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Iron Hill Carbonatite Deposit

Prospect in Gunnison county in Colorado, United States with commodities Titanium, Niobium (Columbium), REE, Barium-Barite, Mica, Phosphorus-Phosphates, Platinum, Vermiculite, Copper, Iron
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Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10142743
MRDS ID M045346
MAS/MILS ID 0080510276
Record type Deposit
Current site name Iron Hill Carbonatite Deposit
Alternate or previous names Iron Hill Columbium Deposit, Powderhorn, Big Iron Hill, Cebolla Creek, Ti-area Iron Hill

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -107.05328, 38.25319 (WGS84)
Elevation 2743
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position Canged location to match Keith Long's report (SIR 10-5220).
(click for info)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Colorado Gunnison

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 046 N 002 W 12 SWN2 Colorado

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Titanium Primary
Niobium (Columbium) Primary
REE Primary
Barium-Barite Tertiary
Mica Tertiary
Phosphorus-Phosphates Tertiary
Platinum Tertiary
Vermiculite Tertiary
Copper Tertiary
Iron Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Apatite Ore
Ilmenite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Monazite Ore
Rutile Ore
Columbite Ore
Pyrochlore Ore
Perovskite Ore
Sphene Ore
Thorite Ore
Vermiculite Ore
Ankerite Gangue
Mica Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Garnet Gangue
Siderite Gangue
Fluorite Unknown
Zircon Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Fenitization

Analytical data

Result PT=39 PPB (FIELD NO. WP-741)
Result ANALYSES AVG: 0.026% CU, 0.025% ZN, 0.010% NI, 1.65% BA, 0.27% SR, 2.9% TI, 0.049% ZR, 0.071% NB, 0.41% MN, 0.23% LA, 0.59% CE, 0.008% Y (SEE TEMPLE AND GROGAN, 1965). ALSO REPORTED V, U, AS, TA

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 24
USGS model code 10
Deposit model name Carbonatite

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Alkalic Intrusive Rock > Nepheline Syenite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Pyroxenite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Carbonatite, Intrusive

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -107.05328, 38.25319
ListMap

Geologic structures

Type Description Terms
Local Concentric Structures
Regional complex

Ore body information

  • General form FUNNEL SHAPED, PEAR SHAPED IN PLAN VIEW, ORE DISSEMINATED IN PIPE
    Thickness 200M
    Depth to top 0M
    Width 460M
    Length 900M
    Area 1300HA
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Shape of Orebody #1 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin MAGMATIC DIFFER
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1300
    Date of Last Modification 820805

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE IRON HILL PYROCHLORE DEPOSIT IS A MAGMATIC DIFFERENTIATE OF THE CARBONATITE STOCK. THE OREBODY IS IRREGULARLY SHAPED WITHIN THE CARBONATITE STOCK. THERE IS ONE MAIN OREBODY LOCATED ON AND AROUND IRON HILL. THREE SMALLER OREBODIES OCCUR AROUND THE MAIN OREBODY.
  • TANTALUM GRADE NOT KNOWN AND THOMPSON STATES (SEE REF COMMENT LINES I041-044) TA2O5 GRADE OCCURS IN GEOCHEMICAL AMOUNTS (LESS THAN 10 PPM). NO URANIUM IS REPORTED ALTHOUGH RADIOACTIVE THORIUM IS PRESENT (GRADE NOT REPORTED).
  • Complex Near Southern Margin Of A North-Northwest Elongated Area 6 By 20 Mi Containing The Deposits
  • Concentric Structures Formed By Arcuate Shapes Of Different Rock Types, Cone Sheets Of Carbonatite; Radial Carbonate Dikes; Later Faults And Dikes.
  • THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CARBONATITES IN THE U.S.; COMPOSITE INTRUSION IS 12 SQ MI. AREA IS ON EAST MARGIN OF SAN JUAN VOLCANIC PROVINCE. PODS OF APATITE FOLLOW FLOW BANDS IN CARBONATITE. CARBONATE ROCKS ARE RICH IN SR (TO 2%)

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Prospect
Commodity type Both metallic and non-metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1885
Mining method Open Pit
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name White Earth

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Private Lease

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Reunion Energy Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office 2801 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, Tx 77066
    Year 1994
    Last year 1994
  • Type Operator
    Owner Du Pont
    First year 1957
    Last year 1958
  • Type Owner
    Owner Teck Resources
    Year 2010
    First year 1990

