Rico-Argentine Mine

The Rico-Argentine Mine is a zinc, lead, and silver mine located in Dolores county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,400 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

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Site Name

Primary: Rico-Argentine Mine
Secondary: Argentine Mine Encompassing Rico Consolidated
Secondary: Argentine Shaft
Secondary: Blackhawk Log Cabin
Secondary: James G. Blaine Tunnel
Secondary: Maggie Shaft
Secondary: Blacksmith Tunnel
Secondary: And Portion of St. Louis Tunnel

Commodity

Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Cadmium
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Sulfur-Pyrite
Tertiary: Tungsten
Tertiary: Beryllium
Tertiary: Manganese
Tertiary: Bismuth

Location

State: Colorado
County: Dolores
District: Pioneer (Rico) 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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Anaconda Copper Co.
Home Office: Rico, Co.
Years: 1980 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1879
Year Last Production: 1976
Discovery Year: 1877
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: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Form: TABULAR, LINEAR, IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin

Type: L
Description: Rico Dome, Blackhawk Fault, Hidden Fault, Allegheny Fissure, Last Chance Fault, Honduras Fault

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Alteration Of Mn-Bearing Carbonates To Mn Oxides; Oxidation Of Sulfide Ores To Carbonates; Oxidation Of Pyrite To Fe Oxides

Rocks

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene

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

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Latite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: RICO ARGENTINE MINE, 31.18% MN, 23.60% SIO2, 2.34% FE, 0.082% S, 0.027% P.
Analytical Data: CRUDE ORE MINED FROM 1917 TO 1950 CONTAINED 3.88 TO 15.87 OZ/TON AG, 5.7 TO 15.5% PB, 2 TO 22% ZN, 0.09 TO 4% CU, TRACE TO 0.159 OZ/TON AU. PB-ZN MILLING ORE MINED FROM 1939 TO 1950 CONTAINED 3.659 TO 5.818 OZ/TON AG, 6.37 TO 10.23% PB, 11.15 TO 17.2% ZN, 0.18 TO 1.06% CU, TRACE TO 0.015 OZ/TON AU. MUILENBURG'S (1919) ANALYSES OF MANGANIFEROUS LIMONITE AND OXIDES: RICO CONSOLIDATED DUMP, 25.25% MN, 44.40% SIO2, 3.27% FE, 0.602% S, 0.050% P

Materials

Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Hydrozincite
Ore: Limonite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Tennantite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Topaz
Gangue: Clinozoisite
Gangue: Aurichalcite
Gangue: Helvite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Rhodochrosite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Huebnerite
Gangue: Alabandite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1870S

Comment (Deposit): THICKNESS. I-J BED WAS WIDE BLANKET REPLACEMENT BORDERING DIRECTLY ON BLACKHAWK FAULT AND EXTENDING, AS SHOWN BY STOPES, UP TO 650 FT LONG DIAGONALLY DOWN DIP ALONG BEDDING AND UP TO 200 FT WIDE.

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY SEVERAL HILLSIDE TUNNELS AND BY SEVERAL SHAFTS OFF WHICH LEVELS DRIVEN AT 200, 400, 500, AND 600 FT. RANSOME'S (1901, P. 369, FIG. 66) DESCRIPTION OF OLDER BLACKHAWK WORKINGS INCLUDED (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) (APPROX TOTAL EXTENT): ,AGGIE INCLINED SHAFT (90 FT) FROM SURFACE TO C LEVEL (350 FT), B LEVEL (830 FT), A LEVEL (550 FT) (A, B, AND C LEVELS STOPED, CONNECTED BY WINZES AND RAISES), M LEVEL (600 FT), K LEVEL (370 FT) CONNECTED BY RAISE/WINZE TO BLACKSMITH LEVEL (1250 FT) CONNECTED BY RAISE/WINZE TO BUNKHOUSE LEVEL (280 FT), DINING ROOM LEVEL (240 FT), NO. 1 LEVEL (470 FT). FROM MCKNIGHT (1974, PL. 3) BLACKHAWK OR LOG CABIN PORTAL (ELEV 9742) LOCATED 900 FT SE OF ARGENTINE SHAFT, DRIVEN S 70 E FOR 440 FT ALONG BLACKHAWK FAULT WITH CROSSCUT DRIVEN NE AT 340 FT FROM PORTAL OFF WHICH PARALLEL DRIFT DRIVEN ON ALLEGHENY FISSURE FOR 1100 FT WITH TWO SOUTH AND CROSSCUTS BACK TO BLACKHAWK FAULT, ON WHICH DRIFT DRIVEN 480 FT; APPROX TOTAL EXTENT OF TUNNEL, CROSSCUT, AND

