Bell Hamilton Mine

The Bell Hamilton Mine is a silver and copper mine located in Montezuma county, Colorado at an elevation of 10,098 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: Bell Hamilton Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Montezuma

Elevation: 10,098 Feet (3,078 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Copper

Lat, Long: 37.49083, -108.05861

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 Bell Hamilton Mine

Bell Hamilton Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Bell Hamilton Mine


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper


Location

State: Colorado
County: Montezuma
District: Bear Creek 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

Type: Underground


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1882
Year Last Production: 1932
Discovery Year: 1882
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: Navajo Section


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Form: LENSES, SEAMS, PEBBLE-LIKE MASSES


Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift (San Juan Mountains), La Plata Mountains Dome

Type: L
Description: Faults, Fractures Parallel To Dike For 10 To 20 Ft


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Hydrothermal Alteration, Bleaching


Rocks

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Triassic

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Triassic

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


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SORTED ORE CONTAINED 25-30% CU
Analytical Data: UNSORTED ORE REPORTED TO CONTAIN 4-5% CU


Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Silver
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Limonite


Comments

Comment (Production): According to PP-219, p. 91: "Apparently no ore was ever shipped from the property, and no minable ore was observed by the writer"

Comment (Production): APPARENTLY "CONSIDERABLE SORTED COPPER ORE CONTAINING 25% CU WAS AT ONE TIME STACKED ON THE DUMP BUT WAS CARRIED AWAY BY A CLOUDBURST". NO REPORT OF SHIPPED ORE HAS BEEN FOUND.

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT WITHIN 40 FT OF BORDERS OF MONZONITE PORPHYRY DIKE; SOMETIMES CHALCOCITE DISSEMINATED ALONG BEDDING CLOSE TO CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, LOCALLY REPLACING LIMESTONE PEBBLES

Comment (Workings): TWO CROSSCUT TUNNELS, 100 AND 300 FT LONG, BOTH CAVED IN 1932; ONE 25-FT TUNNEL ALONG a FAULT.

Comment (Geology): ALL OF THE DEPOSITS IN THIS AREA ARE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MONZONITE DIKES.

Comment (Location): Location from PP-219, pl. 13 transferred to La Plata 7.5' topo. At 10,100 ft. elevation.

Comment (Commodity): MALACHITE COATS CHALCOCITE AND FRACTURE SURFACES AS A MINOR CONSTITUENT


References

Reference (Deposit): GODDARD, E.N., 1949, COPPER DEPOSITS OF THE BEAR CREEK DISTRICT, IN ECKEL, E.B., 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219, P. 70-72, 90-91, pl. 13, #4.

Reference (Deposit): BURCHARD, H.C., 1883, REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINT FOR 1882, P. 508.


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.