The Silverton Belle
(Lode)
(20.66 acres)
​San Juan County, Colorado
​$79,500
SALE PENDING

•Primary Commodities: Gold and Silver
​•Secondary Commodities: Copper, Zinc• •Claim designation: un-patented Lode
• Size: 20.66 acres
•Location: San Juan County, Colorado

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The Silverton Belle is a documented mineral property located in the historic Red Mountain District of the San Juan mountains in Colorado.
Formerly known as the “John and Joe lower”, the Silverton Belle was located in 1882 and held under private ownership through the late 1980's.
Featuring a tunnel style adit entrance with an estimate of over 2000' in underground workings, an old miners cabin/generator house and a one of a kind secluded location.

In the beginning, only low-grade discoveries were made in the first few years of mining activity. In fact, the entire Red Mountain district is composed of low grade ore in abundance. However, valuable columns of silver ore called “pipes” were discovered in vertical chimney deposits thirty to one hundred feet in width. The deposits carried as much as 1,000 ounces of silver per ton, with Gold, Copper and Zinc values. When John Robinson discovered the fabulously rich Yankee Girl Mine in 1882, the rush was on to Colorado’s newest mining district. The Yankee Girl mine located the north side of Red Mountain #3 reported ore so rich, that it shipped directly to the smelters, bypassing the preliminary processing. Ore from the mine was valued at over $10,000 per ton at the time, today the worth would exceed $100 million per ton.
Newspapers spread the word on the east coast of the valuable ore coming out of the district, piquing the interest of numerous investors. After silver strikes were made at the Guston, Congress, and the National Belle mines, Eastern capitalists began sending money into the district, leading to the rapid industrialization of the area. By 1883, nearly 40 mines were sending silver ore to smelters.
After the Silver Panic of 1893, the district dramatically declined. The Silverton Railroad cut back service, shortened the line, and then was abandoned in 1921.

Mining revived during the first and second world wars. In the 1930s the Idarado Mine opened and it continued to operate until 1978.It is estimated that upwards of 30 million dollars in silver, lead, zinc, copper, and gold were taken from the Red Mountain Mining District in a few short decades. At today’s prices that production would be well over a quarter of a billion dollars today.

The Silverton Belle is located on the lower face of Red Mountain, directly as the crow flies across the peak from the famous Yankee Girl Mine.
Historical information shows the claim located in 1882, and the earliest actual paperwork filed in the late 1970's.
The production history has been lost or purposely omitted from any available federal or private records, the the production was estimated as substantially high considering the underground development and sophisticated compressor equipment utilized during production.

Primary workings consist of an adit driven at an 85 degree angle into the mountainside. The mine entrance features a swinging steel safety gate and steel portal entrance, as the original timbers have long decayed over time and weather erosion.
Underground workings are estimated at well over 2,000' feet in drifting based upon the substantial mine spill.
Secondary workings are two adits driven into upper level workings of the mine, though both have eroded closed due to overburden from the mountainside.
Mine spill is estimated at well over 100,000 yards of material, comprised of low-to-mid grade ore and host rock.
A compressor/ generator house stands next to the primary adit entrance. The historical building houses a vintage Ingersol Rand Co. Imperial type 10 compressor, electric turbines and equipment.
The wheel set compressor would have powered the drills and equipment for the early production.

An annual spring fed runoff waterway is available in the large incline gulch, feeding into the small creek bed below the road.
The surrounding panoramic peak views of the ranges colorful topography are absolutely breathtaking.

Access is via a well maintained dirt road suitable for any higher clearance vehicle in the warmer months.
With a parking and staging area near the mine and compressor house, suitable for a mid-to-large sized camper.

This one of a kind mineral property is a perfect location for the beginning enthusiast up to an established mining company.
Truly an heirloom mine with untold possibilities in an exceedingly rich mineral district .


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