Blanca Mine

The Blanca Mine is a gold mine located in Alamosa county, Colorado at an elevation of 12,001 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

Name: Blanca Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Alamosa

Elevation: 12,001 Feet (3,658 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 37.57417, -105.50056

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Blanca Mine

Blanca Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Blanca Mine


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Tellurium
Tertiary: Bismuth
Tertiary: Silver


Location

State: Colorado
County: Alamosa
District: Blanca 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
Deposit Type: Vein
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

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Sierra Blanca Massif, Rio Grande Rift Zone, Ft. Garland Embayment

Type: L
Description: Sangre De Cristo Frontal Fault


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Tertiary


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Not available


Comments

Comment (Location): ALONG HOLBROOK CREEK. LAT-LONG GIVEN IS CENTER OF SEC. 35. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1975)

Comment (Commodity): HESSITE AND ALTAITE MAY ALSO BE PRESENT. TELLURIDES CHARACTERISTIC OF DISTRICT.

Comment (Production): TRIAL SHIPMENTS OF A FEW TONS OF GOLD ORE

Comment (Development): TRIAL SHIPMENTS OF ORE MADE

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: SMALL VEINS


References

Reference (Deposit): HENDERSON, C.W., 1926, USGS PROF. PAPER 138, P. 110

Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E.B., 1961, USGS BULL. 1114, P. 322-323.

Reference (Deposit): VANDERWILT, J.W., 1947, MINERAL RESOURCES OF COLORADO: COLO. MINERAL RESOURCES BD., P. 31

Reference (Deposit): JOHNSON, R.B., 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE TRINIDAD QUADRANGLE, SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO: USGS MAP 1-558.


Colorado Mining Photos

Placer mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado ca. 1892

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