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Abandoned mines › Colorado
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Routt County, Colorado

Routt County, Colorado has 280 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1916–2000, including 121 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 45 prospect pits; 25 of the features carry a name on the map. OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 75 problems in the county, 42 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 44 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Routt County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS)
280
Mine openings
121
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
42
MSHA mines marked abandoned
44
25 features carry a name45 prospect pits28 quadrangle maps, published 1916–2000 75 OSMRE problems, 33 reclaimed 5 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    154 43.4%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    45 12.7%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    70 19.7%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    43 12.1%
  5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    23 6.5%
  6. Mills, tipples and facilities
    processing plants and hazardous structures
    1 0.3%
  7. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    19 5.4%
Named features on the maps25 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Block Mine Adit
Blue Jay Mine Adit
Cary Mine Open Pit Mine
Chergo Mine Open Pit Mine
Ducey Mine Open Pit Mine
Edna Mine Strip Mine area
Edna Mine Strip Mine area
Edna Mine Strip Mine area
Edna Mine Strip Mine area
Elkhorn Mine Mine Shaft
Energy Mine Strip Mine area
Farwell Mine Mine Shaft
Franz Mine Adit
Franz Mine Open Pit Mine
Greenville Mine Mine Shaft
Grey Mine Adit
Grey Mine Open Pit Mine
Iron Springs Mine Adit
Jim Dunn Mine Mine Dump area
Jim Dunns Mine Open Pit Mine
Master Key Mine Mine Shaft
Royal Flush Mine Adit
Slavonia Mine Adit
Southern Cross Mine Adit
Tom Thumb Mine Adit

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.

OSMRE abandoned mine land problems75 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Allen/suncoal Strip - 20/82-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Barton/rice/sun Mines - 01/67-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
Barton/rice/sun Mines - 01/67-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Barton/rice/sun Mines - 01/67-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Black Cat/richneg/dixie - 22/86-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
Black Cat/richneg/dixie - 22/86-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Black Cat/richneg/dixie - 22/86-01 P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Bruce Walters - 19/80-01 P3 Mine Opening Reclamation Pending
Champion - 19/86-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Pending
CURTIS/lLENNOX - 27/80-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
CURTIS/lLENNOX - 27/80-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Edna Strip - 31/65-01 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Edna Strip - 31/65-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Edna Strip - 31/65-01 P2 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Edna Strip - 31/65-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Emerich - 12/78-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Emerich - 12/78-01 P3 Mine Opening Reclamation Pending
Franz Mine - Not In Orig Inv P1 Surface Burning Reclamation Completed
Franz Mine - Not In Orig Inv P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Harris - 18/82-02 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Haybro - 33/64-01 P2 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Haybro - 33/64-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Jim Dunn/quaker - 94/74-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Joe Petronivick - 28/63-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Juniper/federal Mine - 32/61-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
Juniper/federal Mine - 32/61-01 P2 Subsidence Reclamation Pending
Mccrosky Gulch - 27/85-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Mccrosky Gulch - 27/85-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Middle Creek - 27/67-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Middle Creek - 27/67-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Moffat No. 3 - 33/62-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Mule Gulch Mine - 29/60-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
New Junx City/arrowhead - 34/66-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
New Junx City/arrowhead - 34/66-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Pending
New Junx City/arrowhead - 34/66-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Oak Creek - 30/62-01 P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Osage/black Dan - 26/78-01 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Osage/black Dan - 26/78-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Osage/black Dan - 26/78-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Completed
Pinnacle #1, 2, 3, 4 - 31/59-01 P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Pending
Pinnacle #1, 2, 3, 4 - 31/59-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Pinnacle #1, 2, 3, 4 - 31/59-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Pinnacle #1, 2, 3, 4 - 31/59-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Postal/mckinley - 30/57-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
Postal/mckinley - 30/57-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Ramsey #1/crow Bar - 07/76-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Ramsey #1/crow Bar - 07/76-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Routt - Non-coal-county-wide P1 Portals In Reclamation
Routt - Non-coal-county-wide P1 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Routt County - Coal - Co-wide P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Routt County - Coal - Co-wide P2 Subsidence Reclamation Pending
Routt County - Coal - Co-wide P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Routt County - Coal - Co-wide P3 Mine Opening Reclamation Pending
Routt Strip/seven Crown - 31/56-01 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Rusty/bear River Strip - 20/85-01 P2 Portals In Reclamation
Rusty/bear River Strip - 20/85-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Seneca - Not In Orig Inv P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Seneca - Not In Orig Inv P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Seneca/intl #1/wolf Crk - 20/85-01 P1 Dangerous Slides Reclamation Completed
Seneca/intl #1/wolf Crk - 20/85-01 P1 Dangerous Slides Reclamation Completed
Seneca/intl #1/wolf Crk - 20/85-01 P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Seneca/intl #1/wolf Crk - 20/85-01 P3 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Stokes Gulch/williams - 96/76-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Sun Mine - 04/69-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Wadge/pinnacle - 18/82-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Wadge/pinnacle - 18/82-01 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Wadge/pinnacle - 18/82-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P1 Underground Mine Fires Reclamation Pending
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P2 Surface Burning Reclamation Completed
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P2 Underground Mine Fires Reclamation Completed
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P2 Underground Mine Fires Reclamation Completed
Weberskirch/kaspar - 18/67-01 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Yoast Strip - 18/81-01 P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Yoast Strip - 18/81-01 P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed

