDERA COMPLEX, CAT CREEK AND CRATER STOCKS WERE EMPLACED OUTSIDE. PRESERVED CORE OF RHYOLITE LAVAS AND BRECCIAS (LOWER GREEN RIDGE VOLCANICS) CUTS THROUGH OLDER PRECALDERA CONEJOS FM FLOWS AND BRECCIAS. ANDESITE-RHYODACITE AND PORPHYRITIC RHYODACITE FLOWS AND BRECCIAS IN UPPER GREEN RIDGE UNITS ARE DISTRIBUTED PRINCIPALLY TO WEST BENEATH SILVER, SHEEP, AND WINDY MOUNTAINS AND BENNETT PEAK JUST INSIDE NE RIM OF PLATORO CALDERA, AND TO NE ON AND NE OF GREEN RIDGE AND INTERFINGERING WITH ITS OWN DERIVED VOLCANICLASTICS (TERMED LOS PINOS FM). IRREGULARLY INTRUDING CORE IS MONZONITE STOCK, ENCLOSED

Comment (Geology): ANDESITE; (7) PROLONGED INTERMEDIATE-SILICIC POSTCOLLAPSE VOLCANISM (OLIGOCENE-MIOCENE) AROUND CALDERA MARGINS--(A) ALAMOSA RIVER MONZONITE STOCK (29.1 MY), (B) RHYODACITE OF PARK CREEK (27.8-26.7 MY), (C) GREEN RIDGE VOLCANICS (27.8-27.4 MY), (D) UPPER RHYODACITE OF PARK CREEK (LT 26.5 MY), (E) QUARTZ LATITE PORPHYRY DIKES (25.8 MY), (F) QUARTZ LATITE OF SOUTH MTN (22.8 MY), (G) RHYOLITE OF CROPSY MTN (20.2 MY); (8) ALAMOSA RIVER STOCK AND JASPER STOCK INTRUDED ALONG SOUTH AND EAST SUMMITVILLE CALDERA RING FRACTURES, CRATER CREEK STOCK PERIPHERAL ON WEST, CAT CREEK STOCK REMOTE TO EAST; (9) NW-TRENDING CALDERA-RELATED STRUCTURES RENEWED BY INFERRED GENERAL RESURGENCE OF COMPOSITE BATHOLITH BENEATH ENTIRE SE SAN JUAN CALDERA CLUSTER, MANIFESTED BY RIO GRANDE FAULT ZONE (BRABEN), PASS CREEK-ELWOOD CREEK FAULT ZONE, PLATORO FAULT ZONE, SUMMITVILLE FAULT; (10) N-TRENDING LATE CENOZOIC EXTENSIONAL BLOCK FAULTING RELATED TO GENERAL EASTWARD TILTING OF VOLCANIC FIELD TOWARD DEVELOPING RIO

Comment (Development): DISCOVERY DATE UNKNOWN AS NO HISTORICAL NOTES FOUND AND NO CLAIMS EVER PATENTED IN AREA. CDM INFORMATION REPORTS CITE ONLY DEVELOPMENT WORK IN 1936 AND 1940 AT RIVERVIEW OR EL RICO MINE (LOCATION UNCERTAIN). NUMEROUS UNPATENTED CLAIMS LOCATED IN 1981-82 BY SEVERAL CONCERNS.

References

Reference (Deposit): LIPMAN, P.W., 1974, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE PLATORO CALDERA AREA, SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS MAP I-828.

Reference (Deposit): LIPMAN, P.W., 1975, EVOLUTION OF THE PLATORO CALDERA COMPLEX AND RELATED VOLCANIC ROCKS, SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 852.

Reference (Deposit): LIPMAN, P.W., AND STEVEN, T.A., 1970, RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGY AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLATORO CALDERA, SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 700-C, P. C19-C 29.

Reference (Deposit): LARSEN, E.S., JR., AND CROSS, WHITMAN, 1956, MONZONITE OF CAT CREEK, IN GEOLOGY AND PETROLOGY OF THE SAN JUAN REGION, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 258, P. 110.

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MONES INF. REPTS.

Reference (Deposit): BLM UNPATENTED CLAIM RECORDS

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