Mine detail: California District

Previously called 'La Plata District'

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Location

Lat / long:

37.39941, -108.06425

Resource(M)

Primary:	Copper, Lead, Silver, Gold
Secondary:	Mercury, Vanadium, Uranium, Zinc
Tertiary:	Tellurium, PGE, Iron
Discovery year:	1700

Production

Operation type:	Unknown
Deposit type:	VEIN, DISSEMINATION, REPLACEMENT, CONTACT METAMORPHIC, PLACER, WEATHERING RESIDUAL (BOG)
Production size:	Small
Development status:	Producer
First production started:	1873
Last production ended:	1980

Geology

Structure:

LA PLATA DOME, MAYDAY-IDAHO FAULT SYSTEM, PARROTT FAULT SYSTEM, SAN JUAN UPLIFT, FOUR CORNERS PLATFORM

Alteration processes:

ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (A) SERICITIZATION AND KAOLINITIZATION OF FELDSPAR IN PORPHYRY., ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS:(A) SERICITIZATION AND KAOLINITIZATION OF FELDSPAR IN PORPHYRY, ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (B) CHLORITIZATION OF FERROMAGNESIAN MINERALS., ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (C) LIMONITIZATION OF FERROMAGNESIAN MINERALS., ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (D) SILIFICATION OF PORPHYRY AND SEDIMENTARY WALL ROCK NEAR ORE VEINS. OXIDATION OF AURIFEROUPYRITE AND CU SULFIDES. CONTACT METAMORPHISM NEAR NONPORPHYRITIC INTRUSIVES: (A) SILIFICATION OF SANDSTONES, (B) HORNFELSIZATION OF SHALE AND MUSTONE, (C) CALCITIZATION IN LIMESTONE AND LIMY NODULES, (D) GRAPHITIZATION OF CARBONACEOUS BEDS IN CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS., ALTERATION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS: (D) OXIDATION OF AURIFEROUPYRITE AND CU SULFIDES. CONTACT METAMORPHISM NEAR NONPORPHYRITIC INTRUSIVES: (A) SILIFICATION OF SANDSTONES, (B) HORNFELSIZATION OF SHALE AND MUSTONE, (C) CALCITIZATION IN LIMESTONE AND LIMY NODULES, (D) GRAPHITIZATION OF CARBONACEOUS BEDS IN CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS.

References

MRDS	D010861
DEP	60000378
Reference	{Deposit:: ECKEL, E.B., AND OTHERS, 1949, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 219.}{Deposit:: CROSS, WHITMAN, AND OTHERS, 1899, DESCRIPTION OF THE LA PLATA QUADRANGLE: USGS FOLIO 60.}{Deposit:: ECKEL, E.B., 1938, COPPER ORES OF THE LA PLATA DISTRICT, COLORADO, AND THEIR PLATINUM CONTENT: COLORADO SCI. SOC. PROC., V. 12, NO. 12, P. 647-664.}{Deposit:: PARKER, B.H., JR., 1974, GOLD PLACERS OF COLORADO: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES QUART., V. 69, NO. 4, P. 194-197.}{Deposit:: HENDERSON,C.W., 1926, MINING IN COLORADO, A HISTORY OF DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRODUCTION: USGS PROF. PAPER 138, P. 52, 177-178.}{Deposit:: NELSON-MOORE, J.L., AND OTHERS, 1978, RADIOACTIVE MINERAL OCCURRENCES OF COLORADO AND BIBLIOGRAPHY: CGS BULL. 40, P. 204-206.}{Deposit:: HARRER, C.M., AND TESCH, W.J., JR., 1959, RECONNAISSANCE OF IRON OCCURRENCES IN COLORADO: USBM IC-7918, P. 48, 51-52.}{Deposit:: COLORADO DIV. MINES ONF. REPTS. AND ANNUAL OPERATOR REPTS.}{Deposit:: UNPUBLISHED ENGINEERING REPTS. 1904-1936 (SEE INDIVIDUAL MINE RECORDS FOR SPECIFIC REFERENCES)}{Deposit:: BLM MINERAL SURVEYS MS 1097.5}