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INTRODUCTION
Summitville
Mine
Rio
Gr
an
Alamosa
osa
de
Alamosa National
Wildlife Refuge
Terrace
Reservoir
Alam
Mineralized
areas
San Luis
Valley
Monte Vista
Rive
k
ee
Cr
ra
Ja
20 km
La
10
Colorado
Farmlands irrigated at
least in part with
Alamosa River water
GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS
Capulin
Wildlife habitat
potentially affected by
Alamosa River water
Figure 2. Aerial view of the Summitville mine in 1991 looking southwest (photo by IntraSearch, Inc.)
108
39
106
Colorado
Explanation
Silicic postcaldera lavas includes South Mountain
quartz latite and Park Creek rhyodacite (21-28 Ma)
BZ
CP
SJ LC
S
U L
SL LG
B
C
San Juan
Volcanic Field
37
25
50 km
15
30 mi
10630'
e
rand
Rio G Zone
Fault
Pa
Fa ss C
ult
r
Zo eek
ne
37
30'
South Mountain
Fault
Summitville
Caldera
Elwood Creek
Fault Zone
Jasper
Platoro
Caldera
Stunner
Platoro
South Mountain
volcanic dome
Platoro
Fault Zone
N
0
0
10
5
15 km
10 mi
Figure 3. Location map showing the outline of the San Juan volcanic field and calderas within the field (generalized from
Lipman, 1975). Age data are from Steven et al., (1967), Lipman et al. (1970), Lipman (1975), Mehnert et al. (1973), and
Perkins and Nieman (1982). Calderas shown are abbreviated: B-Bachelor, BZ-Bonanza, C-Creede, CP-Cochetopa Park, HMount Hope, LC-Lake City, LG-La Garita, L-Lost Lake, PL-Platoro, S-Silverton, SJ-San Juan, SL-San Luis, SVSummitville, and U-Ute Creek. Inset figure geology modified from Lipman (1975) and Steven and Lipman (1976). X Location of the Summitville deposit. Reprinted from Gray and Coolbaugh (1994).
South Mountain
volcanic dome
Acid Sulfate
Alteration
Elev. (m)
Reconstructed
surface of dome
4000
Argillic alteration
3500
Weak propylitic
alteration
3000
Quartz-sericitepyrite alteration
Monzonite
Intrusion
Quartzalunite
Quartzkaolinite
Propylitic
Quartzalunite
Quartzkaolinite
Propylitic
0
20
Argillic
Argillic
Approximate
depth of
oxidation
60
(meters)
80
40
Depth of
oxidation
100
5
4
Weight %
sulfide
in rock
Unoxidized rock
3
2
Oxidized
vuggy silica,
qtz. alunite
rock
1
0
15
12
12
15
Structure
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Open Pit
Figure 7. Generalized map of the Summitville mine site showing geologic features (major alteration and ore zones,
ferricrete deposits) in relation to past and recent mine features. Also shown are the locations of active seeps sampled for
chemical analysis (see Plumlee et al., 1995b). The distribution of argillic and propylitic alteration was taken from a
surficial geologic map prepared by Mike Perkins and Bill Nieman for the Anaconda Company in the early 1980's. The
distribution of acid sulfate alteration (vuggy silica and quartz alunite zones) is approximated by gold grades greater than
0.34 grams per ton (after Gray and Coolbaugh, 1994). The location of ferricrete deposits is approximate based on
distributions observed in aerial photographs taken of the site in 1968 and 1980 by Intra-Search, Inc; many of the deposits
are now covered by material from the recent open pit mining operations. Figure from Plumlee et al. (1995a).
developed during early underground mining of highgrade gold zones in the late 1800's and early 1900's
(Steven and Ratt, 1960). Acid-mine drainage emanated
from the Reynolds adit prior to open-pit mining, but the
acidity and metal loadings increased after open-pit
mining began (Plumlee et al., 1994).
Formation of metal-rich secondary salts in the
open pit and throughout the mine site is also a potential
environmental problem because such salts may release
metal into surface water when they dissolve (Flohr et al.,
1995). Minor pools and puddles of acidic and
metalliferous water were observed in the open pit and as
these acid waters evaporate during dry periods, they
precipitate a complex suite of soluble secondary salts that
contain metals and acid in solid form until they dissolve
during the next period of rain or snowfall (Plumlee et al.,
1995b). Secondary salts were found as surficial coatings
on rocks within the open pit and waste dumps, as
coatings on fractures in rocks of the open pit walls, and
as disseminations within sediments throughout the mine
site
open pit. Filling the open pit also reduced the potential
for the formation of metal-rich secondary salts in the pit.
Waste Piles
A
D
C
F
E
Structures
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES