Rico Mine

The Rico Mine is a gold, silver, lead, and copper mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 11,699 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: Rico Mine

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber 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.

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

Form: LENTICULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Sawatch Range, San Juan Volcanic Field, Rio Grande Rift

Type: L
Description: Bonanza Caldera

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Early Barren Stage Of Alteration By Fumarolic Or Acid-Hot Spring Activity Resulted In Intense Silicification, Wallrock Replacement By Jasper And Alteration Products Hematite, Diaspore, Alunite, Barite, Zunyite, Rutile, And Kaolin Minerals. Later Mineralizing Stage By Alkaline Or Neutral Solutions Deposited Ore And Gangue And Caused Micaceous Alteration (Sericite And Chlorite) And Calcite, Quartz, And Pyrite.

Rocks

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

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
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

Analytical Data: ORE SHIPMENTS RANGED 30 TO 120 OZ/TON AG, L.T. 1 TO 5% PB, 2 TO 4% CU, 0.2 TO 0.6 OZ/TON AU. ONE 15-TON SHIPMENT CARRIED 4.9% PB, 4.25% CU, 63 OZ/TON AG, 0.6 OZ/TON AU

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Stromeyerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcocite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Jasper

Comments

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ON NW SIDE OF ROUND MTN. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Development): MINE HAS YIELDED ONLY SMALL SHIPMENTS OF ORE

Comment (Deposit): ORE OCCURS AS SMALL LENSES AND POCKETS IN ARCUATE FAULT ZONE (ATTITUDE GIVEN ABOVE) CONCAVE TO SE AND FLATTENING WITH DEPTH. DECREASE IN FISSURE DIP AND NARROWNESS OF GOUGY SHEAR ZONE WERE NOT CONDUCIVE TO FORMATION OF WIDE OR CONTINUOUS ORE BODIES.

Comment (Workings): 130-FT-LONG CROSSCUT TUNNEL WITH 300 FT OF DRIFT ON VEIN ON TUNNEL LEVEL. 70-FT WINZE SUNK ON TUNNEL LEVEL. INITIAL PORTAL HEADING N70E.

References

Reference (Deposit): BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 169, 166 P.

Reference (Deposit): PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 9, 136 P.

Colorado Mining Photos

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