Now What Mine

The Now What Mine is a lead, zinc, silver, and copper mine located in Saguache county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,692 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: Now What Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Secondary: 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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Bonanza Mining And Milling Co.
Years: 1927 -

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

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
Age Young: Oligocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: VEIN SAMPLES CONTAINED AVERAGE 5.1% PB, 5.8% ZN, 1.0% CU, 8.5 OZ/TON AG, 0.025 OZ/TON AU. 46-TON ORE SHIPMENT CONTAINED 5.5% PB, 0.6% CU, 8 OZ/TON AG, 0.026 OZ/TON AU.

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Barite

Comments

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY TWO ADITS, AT ELEVS. 9690 AND 9770 FT. UPPER ADIT DRIVEN GENERALLY S85E FOR 140 FT ALONG VEIN. AT 10 FT INSIDE PORTAL, WINZE SUNK APPROX. 80 FT TO LOWER LEVEL. LOWER ADIT DRIVEN GENERALLY EASTWARD FOR 600 FT ALONG VEIN TO CAVED AREA. WINZE FROM UPPER LEVEL INTERSECTS LOWER TUNNEL AT POINT 340 FT FROM PORTAL. TWO OTHER WINZES OF UNKNOWN DEPTH SUNK FROM LOWER TUNNEL AT 220 AND 260 FT FROM PORTAL.

Comment (Location): S-T-R, LAT-LONG, AND ELEV. TAKEN FROM BURBANK'S (1932) PLATE 1 (SCALE 1:12000). MINE OR CLAIM LIES ALONG COPPER GULCH 500 FT NW OF LIBERTY MINE. ELEV GIVEN FOR LOWER PORTAL. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1976)

Comment (Production): PATTON REPORTS PRODUCTION OF APPROX. 30 TONS OF AG-PB ORE FOR PERIOD 1881-1900.

Comment (Deposit): 5 OR 6 CROSS FAULTS OFFSET MAIN VEIN (ATTITUDE ABOVE). NOW WHAT VEIN IS WIDER AND HIGHER IN SULFIDES AT SOME OF THESE INTERSECTIONS.

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.