Mt. Emmons

The Mt. Emmons is a molybdenum mine located in Gunnison county, Colorado at an elevation of 9,806 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: Mt. Emmons  

State:  Colorado

County:  Gunnison

Elevation: 9,806 Feet (2,989 Meters)

Commodity: Molybdenum

Lat, Long: 38.8689, -107.03860

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 Mt. Emmons

Mt. Emmons MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Mt. Emmons
Secondary: Crested Butte
Secondary: Daisey Mine
Secondary: Daisey
Secondary: Chautauqua
Secondary: Mt. Emmons/Crested Butte
Secondary: Lucky Jack


Commodity

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


Location

State: Colorado
County: Gunnison
District: Elk Mountain District


Land Status

Land ownership: Mixed
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

Type: Other
Type: Located Claim
Type: Patented


Workings

Type: Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Phelps Dodge Corp (Freeport-McMoran Copper
Percent: 100.0
Info Year: 1999
Years: 1999 - 2006

Owner Name: US Energy Corp
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: 877 North 8th West Riverton WY 82501
Info Year: 2011
Years: 2006 -

Owner Name: Cyprus-Amax Minerals Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1985

Owner Name: U.S. Energy And Crested Butte Corp.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1987
Years: 1985 - 1987

Owner Name: U.S. Energy And Crested Butte Corp. (6% Gross Royalty Int)
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1987
Years: 1987 -

Owner Name: Cyprus-Amax Minerals Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1996
Years: 1987 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Climax Mo
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Caving Methods - Block Caving
Milling Method: Flotation
Discovery Year: 1976
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y


Physiography

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


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Climax Mo


Orebody

Form: Arcuate Dome


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Not available


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Unknown: Cassiterite
Unknown: Galena
Unknown: Huebnerite
Unknown: Molybdenite
Unknown: Sphalerite


Comments

Comment (Reserve-Resource): AMAX, INC. RETURNED THE EMMONS PROPERTY TO U.S.ENERGY AND CRESTED BUTTE CONTROL IN 1985. IN 1987, AMAX INC. REGAINED 100% CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY FROM U.S. ENERGY AND CRESTED BUTTE AFTER A SERIES OF FINACIAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE THREE FIRMS.

Comment (Production): MOS2 CONCENTRATE IS ASSUMED TO BE THE SAME GRADE AS HENDERSON ORE.

Comment (Production): YIELDS DATA SET 90-PERCENT RECOVERY IS BASED ON THE HENDERSON MILL. ACTUAL RECOVERY MAY BE HIGHER.

Comment (Economic Factors): THE FACILITY AT LANGELOTH, PENN. IS A CONVERSION PLANT THAT CONVERTS MOS2 CONCENTRATE INTO MOLYBDENUM TRIOXIDE. CONCENTRATE WILL BE TRUCKED FROM THE MILL TO A TRANSFER FACILITY AT MONTROSE, CO. WHERE IT IS LOADED ONTO TRAINS FOR TRANSPORT TO LANGLOTH, PENN.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Q1 COL1 P-50 LEVEL WAS INCREASED 15 PERCENT ABOVE THE P-75 LEVEL AND THE P-25 LEVEL WAS INCREASED 15 PERCENT ABOVE THE P-50 LEVEL. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR Q9 COL4.

Comment (General): The property consisted of 2,209 ha of mineral claims, including 148 ha of patented claims granted in 2004. (Kobex PR 10/10/06)

Comment (Workings): THE MINING DISTRICT JOINS THE RUBY MINING DISTRICT IN THIS AREA. POSSIBLE OVERLAP.

Comment (Deposit): THE MILS SET "POINT OF REFERENCE" REFERS TO THE PORTAL OF THE KEYSTONE MINE WHICH IS BEING USED FOR ACCESS TO THE OREBODY. THE MINE ENTRANCE IS LOCATED ON MT. AXTELL QUAD. AND THE OREBODY IS ON OH-BE-JOYFUL QUAD. THIS PROPERTY WAS REVIEWED BY RC SMITH, 4-87. AT THIS TIME, AMAX HAS RENEGOTIATED THE LEASE AGREEMENT AND CONTINUES TO CONTROL THE PROPERTY. THERE ARE NO PLANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE PROPERTY. AMAX ONLY PLANS TO CONTROL THE PROPERTY.


References

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc Press Release 8/19/08 Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc 12/08 Annual Report 3/19/09 Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc Press Release 1/25/10 Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc Press Release 7/15/10 Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc Press Release 8/5/10 Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc Press Release 4/25/11

Reference (Reserve-Resource): RANDOL MINING DIREC. 1994/95.

Reference (Deposit): THE SUNDAY CAMERA, COMMENTARY BY J. EDWARD MURRAY, TITLE: COLORADO REVIEW PROCESS FACES ITS FIRST REAL TEST, SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1979, P. 15.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): AMERICAN MINES HANDBOOK 1994. CRESTED CORP. P. 64.

Reference (Deposit): MSHA LIST OF 1-17-80 SHOWS TWO ID NUMBERS; 0503142 IS SHOWN AS PAST PRODUCER (MOLY) AND 91 EMPLOYEES AND 0500409 AS ACTIVE WITH 70 EMPLOYEES (MOLY).

Reference (Deposit): REVISED BY MILS TO SHOW MSHA INFORMATION 3-80

Reference (Deposit): MOUNT EMMONS AMAX INC., MAKING A MINE AT MT. EMMONS, GENERAL PAMPHLET ABOUT THE MT. EMMONS PROJECT. NO DATE.

Reference (Deposit): AMAX PRESS RELEASE, AUGUST 17, 1977.

Reference (Deposit): SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW, AMAX PAYS U.S. ENERGY AND CRESTED BUTTE FOR MOLY CLAIMS, JANUARY 27, 1979, P. 5.

Reference (Deposit): THE MINING RECORD, AMAX NEGOTIATING TO ACQUIRE MT. EMMONS MINERAL INTERESTS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1979, P. 1.

Reference (Deposit): Thomas, J.A., and Galey, J.T., Jr., 1982, Exploration and geology of the Mt. Emmons molybdenite deposits, Gunnison County, Colorado: Economic Geology, v. 77, p. 1085?1104.
Pages: p. 1085?1104
URL: http://econgeol.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/77/5/1085?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&author1=galey&andorexacttitle=and&field_name=fulltext&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&fdate=10/1/1981&tdate=9/30/1983&resourcetype=HWCIT

Reference (Deposit): Dowsett, F. R., Jr., M. W. Ganster, D. E. Ranta, D. J. Baker, and H. J. Stein, 1981, Geology of the Mount Emmons molybdenum deposit, Crested Butte, Colorado; in: New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook, 32nd Field Conference, Western slope Colorado--western Colorado and eastern Utah, 1981, pp. 325-332.
Pages: pp. 325-332.
URL: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/Abstract.cfm?PaperID=1132


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.