Comment (Development): BLACKHAWK MINE FIRST WORKED IN 1879 AND IN FOLLOWING YEARS, PRODUCED MUCH HIGH-GRADE OXIDIZED AG ORE; WORKED UNTIL ABOUT 1899. EARLY HISTORY OF ARGENTINE MINE UNKNOWN BUT ORIGINALLY WAS WORKED THROUGH SHAFT THAT WAS ABANDONED BEFORE 1900. LAST RECORDED PRODUCTION FROM RICO CONSOLIDATED MINE WAS 1916-1918 (RICO CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., PROVO, UT). LATER PRODUCTION RECORDED FOR ARGENTINE WAS 1917 (MARMATITE MINING AND MILLING CO.)., AND 1918 (SYNDICATE MINING AND MILLING CO.). ONLY SPORADIC PRODUCTION THROUGH 1920S AND 1930S. C.T. VAN WINKLE AND J.A. HOGLE INVESTMENT CO. OF SALT LAKE CITY REORGANIZED RICO-ARGENTINE MINING CO. AND BEGAN OPERATING BLAINE TUNNEL IN 1937. NEW FLOTATION MILL BUILT IN 1938 AFTER DISCOVERY OF LARGE PB-ZN ORE BODY, MINE BEGAN PRODUCTION IN 1939 AND WITHIN 10 YEARS, COMPANY HAD INCREASED HOLDINGS IN DISTRICT TO MORE THAN 3000 ACRES. PYRITE FOR VANADIUM PROCESSING BY VANADIUM CORP OF AMERICA (VCA) FIRST SHIPPED IN 1943-1945, AND SULFURIC ACID PLANT BUILT AT SITE

Comment (Deposit): BLACKHAWK FAULT, REPLACEMENTS STEEPEN AND APPEAR TO TURN UP INTO FISSURE. UPPER PORTIONS OF PYRITE BODIES OFTEN OXIDIZED AND CAVERNOUS, LEAVING RUSTY QUARTZ NETWORKS. MCKNIGHT (1974) IDENTIFIED 12 LIMESTONE BEDS (A THROUGH L) IN MIDDLE HERMOSA MINERALIZED LARGELY IN BLACKHAWK FAULT HANGING WALL. ORE BODIES LOCALIZED BY ZONES OF CROSS FRACTURES CUTTING LIMESTONES; BY BEDDING PLANE FAULTS; BY INTERSECTION OF TWO FAULTS; BY ALLEGHENY FISSURE, PARALLEL TO BLACKHAWK BUT WITH REVERSE MOVEMENT, DIPPING SW AND DOWNTHROWN ON NE, JOINING BLACKHAWK FAULT ABOVE BLAINE TUNNEL; BY HONDURAS WNW-TRENDING REVERSE FAULT NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH BLACKHAWK FAULT; AND BY SHATTERED ZONES ADJACENT TO LATITE PORPHYRY DIKES. ON BLAINE LEVEL, SMALL ORE BODIES IN BLACKHAWK FOOT WALL FOUND IN CLASTICS COMPLEXLY FAULTED IN ANGLE FORMED BY INTERSECTION OF BLACKHAWK AND LAST CHANCE FAULTS. ORE CAN REPLACE ALL OR PART OF LIMESTONE BED THICKNESS. ON 200 LEVEL, H BED MINERALIZATION ATTAINED 40 FT, COMPLETE BED

Comment (Workings): DRIVEN SW, CON CROSSCUT DRIVEN NE TO 112 AND 114 DRIFTS, 107 DRIFT, DRIFT ON HONDURAS FAULT, AND OTHER CROSSCUTS; APPROX TOTAL EXTENT OF TUNNEL, DRIFTS, AND CROSSCUTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 12200 FT. 200 LEVEL DEVELOPED OFF ARGENTINE, 517, AND NO. 3 SHAFTS, CONSISTS OF 201 DRIFT ON BLACKHAWK FAULT, 202, 208, 210, 211, AND 214 DRIFTS; APPROX EXTENT OF DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 5400 FT. 300 LEVEL DEVELOPED OFF ARGENTINE, 517, 1ND NO. 3 SHAFTS, CONSISTS OF 301 AND 302 DRIFTS ON BLACKHAWK FAULT, 306 AND 307 DRIFTS ON HONDURAS FAULT, 304 DRIFT ALONG RICO-ARGENTINE DIKE, 305, 307, AND 332 DRIFTS; APPROX EXTENT OF DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 6000 FT. 400 LEVEL DEVELOPED OFF 517 SHAFT, CONSISTS OF 401, 404, 406, AND 407 DRIFTS ASSOCIATED WITH BLACKHAWK FAULT; APPROX EXTENT OF DRIFTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 1400 FT. 500 LEVEL DEVELOPED ON ST. LOUIS TUNNEL OFF 517 SHAFT, CONSISTS OF 501 AND 502 DRIFTS ALONG BLACKHAWK FAULT; APPROX TOTAL EXTENT OF

Comment (Workings): DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 3600 FT. 600 LEVEL DEVELOPED OFF 517 SHAFT, CONSISTS OF DRIFT ALONG BLACKHAWK FAULT, APPROX EXTENT 1400 FT.

Comment (Workings): DRIFTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 3020 FT. RICO CONSOLIDATED LOWER TUNNEL LOCATED 550 FT ENE OF ARGENTINE SHAFT, INACCESSIBLE, EXTENT UNKNOWN. RICO CONSOLIDATED MIDDLE TUNNEL LOCATED 880 FT ESE OF ARGENTINE SHAFT, DRIVEN S 58 E FOR 90 FT, THENCE GENERALLY S 5 TO 25 E FOR 550 FT ALONG FAULT TO HONDURAS FAULT, ON WHICH DRIFT DRIVEN EAST-WEST FOR 810 FT CONNECTING WITH ARGENTINE TUNNEL; 210 DIRFT FAULT INTERSECTED 210 FT FROM PORTAL. ARGENTINE TUNNEL LOCATED 660 FT SE OF ARGENTINE SHAFT, DRIVEN GENERALLY SE AND SW FOR 350 FT TO HONDURAS FAULT; OTHER DRIFTS AND TUNNEL DRIVEN SOUTH AND SE ALONG MAGGIE FISSURE AND ALLEGHENY FISSURE (NORTH OF BLACKHAWK FAULT); APPROX EXTENT OF RICO CONSOLIDATED MIDDLE TUNNEL AND DRIFTS & ARGENTINE TUNNEL AND DRIFTS (EXCLUDING RAISES/WINZES) 1460 FT AND 5700 FT, RESPECTIVELY. BLAINE TUNNEL LOCATED 340 FT SW OF ARGENTINE SHAFT, DRIVEN GENERALLY S 70 E FOR 410 FT TO BLACKHAWK FAULT, ON WHICH MAIN (103) DRIFT DRIVEN GENERALLY SE FOR 3600 FT, OFF WHICH 102 DRIFT

Comment (Deposit): LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE, AND SHALE OF LOWER, MIDDLE, AND UPPER HERMOSA FM ARE INTRUDED BY HORNBLENDE LATITE PORPHYRY SILLS AND DIKES AND ARE CUT BY GENERALLY NW-TRENDING BLACKHAWK FAULT (DOWNTHROWN ON NE) AND HIDDEN FAULT, AND BY GENERALLY EAST-WEST-TRENDING HONDURAS FAULT (VERTICAL TO STEEPLY SOUTH DIPPING). MIDDLE AND UPPER HERMOSA STRATA DIP EAST AND NE IN BLACKHAWK HANGING WALL; LOWER AND MIDDLE HERMOSA STRATA DIP SEIN BLACKHAWK FOOTWALL. RANSOME (1901) DESCRIBED UPPER BLACKHAWK DEPOSITS AS SIMPLE FISSURE VEINS STRIKING N 70 W, 60 NE, & CONTAINING OXIDIZED AG ORE DOWN TO ABOUT M LEVEL. REPLACEMENT SULFIDES WORKED FROM LIMESTONES DIPPING NE AWAY FROM VEIN. SULFIDE BODIES UP TO 15 FT THICK EXTEND IRREGULARLY INTO LIMESTONE 50 TO 60 FT FROM VEIN AND CONSIST MOSTLY OF PYRITE CONTAINING IRREGULAR BODIES OF GALENA/SPHALERITE/CHALCOPYRITE/PYRITE IN FLUORITE GANGUE; ON PERIPHERY, ORE PASSES INTO LOWER GRADE MASSIVE GALENA AND SPHALERITE WITH SOME CHALCOPYRITE AND LITTLE GANGUE. NEAR

