Abandoned mines in Clear Creek County, Colorado

1. Mine openings

   shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
   1,556 77.7%
2. Prospect pits and trenches

   shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
   247 12.3%
3. Mines and surface workings

   labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
   25 1.2%
4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits

   construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
   4 0.2%
5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

   what mining left above ground
   167 8.3%
6. Mills, tipples and facilities

   processing plants and hazardous structures
   2 0.1%
7. Other reclamation problems

   highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
   2 0.1%

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

Problem types carry OSMRE's priority prefix: P1 and P2 are threats to health, safety and property, P3 is environmental. A problem area is a cluster of problems reclaimed as one project; several rows can share one location.

1. Alma Lincoln

   Underground metal/non-metal · Lincoln Gold Mines Inc · MSHA ID 0504564
   Abandoned 1996-01-11
2. Aorta Tunnel

   Underground metal/non-metal · Marquette Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0503763
   Abandoned 1982-06-23
3. Argo Mill

   Facility metal/non-metal · Argo Mill · MSHA ID 0504085
   Abandoned 1989-07-28
4. Bald Eagle Mine

   Facility metal/non-metal · Cr-Vcm Joint Venture · MSHA ID 0502354
   Abandoned 1993-01-04
5. Bay State Tunnel

   Underground metal/non-metal · Aberford Minerals (Us) Inc · MSHA ID 0503764
   Abandoned 1984-01-13
6. Bellvue Hudson

   Underground metal/non-metal · Beta Silver Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503547
   Abandoned 1981-06-17
7. Black Eagle Mill

   Facility metal/non-metal · Quimont Venture · MSHA ID 0502570
   Abandoned 1979-01-19
8. Brazil Mine

   Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503619
   Abandoned 1982-03-04
9. Breckenridge Mng Prop Bimetallic Tunnel

   Underground metal/non-metal · Quasar Mine Services Corp (Usa) · MSHA ID 0503923
   Abandoned 1985-07-03
10. Brighton Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503621
    Abandoned 1982-03-04
11. Bullion Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Three Aces Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503865
    Abandoned 1983-11-14
12. Capital Prize

    Underground metal/non-metal · Saturn Energy & Resources Ltd · MSHA ID 0503856
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
13. Centennial Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Centennial Silver Company · MSHA ID 0503557
    Abandoned 1982-07-23
14. Champion-Trio Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503615
    Abandoned 1982-03-04
15. CLEAR CRK CTY PORTABLE SCREEN

    Surface metal/non-metal · Clear Creek County Road & Bridge Department · MSHA ID 0504682
    Abandoned 2003-01-29
16. Comstock Lake Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · H & M Joint Venture · MSHA ID 0504288
    Abandoned 1989-08-01
17. Comstock-Lake Mines

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver Ventures Corp · MSHA ID 0503585
    Abandoned 1987-11-13
18. Concord Minerals Corporation

    Facility metal/non-metal · E & J Minerals Corp · MSHA ID 0503724
    Abandoned 1984-04-01
19. Coral Decline

    Underground metal/non-metal · Lord Byron Gold Mining Company · MSHA ID 0504041
    Abandoned 1991-10-10
20. Crazy Girl Mine & Mill

    Underground metal/non-metal · Front Range Mines Inc · MSHA ID 0503664
    Abandoned 1985-04-29
21. Dixie Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Dixie Mining & Milling Corp · MSHA ID 0502724
    Abandoned 1984-07-03
22. Dixie Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Teton Drilling, Inc. · MSHA ID 0505126
    Abandoned 2020-10-09
23. Drummond Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Columbia Mountain Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0503629
    Abandoned 1981-06-17
24. Dumont Pit

    Surface metal/non-metal · Clear Creek County Road Department · MSHA ID 0502957
    Abandoned 1982-08-12
25. FRANKLIN 73

    Facility metal/non-metal · Gems & Minerals Corp · MSHA ID 0500630
    Abandoned 1999-03-04
26. Gladstone Toll Mill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Salisbury Gladstone LLC · MSHA ID 0505144
    Abandoned 2025-03-10
27. Gold Belt Tunnel & Black Eagle Mill

