Mountain Boy Mine

The Mountain Boy Mine is a silver mine located in Custer county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,049 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: Mountain Boy Mine
Secondary: Jackpot No. 1
Secondary: Midnight

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc

Location

State: Colorado
County: Custer
District: Rosita Hills 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: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1882
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

Model Name: Epithermal veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Rosita Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns

Type: L
Description: Numerous Small Faults; Near Volcanic Vent; Near Bassick Breccia Pipes

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Strong Argillization, Very Bleached

Rocks

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

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT FOLLOWS TRACHYTE DIKE

Comment (Workings): TUNNEL DRIVEN IN TRACHYTE DIKE 3 TO 6 FT WIDE; TUNNEL RUNS NORTH PARALLEL TO DEMOCRAT TUNNEL; CROSSCUT TO DEMOCRAT TUNNEL AT ABOUT 435 FT FROM ENTRANCE; DRIFTS RUN FROM BOTH TUNNELS AT VARIOUS ANGLES

Comment (Geology): DECOMPOSED GLASS ALTERED TO CLAY FOUND IN PLACES

Comment (Location): SE OF MOUNT TYNDALL , 0.6 MILE DUE EAST OF QUERIDA ; IN THE NE/4 SEC. 21, T 22 S, R 71 W; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Reserve-Resource): A 1981 report suggested that low-grade, bulk-tonnage silver deposits may occur along the Mountain Boy-Contact vein. (Sunshine files)

References

Reference (Deposit): EMMONS, S.F., 1896, THE MINES OF CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 405-472.

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W.M., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SILVER CLIFF AND ROSITA VOLCANIC CENTERS, CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS MAPS I-1081.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.

Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, 1896, GEOLOGY OF SILVER CLIFF AND THE ROSITA HILLS, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN REPORT, PT 2, P. 263-403.

Colorado Mining Photos

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