Montana Placer

The Montana Placer is a gold mine located in San Miguel county, Colorado at an elevation of 7,221 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: Montana Placer
Secondary: Patented Claims: Montana Placer, MS 4574
Secondary: Idaho Placer, MS 4574
Secondary: Dump Placer, MS 4574
Secondary: Old Channel Placer, MS 4574

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

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

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

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

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

Type: L
Description: Placerville Anticline, Black King Fault

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Holocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1700'S

Comment (Deposit): PLACER DEPOSIT LIES IN PROBABLE TERRACE GRAVEL REMNANT ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE PRESENT RIVER LEVEL.

Comment (Names): IN 1954 MOST OF THE MINING CLAIMS WERE CONSOLIDATED AND MANY RECEIVED NEW NAMES. REDMON (1961) LISTS THESE NEW NAMES AND LOCATIONS.

Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSITS OCCUR IN THE PETACA SCHIST MEMBER OF THE ORTEGA QUARTZITE

Comment (Development): THE EARLY SPANISH SETTLERS WERE THE FIRST MINERS IN THE AREA. THE MODERN EPOCH OF MINING DATES FROM ABOUT 1870.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF INCLINES, STOPES, AND NUMEROUS SURFACE OPEN CUTS, TRENCHES, AND PITS.

Comment (Location): CLAIMS LIE ALONG SAN MIGUEL RIVER BETWEEN SPECIE CREEK AND SALTADO CREEK. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR PROBABLE PLACER CUT ON SW SIDE OF RIVER IN NW NE SEC. 25 (FROM AIRPHOTO EXAMINATION). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

Comment (Workings): HILLSIDE CUT

Comment (Production): BINGLER (1968) ALSO GIVES ESTIMATED PRODUCTION FOR BISMUTITE, COLUMBITE AND MONAZITE.

Comment (Location): LOCATION IS ACCURATE FOR THE NORTH CRIBBENVILLE SHAFT. THE NORTH CRIBBENVILLE IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE CRIBBENVILLE GROUP. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1979

References

Reference (Deposit): PARKER, B.H., JR., 1974, GOLD PLACERS OF COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES QUART., V. 69, NO. 4, P. 172-184.

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

Reference (Deposit): BLM MINERAL SURVEY MS 4574

Colorado Mining Photos

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