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.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned44 on register
  1. Alessi Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sleeping Giant Gravel · MSHA ID 0503420
    Abandoned
  2. Apex #2
    Underground coal · Sunland Mining Corp · MSHA ID 0500289
    Abandoned and Sealed
  3. Bailey Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mobile Premix Company · MSHA ID 0503844
    Abandoned
  4. BEAR RIVER Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · All American Resources LLC · MSHA ID 0502041
    Abandoned
  5. Bennett Mine
    Surface coal · Milner Coal Corp · MSHA ID 0502711
    Abandoned
  6. Blazer Mine
    Underground coal · Blazer Fuels · MSHA ID 0502956
    Abandoned
  7. Bucci-Mitchell
    Surface metal/non-metal · Colorado Department Of Highways · MSHA ID 0503373
    Abandoned
  8. Butcher Knife Mine
    Surface coal · Sheridan Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 0503230
    Abandoned and Sealed
  9. Denton Strip
    Surface coal · Milner Coal Corp · MSHA ID 0502714
    Abandoned
  10. Duckels Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Duckels Construction Inc · MSHA ID 0502917
    Abandoned
  11. Edna Mine
    Surface coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 0500303
    Abandoned
  12. Edna Prototype Mine
    Underground coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503044
    Abandoned
  13. Energy #3 Mine
    Surface coal · Colorado Yampa Coal Company · MSHA ID 0502710
    Abandoned
  14. Fredonia Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Alma American Mining Corp · MSHA ID 0503820
    Abandoned
  15. Frentress Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · RCD Construction Inc. · MSHA ID 0504995
    Abandoned
  16. Gardner Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Farrington Contracting · MSHA ID 0504179
    Abandoned
  17. Grassy Gap Coal Company #1 Mine
    Surface coal · Rockcastle Company · MSHA ID 0503173
    Abandoned and Sealed
  18. Hayden Gulch Terminal LLC
    Facility coal · Hayden Gulch Terminal LLC · MSHA ID 0503138
    Abandoned
  19. HEWES & HEWES INC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hewes & Hewes Inc · MSHA ID 0504663
    Abandoned
  20. Hews Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Routt County · MSHA ID 0502916
    Abandoned
  21. Hockin Portable Crusher-Murphy Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hockin Gravel LLC · MSHA ID 0504628
    Abandoned
  22. Homer Murphy Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Schmidt-Tiago Construction Company · MSHA ID 0503203
    Abandoned
  23. Joe'S Mine
    Underground coal · Sheridan Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 0503231
    Abandoned
  24. Johnnies Mine
    Underground coal · Prosper Lombardi Jr · MSHA ID 0503334
    Abandoned and Sealed
  25. K-400
    Surface coal · K C F Associates · MSHA ID 0503519
    Abandoned
  26. Meadows #1
    Surface coal · Sun Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 0503039
    Abandoned
  27. Metso LT106 Track Mounted Jaw Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Peak Materials · MSHA ID 0504872
    Abandoned
  28. Middle Creek
    Surface coal · Energy Fuels Corp · MSHA ID 0503177
    Abandoned
  29. Mine 1 & 2
    Surface coal · Colorado Yampa Coal Company · MSHA ID 0500302
    Abandoned
  30. Mt Harris Coal Company
    Facility coal · Mt Harris Coal Company · MSHA ID 0503217
    Abandoned
  31. Murphy Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Schmidt-Tiago Construction Company · MSHA ID 0502644
    Abandoned
  32. Myrin Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Colorado Department Of Highways · MSHA ID 0503493
    Abandoned
  33. Portable 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · X Field Services LLC · MSHA ID 0505002
    Abandoned
  34. Routt County
    Surface metal/non-metal · Routt County · MSHA ID 0503414
    Abandoned
  35. Selbe-Whitney
    Surface metal/non-metal · Colorado Department Of Highways · MSHA ID 0503374
    Abandoned
  36. Seneca
    Surface coal · Seneca Coal Company · MSHA ID 0500304
    Abandoned
  37. Sun Mine
    Underground coal · Ruby Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 0502659
    Abandoned and Sealed
  38. Temple Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Temple Construction, Inc. · MSHA ID 0504868
    Abandoned
  39. Thompson Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · W R Hall Construction Company · MSHA ID 0502643
    Abandoned
  40. Tipple #3 (Twenty Mile Coal Co)
    Facility coal · Savage Coal Service Corp · MSHA ID 0503932
    Abandoned
  41. Trout Creek
    Surface coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 0503228
    Abandoned
  42. Trout Creek No 2
    Surface coal · Sun Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 0503419
    Abandoned
  43. Twenty Mile Mine
    Surface coal · Energy Fuels Corp · MSHA ID 0503266
    Abandoned
  44. Yampa Valley Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Colorado Aggregate Products Inc · MSHA ID 0504244
    Abandoned

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

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Adit 103
Prospect Pit 45
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 35
Gravel Pit 27
Strip Mine 25
Mine Shaft 18
P2 Portals 18
P3 Gobs 15
P2 Vertical Openings 10
Gravel Pit 8
Open Pit Mine 8
P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments 6
P2 Subsidence 3
Quarry 3
P3 Mine Opening 3
P1 Portals 3
P2 Dangerous Highwalls 3
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 2
P1 Dangerous Slides 2
P1 Vertical Openings 2
P2 Underground Mine Fires 2
Borrow Pit 2
Placer Mine 1
P1 Surface Burning 1
Placer Mine 1
P2 Surface Burning 1
P3 Spoil Area 1
P3 Industrial/Residential Waste 1
Mine Dump 1
P1 Underground Mine Fires 1
P2 Industrial/Residential Waste 1
P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities 1
Cinder Pit 1
P3 Pits 1
Other counties in ColoradoAll counties →
How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources
  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.