Colorado Mining

Mining was the most significant industry in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Colorado and has remained important since that time. The Pike’s Peak Gold Rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region that led to the establishment of many large camps that would later turn into cities such as Denver and Boulder. By the time Colorado became a recognized state in 1876, gold mining operations were already being run near Leadville, Breckenridge, Central City, Idaho Springs, Telluride, and Cripple Creek. Mining in all its phases remained a large part of the Colorado economy until the early twentieth century. The industry also contributed to significant industrial and technological advances. At various times throughout its history, Colorado has been the leading U.S. producer of gold, silver, molybdenum, lead, zinc, uranium and tungsten. Other metals that have been mined in Colorado include copper, tin, vanadium, iron, lithium and manganese. Newmont’s Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine (previously referred to as the Cresson Mine) is the all-time highest producing large-scale gold mining operation in the state, having produced over 4.0 million ounces of gold since 1995 and currently produces 322,000 ounces of gold annually.

Central City is Colorado’s oldest and most important mining district in the Front Range Mineral Belt. The Central City Mining District has produced over 4.0 million ounces of gold, with the majority of gold production occurring between 1859 and 1903 The Central City Mining District is referred to as the “Richest Square Mile on Earth” with recent studies estimating that only 15% of the existing gold was ever extracted. The Bates Vein was the second vein discovered in the Central City district. Although the Bates Vein was one of the richest and most productive in the early history of the area, it was never consolidated and mined to any great depth and has only been operated in intervals.