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GeneralColorado Experts Needed for Locality Help

28th Jun 2015 22:49 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

I recently obtained an enargite with alunite and pyrite from the Genessee-Vanderbilt mine in Colorado. Mindat has the locality as the Genesee with a single "s" in the name. I've found references online with both spellings and the label that came with my specimen has it spelled Genessee-Vanderbilt. Can anyone shed additional light--I am very particular about having correct locality information on my labels. Thanks!

Just noticed that I've seen it referenced in both Ouray and San Juan Counties as well! Also, mindat has it as the Genesee but the underground operations were merged long ago and it seems it should more likely be called the Genesee-Vanderbilt mine unless it is known that any particular specimen was collected from the Genesee or Vanderbilt shafts prior to underground merger.

30th Jun 2015 15:30 UTCTony L. Potucek Expert

Hi, Dana,

The correct spelling is Genesee-Vanderbilt mine, located in Ouray County, Colorado. This according to FL Ransome's USGS Bulletin 182 (1901), pages 227-230. I hope this helps.

Tony

1st Jul 2015 08:38 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

Updated.

2nd Jul 2015 16:48 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

Hi Tony,

Thanks. I ran across the Ransome reference online and it predates other references that show alternate spellings so it should probably have priority.

2nd Jul 2015 18:11 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

Well, maybe yes, maybe no. The way to determine the "real" spelling would be to look at how the claim was originally recorded in the county office (or the mining district recorders office). 19th century western spellings were often a bit fanciful and some people could have helped by fixing the spelling in reports (ie the Minesota mine in the UP). In the end, it really doesn't matter that much.

2nd Jul 2015 19:38 UTCWarren Cummings Expert

This mine is located in the ring fracture zone of the Silverton caldera just north of the San Juan-Ouray county line. This sector of the caldera rim is heavily mineralized. There are numerous fissure veins and breccia pipes. Ransom (1901) mentions small "caves" associated with the orebody worked by this mine. The presence of such voids and the mineral assemblage given for this mine strongly suggests that the mine worked ores in one or more of the breccia pipes.

The breccia pipes is the Red Mountain Pass area are characterized by acid-sulphate alteration and high sulphidation epithermal ores. This type of ore deposit can be very rich in silver and gold. The Red Mountain examples were not bonanza grade but were in many ways typical of this ore type. Sulphide ore mineral concentrations were erratic within the highly altered breccia. Enargite was a common mineral in many examples, especially the nearby National Bell mine

2nd Jul 2015 19:42 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

Hi David,

Funny, I was going to reference the Minesota mine (a clerical error) in my last post. I'm just particular about label accuracy....unusually particular I suppose. I still use Minerva mine No. 1 on labels as I believe it to be historically accurate

though Minerva No. 1 mine is always seen on labels and mindat, etc. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things

but one of those quirks that is unsettling to me:-S

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