Belle Champion Mine

The Belle Champion Mine is a silver, gold, lead, and zinc mine located in San Miguel county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,179 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: Belle Champion Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  San Miguel

Elevation: 8,179 Feet (2,493 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Gold, Lead, Zinc

Lat, Long: 37.99861, -107.99444

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 Belle Champion Mine

Belle Champion Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Belle Champion Mine
Secondary: Unpatented Claims: Belle Champion
Secondary: Golden Era


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc


Location

State: Colorado
County: San Miguel
District: Lower San Miguel District


Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

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: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Paradox Basin, Uncompahgre Uplift, San Juan Volcanic Field, San Miguel Mtns

Type: L
Description: Gray Head Fault, Gray Head Laccolith


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic

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

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Jurassic


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Limonite


Comments

Comment (Location): MINE LIES EAST OF UNNAMED TRIBUTARY OF SAN MIGUEL RIVER 0.4 MILE NE OF SAWPIT. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Deposit): TRIASSIC AND JURASSIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS CUT BY GRAY HEAD FAULT, WHICH AT MINE SITE TRENDS N 18 W, DOWNTHROWN ON NE. AT SAME PLACE, FAULT INTERSECTS GENERALLY EAST-WEST-TRENDING MICROGABBRO DIKE. PYROXENE MINETTE DIKE TRENDS PARALLEL TO AND 300 FT WEST OF FAULT. VEIN FOLLOWS DIKE ON GOLDEN ERA CLAIM; REPLACEMENT IN PONY EXPRESS LIMESTONE.

Comment (Workings): ONE TUNNEL HEADING GENERALLY EAST, EXTENT UNKNOWN


References

Reference (Deposit): BUSH, A.L., AND OTHERS, 1961, PRELIMINARY GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE GRAY HEAD QUADRANGLE, SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAP MF-176.

Reference (Deposit): HESS, F.L., 1913, NOTES ON THE VANADIUM DEPOSITS NEAR PLACERVILLE, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 530, P. 142-156.

Reference (Deposit): BUSH, A.L., AND OTHERS, 1959, AREAL GEOLOGY OF THE PLACERVILLE QUADRANGLE, SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS BULL. 1072-E, P. 376-377.


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.