Comments on the ownership information

  • REUNION ENERGY FORMERLY BUTTES RESOURCES INC.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1960
    Inferred 90,000,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Niobium (Columbium) Cb2O5 0.25 wt-pct Niobium (Columbium) Major 1960
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1979
    Total resources 655,600,000mt
    Remarks Total tonnage of carbonatite estimated by Staatz and others .(1979)
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Niobium (Columbium) niobium oxide 0.057 wt-pct Niobium (Columbium) Primary 1979
    REE REO 0.4 wt-pct REE Primary 1979
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Demonstrated 21,800,000mt ore
    Measured 21,800,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Niobium (Columbium) Cb2O5 0.26 wt-pct Niobium (Columbium) Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1998
    Reserves 41,800,000mt
    Remarks Shaver and Lunceford, 1998, p. 63
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Titanium TiO2 13.2 wt-pct Titanium Primary 1998
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1998
    Total resources 1,600,000,000mt
    Remarks open-ended global proven, probable and possible geologic resource
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Titanium TiO2 10.9 wt-pct Titanium Primary 1998

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • FORMERLY LISTED SEQ. NO. 0080510186 IRON HILL (POWDER HORN) RESERVES ARE THE RECOVERABLE AS USED ON THE 8-84 ETD.
  • BIOTITE-BEARING ZONES IN PYROXENITE CONTAIN 0.2% CU

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 80HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 3
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 18
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 35
    Capacity 3808
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.66
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 262
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1969

Comments on development

  • ATTEMPTS AT MINING VERMICULTE IN 1930'S AND WWII WERE APPARENTLY UNSUCCESSFUL

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency Database name Acronym Record ID Notes
U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Availability System MAS 0080510276
USGS Mineral Resources Data System MRDS M045346

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    THOMPSON, JAMES V. MINING HISTORY OF POWDERHORN, (UNPUBLISHED REPORT), 1980, 7 PP.

  • Geology

    TEMPLE, A. K., AND R. M. GROGAN. CARBONATITE AND RELATED ALKALIC ROCKS AT POWDERHORN, COLORADO, ECON. GEOL., V. 60, 1965, PP. 672-692.

  • Reserve-Resource

    GROGAN, R. M. COLUMBIUM AT POWDERHORN, COLORADO, MINES MAG, SEPT. 1960, P. 15, 16, 27.

  • Deposit

    Long, K.R., Van Gosen, B.S., Foley, N.K., and Cordier, Daniel, 2010, The principal rare earth elements deposits of the United States?A summary of domestic deposits and a global perspective: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010?5220, 96 p. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5220/.

  • Reserve-Resource

    THOMPSON, J. V. TITANIUM RESOURCE IN COLORADO EQUALS ALL OTHER US DEPOSITS. ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, JUL 1987, P. 28.

  • Deposit

    PAGE, N.J, 1972, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, UNPUB. DATA

  • Reserve-Resource

    Staatz, M.H., Armbrustmacher, T.J., Olson, J.C., Brownfield, I.K., Brock, M.R., Lemons, J.F., Jr., Coppa, L.V., and Clingan, B.V., 1979, Principal thorium resources in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 805, 42 p.

  • Deposit

    NASH, W.P., 1972, MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY OF THE IRON HILL CARBONATITE COMPLEX, COLORADO: GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN, V. 83, P. 1361-1382.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Shaver, K.C., and Lunceford, R.A., 1998, White Earth Project, Colorado?The largest titanium resource in the United States: Canadian Industrial Minerals Bulletin, v. 91, p. 63?65.

  • Deposit

    LARSEN, E.S., 1942, ALKALIC ROCKS OF IRON HILL, GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 197-A, P. 1-64.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit LEAD KING MINE WAS ACCESSIBLE, MAPPED, AND SAMPLED IN 1975 AS PART OF THE MAROON BELLS-SNOWMASS WILDERNESS STUDY, BUR. MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 23-84. PROPERTY UPDATED NOV 1987.
Deposit THE THORIUM IS IN VEINS IN THE COUNTRY ROCK

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-OCT-96 Hite, Alan G. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 17-NOV-10 Causey, J. Douglas U.S. Geological Survey Added production numbers from Long and others (2010) and other minor changes
Reporter 01-FEB-75 Blair, Will N. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-DEC-89 Peterson, Jocelyn A. U.S. Geological Survey