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silverglade Mining Co · MSHA ID 0502934
    Abandoned 1982-05-06
28. Goldbelt Tunnel Mine And Mill

    Facility metal/non-metal · Silverglade Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503507
    Abandoned 1982-05-06
29. Golden Eagle Custom Mill

    Facility metal/non-metal · Golden Eagle Custom Mill · MSHA ID 0504289
    Abandoned 1991-04-08
30. Grace Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Aberford Minerals (Us) Inc · MSHA ID 0503842
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
31. Hamill Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver Valley Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 0503614
    Abandoned 1984-06-05
32. Henderson No 5 Shaft

    Underground metal/non-metal · Climax Molybdenum Company · MSHA ID 0503766
    Abandoned 1985-12-12
33. Hot Pot Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503620
    Abandoned 1982-03-04
34. Hukill Gulch Millsite

    Facility metal/non-metal · Venture Resources Inc · MSHA ID 0504991
    Abandoned 2021-05-10
35. Humbolt

    Underground metal/non-metal · J & J Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503649
    Abandoned 1991-05-08
36. Independent Tunnel

    Underground metal/non-metal · Aberford Minerals (Us) Inc · MSHA ID 0503747
    Abandoned 1984-01-13
37. John Paul Jones Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Goodrocks Mining Corp · MSHA ID 0501539
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
38. Johnny Bull

    Underground metal/non-metal · Johnny Bull Operating Company · MSHA ID 0504114
    Abandoned 1986-12-19
39. Jumbo Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Jumbo Wildcat Resources · MSHA ID 0503665
    Abandoned 1987-01-26
40. Lowe Placer

    Surface metal/non-metal · Moritz Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 0503965
    Abandoned 1986-06-05
41. Mc Clelland Tunnel

    Underground metal/non-metal · Equity Gold Inc · MSHA ID 0503640
    Abandoned 1982-01-25
42. Mendota Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Argosy Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503506
    Abandoned 1980-10-26
43. Nabob Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Gold Ridge Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503734
    Abandoned 1983-02-28
44. Old Settler Mine & Mill

    Underground metal/non-metal · Jupiter Gold Company Of Colorado · MSHA ID 0503716
    Abandoned 1986-12-30
45. Phoenix Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503618
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
46. Poorman Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503617
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
47. Quito Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Marquette Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0502803
    Abandoned 1982-06-23
48. Santa Fe Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver King Mining Company · MSHA ID 0502307
    Abandoned 1977-01-28
49. Santiago

    Underground metal/non-metal · Hilgers Inc · MSHA ID 0503954
    Abandoned 1986-06-30
50. Senator-Blue Ridge Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Mosch Exploration & Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503616
    Abandoned 1982-03-04
51. Silver Star

    Surface metal/non-metal · Arthur L & Harry E Smith · MSHA ID 0503110
    Abandoned 1978-02-23
52. Snowstorm Portable Plant

    Surface metal/non-metal · Peak Materials · MSHA ID 0501013
    Abandoned 2019-07-31
53. Sprankle Tunnel

    Underground metal/non-metal · Marquette Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0503778
    Abandoned 1983-07-07
54. Stanley Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Empress Gold Mining and Milling Inc · MSHA ID 0503054
    Abandoned 1979-02-09
55. Sun Dog Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Sun Dog Mining Company · MSHA ID 0502935
    Abandoned 1985-07-03
56. Wheatland

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver Leaf Resources Inc · MSHA ID 0503625
    Abandoned 1983-02-24

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

• San Juan County 3,913
• Lake County 3,672
• Gunnison County 2,703
• Saguache County 2,319
• San Miguel County 2,242
• Gilpin County 2,148
• Montrose County 2,077
• Custer County 2,062
• Park County 1,624
• Chaffee County 1,486
• Summit County 1,449
• Boulder County 1,083

1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
   597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
   States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
   One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
   Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
   Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
   Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
   The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
   Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.