Argonaut Mine

The Argonaut Mine is a silver, lead, and copper mine located in Dolores county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,996 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: Argonaut Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Colorado
County: Dolores
District: Pioneer (Rico) District

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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: Canyon Lands

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin

Type: L
Description: Rico Dome

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

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

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): LOWER CROSSCUT TUNNEL DRIVEN SW FOR 125 FT TO VEIN, WITH 150 FT OF ACCESSIBLE DRIFT ON VEIN TRENDING N 40 E; STOPED THROUGH TO UPPER TUNNEL, WHICH LIES 50 FT HIGHER AND OF UNKNOWN EXTENT.

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON SOUTH SIDE OF SULPHUR CREEK 0.35 MILE ABOVE DOLORES RIVER CONFLUENCE (UNSURVEYED SECTION). ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FROM MCKNIGHT, 1974, PL. 1 (1930 BASE). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Deposit): LODE CUT IN LOWER TUNNEL TRENDS N 40 E, 60 NW AND CONSISTS OF BASE-METAL SULFIDES AND PYRITE IN GANGUE OF SPONGY, VUGGY QUARTZ OCCURRING ON BOTH FOOT AND HANGING WALLS. VEIN CUTS THROUGH TOP OF PORPHYRY, BUT OVERLYING BRECCIATED SHALE AND SILICIFIED LIMESTONE APPARENTLY CONTAIN NO ORE.

References

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 360.

Reference (Deposit): MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT,COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723.

Reference (Deposit): PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797.

Colorado Mining Photos

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