Ajax Mine, Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Ajax Mine | Mine |
Cripple Creek Mining District | Mining District |
Teller County | County |
Colorado | State |
USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 42' 56'' North , 105° 8' 32'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
Victor | 389 (2017) | 0.6km |
Stratton | 644 (2006) | 3.6km |
Cripple Creek | 1,155 (2017) | 4.7km |
Midland | 156 (2011) | 16.0km |
Divide | 127 (2011) | 25.2km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Club | Location | Distance |
---|---|---|
Colorado Springs Mineral Society | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 31km |
Canon City Geology Club | Canon City, Colorado | 32km |
Lake George Gem & Mineral club | Lake George, Colorado | 35km |
Mindat Locality ID:
44515
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:44515:4
GUID (UUID V4):
51f061d7-d4dc-4f59-a439-41ccdda99aff
The Ajax mine was one of the more productive mines in the Cripple Creek β Victor District and one of the last significant underground operations. The headframe and other surface buildings stand on the lower slopes of Squaw Mountain just to the northwest of the center of Victor. In the mid 1970βs, after 15 years of dormancy and shortly after the price of gold was deregulated, an attempt was made to bring the Ajax Mine back into production. In the fall of 1977 this author had a chance to tour the mine, help measure some stopes and collect a few chips from a newly opened vein.
Activity at the time was focused on the 3100 foot level. On 3100 there were several old stopes that were being investigated as potential producers. In a short drift just off one of the main haulage ways a new vein had been exposed. I was impressed by how non-descript it looked, not really sheeted but more like jointing. However, on close inspection, the surfaces of some of the fractures were coated by thin layers of gray, almost flinty silica upon which were implanted small silvery crystals of calaverite. Other surfaces were coated with small crystals of calcite, a few tiny purple fluorite cubes and sparcely scattered calaverite. Since this area was just beyond the margin of the Cripple Creek volcanic basin the country rock was granitic. There didnβt seem to be any visible alteration of the country rock.
Very near the short drift on the new vein was the terminus of the Carlton drainage tunnel. This tunnel was driven just before WWII to enhance the drainage of the deeper workings in the Victor area. At the entrance to the tunnel were two simple, swinging metal doors with a gap of a few inches beneath their lower edges and a small amount of water running under them. Looking down the tunnel, it was so straight that it was possible to see the portal, a star-like pinpoint of light over 6 miles away.
Part of the normal equipment carried around in the Ajax Mine was a safety lamp of the type more common in the coal industry. In the Ajax Mine its purpose was not to detect methane but carbon dioxide. The day I worked underground was during a period of atmospheric high pressure which suppressed the release of CO2. One had to look closely into the stream of water running in the ditch at the edge of a haulage way to see the CO2 bubbles rising out of cracks in the rock. However, I was told that at times when an atmospheric low pressure system passed over the area the release of CO2 increased to the point where it could become a problem. In the old days if miners couldn't see the Sangre De Cristo Mountains because of storm clouds the chances were they wouldn't work that day.
In the 1970βs and 80βs underground mining proved to be to costly. A few years later open pit mining began just north of the Ajax mine. In the early 1990βs this effort became known as the βCresson Projectβ. This has become a large open pit centered on the site of the Cresson Mine. The southern margin of the pit is now in the vicinity of the Ajax Mine.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
β Acanthite Formula: Ag2S |
β Anatase Formula: TiO2 References: |
β Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS |
β Calaverite Formula: AuTe2 References: |
β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
β Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 References: |
β Fluorite Formula: CaF2 |
β Galena Formula: PbS References: |
β Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 References: |
β 'K Feldspar' References: |
β 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' Formula: KAlSi3O8 References: |
β Krennerite Formula: Au3AgTe8 References: |
β Marcasite Formula: FeS2 |
β Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 References: |
β Montmorillonite Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O References: |
β Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
β Muscovite var. Sericite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: |
β Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS References: |
β Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
β Roscoelite Formula: K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β Rutile Formula: TiO2 References: |
β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
---|---|---|---|
β | Acanthite | 2.BA.35 | Ag2S |
β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
β | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
β | Calaverite | 2.EA.10 | AuTe2 |
β | Krennerite | 2.EA.15 | Au3AgTe8 |
β | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
β | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
β | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
Group 3 - Halides | |||
β | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
β | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
β | Anatase | 4.DD.05 | TiO2 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 Β· 2H2O |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
β | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β | Roscoelite | 9.EC.15 | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β | Muscovite var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β | Montmorillonite | 9.EC.40 | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 Β· nH2O |
Unclassified | |||
β | 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' | - | KAlSi3O8 |
β | '' | - |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
H | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
H | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
C | Carbon | |
C | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
O | β Anatase | TiO2 |
O | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
O | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
O | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
O | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
O | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | β Rutile | TiO2 |
O | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
F | Fluorine | |
F | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
Na | Sodium | |
Na | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Mg | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Al | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Al | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Si | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | β Acanthite | Ag2S |
S | β Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
S | β Galena | PbS |
S | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
S | β Marcasite | FeS2 |
S | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
S | β Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
K | Potassium | |
K | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
K | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
K | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
K | β Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Ca | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
Ca | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Ca | β Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | β Anatase | TiO2 |
Ti | β Rutile | TiO2 |
V | Vanadium | |
V | β Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | β Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Fe | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
Fe | β Marcasite | FeS2 |
Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
Fe | β Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Zn | Zinc | |
Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
As | Arsenic | |
As | β Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
Mo | Molybdenum | |
Mo | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
Ag | Silver | |
Ag | β Acanthite | Ag2S |
Ag | β Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
Te | Tellurium | |
Te | β Calaverite | AuTe2 |
Te | β Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
Au | Gold | |
Au | β Calaverite | AuTe2 |
Au | β Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
Pb | Lead | |
Pb | β Galena | PbS |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America
- Rocky MountainsMountain Range
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Great Plains DomainDomain
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