Commodities
PrimaryLead, Gold, Copper, Silver
SecondaryManganese, Zinc
TertiaryTitanium, Bismuth, Antimony, Tellurium
Commodity typeM
Deposit
Deposit typeFISSURE VEINS
Model85: Polymetallic veins
Deposit sizeS
Ore controlORE DEPOSITION CONTROLLED BY SIZE AND CHARACTER OF FAULTS AND FRACTURES RELATED TO SUBSIDENCE OF BONANZA CALDERA. ORES HAVE AFFINITY FOR (1) FISSURE WALLROCKS ENTIRELY OF ANDESITE, OR LATITE, OR ANDESITE AND LATITE IN FAULT CONTACT; (2) FISSURES SUBJECTED TO INTENSE SILICIFICATION THAT PROMOTED LATER FISSURING BUT INHIBITED GOUGE FORMATION; (3) STEEPER DIPPING PORTIONS OF FAULTS AND HANGING WALL FRACTURES OR IRREGULAR CHANGES IN FAULT DIP; (4) CROSS-FAULT INTERSECTIONS; (5) FISSURES FILLED WITH BRECCIA OR COARSELY FRAGMENTED ROCK RATHER THAN CLAY OR GOUGE
Geology
StructureBONANZA CALDERA, SAWATCH RANGE, SAN JUAN VOLCANIC FIELD, RIO GRANDE RIFT
AlterationEARLY BARREN STAGE OF ALTERATION BY FUMAROLIC OR ACID-HOT SPRING ACTIVITY RESULTED IN INTENSE SILICIFICATION, WALLROCK REPLACEMENT BY JASPER AND ALTERATION PRODUCTS HEMATITE, DIASPORE, ALUNITE, BARITE, ZUNYITE, RUTILE, AND KAOLIN MINERALS. LATER MINERALIZING STAGE BY ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL SOLUTIONS DEPOSITED ORE AND GANGUE AND CAUSED MICACEOUS ALTERATION (SERICITE AND CHLORITE) AND CALCITE, QUARTZ, AND PYRITE.
Economic & production
Development statusOccurrence
First production1880
Last production1969
Discovery year1879
Identification
Deposit ID60000327
MRDS IDD009181
RegionNA
Data scoreD
Coordinates38.29471, -106.1425
References
PATTON, H.B., 1916, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA DISTRICT, SAGUACHE COUNTY, COLORADO: COLORADO GEOL SURVEY BULL 9, 136 P.BURBANK, W.S., 1932, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BONANZA MINING DISTRICT, COLORADO: USGS PROF PAPER 169, 166 P.