Comment (Development): OF ST. LOUIS TUNNEL IN 1953, AND DURING 1950S, ST. LOUIS TUNNEL WAS EXTENDED FARTHER SE INTO RICO-ARGENTINE WORKINGS. STREAM POLLUTION AND DECLINE IN URANIUM INDUSTRY IN 1960S FORCED CLOSURE OF PLANT IN 1964. UNDERGROUND MINING CEASED BY 1972, BUT PILOT DUMP-LEACH TESTS IN 1973 LED TO OPERATION OF CYANIDE LEACH PADS IN OLD ACID PLANT SETTLING PONDS IN 1974-1975. SMALL SMELTER RECOVERED AU-AG BULLION FROM CONCENTRATES. IN 1976 DUMP FROM SEVERAL SITES WAS MILLED, WITH TAILINGS PROCESSED IN LEACH PADS. ONLY ACTIVITY IN 1979 WAS CLEAN-UP, RETIMBERING, AND CORE DRILLING. PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY ANACONDA IN 1980.

Comment (Production): PARTIAL PRODUCTION RECORD. FIGURES UNAVAILABLE FOR EARLY YEARS OF ACTIVITY FROM BLACKHAWK, ARGENTINE, AND RICO CONSOLIDATED MINES, FIGURE FOR 1916 AND FIRST FIGURES FOR 1917 AND 1918 ARE REPORTED PRODUCTION FROM RICO CONSOLIDATED MINE; GRADE ONLY REPORTED IN 1917 BUT AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION CONSIDERED SMALL. AT RICO-ARGENTINE, NO PRODUCTION REPORTED IN 1919, 1937-1938, 1972-1973, AND AFTER 1978; NO CDM REPORTS OR NO PRODUCTION AMOUNT GIVEN FOR 1918, 1920-1924, 1926, 1930-1936, 1942, 1945 (FIGURES FOR CON PB AND CON ZN ONLY), 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963-1964, 1968, 1977-1978. LAST REPORTED PRODUCTION IN 1976. GRADE % PB AND ZN IN CON PB AND % PB, ZN AND CU IN CON ZN FOR 1940 CALCULATED FROM REPORTED LB METALS CONTAINED. PYR AND CD MAY HAVE BEEN RECOVERED IN MORE YEARS THEN INDICATED. WHERE HUNDREDTHS AND THOUSANDTHS ST AND OZ REPORTED IN CDM RECODS, ALL FIGURES CITED IN TABLE HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO NEAREST TENTH ST OR TENTH OZ. COMULATIVE TOTALS NOT FEASIBLE DUE TO INCONSISTENCY OF REPORTING ORE

Comment (Production): TONNAGES, CON, AND LB/OZ METALS. ANNUAL ORE MILLED FROM RICO-ARGENTINE USUALLY SUM OF AMOUNTS FROM VARIOUS UNSPECIFIED PROPERTIES. MILLING ORE FOR 1950 CREDITED TO ARGENTINE, MOUNTAIN SPRINGS, AND SILVERSWAN. TABLE EXCLUDES REPORTED PRODUCTION CREDITED TO ST. LOUIS TUNNEL AS THIS PRODUCTION COULD HAVE COME EITHER FROM RICO-ARGENTINE OR FROM CHC HILL PROPERTIES.

Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). PRINCIPAL MINE WORKINGS LIE ON SOUTH SIDE OF SILVER CREEK ABOVE ALLYN GULCH (UNSURVEYED SECTION). EVENTUAL CONSOLIDATION OF CLAIMS BY RICO-ARGENTINE COVERED OTHER AREAS OF DISTRICT, INCLUDING ENTERPRISE-NEWMAN MINE AREA ON NEWMAN HILL, AND SHAMROCK AND AZTEC MINES AREA WEST OF RICO. ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FOR ARGENTINE SHAFT JUST NORTH OF SILVER CREEK AND BELOW ROAD (NW SEC. 30) AND ARE FROM MCKNIGHT, 1974, PL. 1 (1930 BASE). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975

References

Reference (Deposit): MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723, P. 81-89.

Reference (Deposit): PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797.

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN, REPT., PT. 2, P. 368-372, 374.

Reference (Deposit): CROSS, WHITMAN, AND RANSOME, F.L., 1905, DESCRIPTION OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE: USGS FOLIO 130.

Reference (Deposit): MUILENBURG, G.A., 1919, MANGANESE DEPOSITS OF COLORADO: CGS BULL. 15, P. 48-49.

Reference (Deposit): COLORADO DIV. MINES INF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

Reference (Production): COLORADO DIV. MINES ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.

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