Franklin Mine

The Franklin Mine is a silver, gold, zinc, and lead mine located in Clear Creek county, Colorado at an elevation of 12,398 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: Franklin Mine
Secondary: Franklin Shaft No.87
Secondary: Franklin Shaft No. 73
Secondary: Franklin Mines also includes: Gem, Freighter's Friend, Alpha, Reilly, Freeman, Seaton, and Silver Ag

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: Clear Creek
District: Idaho Springs District

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: Underground
Mining Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Rhodochrosite

Comments

Comment (Location): In Gilson Gulch, east of Seaton Mtn., about 1-1/2 miles north of Idaho Springs, near the center of sec. 25, T 3 S, R 73 W.

Comment (Names): Franklin Mines also includes: Gem, Freighters Friend, Alpha, Reilly, Freeman, Seaton, and Silver Age mines

Comment (Ownership): Franklin Mining. Inc. (2006)

Comment (Production): One of the more productive mines in the district, the mine is credited with output valued at more than $1 milllion before 1900. It was worked more recently in the 1980s.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): A modest resource was reported in 1997 of 177,000 tons grading 0.38 oz/ton gold, 0.70 oz/ton silver, 0.5% copper, 4% lead, and 4% zinc. (USGS OFR 98-206)

Comment (Commodity): Average assays from 130 lots representing 1,374 tons of ore, produced between 1888 and 1910, showed average gold content of 0.146 oz/ton, silver 22.74 oz/ton, with up to 38% lead and 18% zinc.

Comment (Geology): Lead-zinc fissure vein trends E-W and dips to N; associated with porphyry dikes, cutting Precambrian gneiss.

References

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Long, K. R., DeYoung, J. H., Jr., and Ludington, S. D., 1998, Database of significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the United States: Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-206, pt. B.

Reference (Deposit): MESA MET-NONMET MINE FILE REF OWNER-OP-MONT-KE MINES INC

Reference (Deposit): Bastin, E. S., and Hill, J. M., 1917, Economic geology of Gilpin County and adjacent parts of Clear Creek and Boulder Counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 94, 379 p.

Reference (Deposit): Moench, R. H., and Drake, A. A., Jr., 1966, Economic geology of the Idaho Springs district, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1208, 91 p.

Reference (Deposit): Franklin Mining, Inc., information accessed from the Internet on 5/5/06.

Reference (Deposit): REF:MAS

Colorado Mining Photos

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