Old Settler Mine

The Old Settler Mine is a silver, gold, and copper mine located in Clear Creek county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,799 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: Old Settler Mine  

State:  Colorado

County:  Clear Creek

Elevation: 8,799 Feet (2,682 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Gold, Copper

Lat, Long: 39.74833, -105.57667

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 Old Settler Mine

Old Settler Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Old Settler Mine
Secondary: Old Settler Tunnel
Secondary: Old Settler Mine & Tunnel


Commodity

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


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

Year: 1954
Mined: 27.550 mt
Material type: ore
Year: 1937
Time Period: 1934-37
Mined: 153.530 mt
Material type: ore
Year: 1909
Mined: 5.900 mt
Material type: ore


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1860
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: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Limonite


Comments

Comment (Commodity): Low-grade uranium detected in limonitic vein material.

Comment (Geology): Old Settler vein trends E-W and dips moderately to north.

Comment (Location): Mine and adit are in NE sec. 32, T 3 S, R 73 W, on the ridge between Trail Creek and Turkey Gulch and about 3 miles west of Idaho Springs. Old Settler Tunnel is 500 feet to the NW.

Comment (Production): Considerable, but unquantified, production of gold from rich ore near the surface in the 1860s. Minor production recorded from 1934 to 1951.


References

Reference (Deposit): Spurr, J. E., Garrey, G. H., and Ball, S. H., 1908, Economic geology of the Georgetown quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 63, 422 p.

Reference (Commodity): URANIUM DATA FROM AEC PRR-1616, EXAMINED IN 1952

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): Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.


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.