Cave Basin area

The Cave Basin area is a silver, copper, and lead mine located in La Plata county, Colorado.

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: Cave Basin area
Secondary: includes Mary Murphy, Holbrook, and Silver Reef mines

Commodity

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

Location

State: Colorado
County: La Plata
District: Cave Basin area

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.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Description: 50 ft-thick bed of hematitic sandy limestone
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleozoic
Age Old: Paleozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Siderite
Ore: Azurite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcocite
Unknown: Limonite
Unknown: Hematite
Unknown: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Colorado mineralized area map shows Cave Basin to be Au-Te veins, not polymetallic replacements.

Comment (Deposit): Mineralized area Includes Holbrook, Mary Murphy, and Silver Reef mines.

References

Reference (Deposit): Steven and others, 1969, Mineral Resources of the San Juan Primitive area, Colorado: USGS Bull. 1261-F, p. 113, fig.7, p. 110.

Reference (Deposit): Neubert and others, 1992, MIneral appraisal of the San Juan National Forest: USBM MLA 2-92, p. 243-244, pl. 2.

Reference (Deposit): Korzeb and Scott, 1985, Mineral investigation of the Weminuche Wilderness additions, Hinsdale, La Plata, MIneral, and San Juan counties, Colorado: USBM MLA 19-85, p. 17-18, pl. 2, fig. 8, p. 69.

Colorado Mining Photos

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