Leadville District

Lake County, Colorado, United States

SilverZincGoldLeadCopperManganeseIronBismuthSulfurSulfuric AcidCadmiumVanadiumTungsten

⌖ Show on map USGS source ↗

Commodities

PrimarySilver, Zinc, Gold, Lead

SecondaryCopper, Manganese, Iron, Bismuth, Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid

TertiaryCadmium, Vanadium, Tungsten

Commodity typeB

Deposit

Deposit typepolymetallic vein, massive sulfide manto

Model56: Placer Au72: Polymetallic replacement224: Mississippi Valley, S.E. Missouri Pb-Zn

Materials

Ore mineralsHematite, Chalcopyrite, Argentite, Magnetite, Galena, Cerargyrite, Gold, Cerussite, Pyrite, Chalcocite, Sphalerite, Hemimorphite, Limonite, Manganese Ox-Hydrous, Silver, Smithsonite, Wad

GangueSiderite, Serpentine, Quartz

Geology

Host rockOrthoquartzite,Shale,Dolomite,Sandstone,Black Shale,Arkose,Porphyry · "Sawatch Quartzite", "Peerless Shale", "Manitou Dolomite", "Parting Sandstone", "Dyer Dolomite", "Gilman Sandstone", "Leadville Dolomite", "Belden Formation", "Minturn Formation", "Pando, Lincoln, Evans Gulch, Sacramento, Johnson Gulch, rhyolite, and fragmental porphyries"

Associated rockGranite · St. Kevin Granite

Structurenumerous faults of several periods

Alterationsilicification, sericitization

Economic & production

Development statusPast Producer

First production1860

Last production1999

Identification

Deposit ID10008106

MRDS IDD000017

Alternate namesBlack Cloud, Downtown, Carbonate Hill, Yak Tunnel, Matchless, Greenback, Sacrament, Fryer Hill, Iron Hill, Rock Hill, Newton and Flagstaff claims, Breece Hill, Empire, Iowa, Evans, California (California Gulch), AY (also A. Y. 1, A. Y. 2, A. Y. 3) and Minnie, Little Pittsburgh, Chrysolite, Catalpa, Iron Silver, Morning Star

RegionNA

Data scoreB

Coordinates39.24, -106.26

References

Leach, D., Sangster, D., Kelley, K., Large, R.R., Garven, G., Allen, C., Gutzmer, J., and Walters, S., 2005, Sediment-hosted lead-zinc deposits: A global perspective. Economic Geology, 100th Aniversary Volume. pp. 561-607. Also Appendices A, B, C, D, E, and SupplementEmmons, S.F., Irving, J.D., and Loughlin, G.F., 1927, Geology and ore deposits of the Leadville mining district, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 148, 368 p.Behre, C. H., Jr., 1953, Geology and ore deposits of the west slopeof the Mosquito Range (Colorado): U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 235, 176 p.Tweto, O., 1968, Leadville district, Colorado, in Ridge, J. D., editor, Ore deposits of the United States, 1933-1967 (Graton-Sales volume): New York, American Institute of Mining Engineers, p. 681-705.Thompson, T. B., and Arehart, G. B., 1990, Geology and the origin of ore deposits in the Leadville district, Colorado: Part I. Geologic studies of orebodies and wall rocks: Economic Geology Monograph 7, p. 130-155.Johansing, R.J., and Thompson, T.B., 1990, Geology and origin of Sherman-type deposits, central Colorado: Economic Geology Monograph 7.Sunshine Mining Co. Colorado exploration files, unpublished data, Colorado Geological Survey.Harrer, C.M., and Tesch, W.J., Jr., 1959, Reconnaissance of iron occurrences in Colorado, U.S. Bureau of Mines Information circular 7918, 82 p.Smith, D.A., 1977, Colorado Mining--A photographic history: Albuquerque, Univ. of New Mexico Press, 176 p.Dunn, L.G, 2003, Colorado mining districts: A reference: Golden, Colo., Colorado School of Mines Library, 364 p.Hedges, J. H., 1940, Mineral industries survey of the United States, Colorado, Lake County, Possibilities of manganese production at Leadville, Colo.: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7125, 23 p.