Unknown

The Unknown is a silica mine located in Big Horn county, Wyoming at an elevation of 4,452 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: Unknown

Commodity

Primary: Silica

Location

State: Wyoming
County: Big Horn

Land Status

Land ownership: Federal
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: Unknown

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Mining Method: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1927
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Early Cretaceous
Age Old: Early Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: composite sample from small quarry in upper thin-bedded unit: SiO2=95.10% , Fe2O3=0.28%, Al2O3=0.22%.

Materials

Not available

Comments

Comment (Geology): NO OVERBURDEN,OUTCROPS FOR APPROX ONE MILE ALONG A HOGBACK RIDGE - 30 FT THICK.

Comment (Geology): "The outcrop, which is approximately 300 ft wide, strikes N43W and dips 22 to 30 SW. No overburden is present. The rock is a yellowish-gray fine-grained moderately hard and well cemented cross-bedded quartz sandstone. The upper half of the outcrop is thin-bedded, while the lower half is massive or thick-bedded." (Bull. 50, p. 78)

Comment (Deposit): This is a glass sand deposit.

Comment (Production): "The quarry in the lower massive unit was the source of glass sand used in the Lovell glass factory, which was operated during the period 1918-1927. In 1926, it was reported that the Salem Company Cooperative Glass Co. manufactured window glass at Lovell utilizing sandsotne from this deposit." (Bull. 50, p. 78)

References

Reference (Deposit): WYO GEOL SURV BULL #50 1966 P 77-78.

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