Exchequer Mine

The Exchequer Mine is a silver, copper, and gold mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,839 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: Exchequer Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Gold

Location

State: Colorado
County: Saguache
District: Bonanza (Kerber Creek)

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
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Southern Rocky Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

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: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: FREE MILLING ORE REPORTEDLY CARRIED 50 TO 90 OZ/TON AG

Materials

Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Rhodochrosite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): EXCHEQUER VEIN DIPS AT LOW ANGLE, IS GOUGE FILLED, AND CONTAINS LITTLE OR NO MINERALIZED MATTER. THE HANGING WALL, HOWEVER, CONTAINS STEEPER FRACTURES TRENDING N45E, 45 TO 55 SE, AND CONTAINING SMALL MINERALIZED SEAMS. VEIN HAS CU MINERALIZATION SIMILAR TO COCOMONGO MINE BUT FAULT HAS CONSIDERABLY LESS DIP AND IS NOT AS WELL MINERALIZED.

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ALONG KERBER CR. SE OF BONANZA MINE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Production): PATTON REPORTS APPROX. 500 TONS ORE PRODUCED FROM 1881 TO 1900, WITH VALUES IN AU AND AG, LITTLE APPARENT PRODUCTION SINCE 1900.

Comment (Workings): OLD SHAFT INCLINED AT 26.5 DEG EASTWARD AND APPROX. 400 FT DEEP TO EXCHEQUER VEIN. TUNNEL PORTAL IS 360 FT SSW OF SHAFT AND DRIVEN AT INITIAL HEADING OF N23E FOR 105 FT, THENCE N10W FOR 75 FT. AT 140FT, CROSSCUT IS DRIVEN AT N71E FOR 415 FT, INTERSECTING VEIN AT 370 FT. DRIFT FOLLOWS VEIN NORTHWESTWARD FOR 130 FT AND THEN CONTINUES GENERALLY NORTHWARD FOR AT LEAST 650 FT APPARENTLY TO ANOTHER PORTAL.

References

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

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

Colorado Mining Photos

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