Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Silver Cliff Quarry, Silver Cliff Mining District, Custer County, Colorado, USAi
Regional Level Types
Silver Cliff QuarryQuarry
Silver Cliff Mining DistrictMining District
Custer CountyCounty
ColoradoState
USACountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 8' 15'' North , 105° 26' 32'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
38.13778,-105.44244
GRN:
N26W60
Type:
Quarry
Köppen climate type:
BSk : Cold semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Silver Cliff591 (2017)0.4km
Westcliffe577 (2017)2.1km
Crestone139 (2017)27.5km
Rockvale498 (2017)35.4km
Coal Creek341 (2017)35.7km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Canon City Geology ClubCanon City, Colorado38km
Mindat Locality ID:
112271
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:112271:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0


REF:Deposit:: CROSS, WHITMAN, 1896, GEOLOGY OF SILVER CLIFF AND THE ROSITA HILLS, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 263-403.
Deposit:: EMMONS, S.F., 1896, THE MINES OF CUSTER COUNTY, COLORADO: USGS 17TH ANN. REPORT, PT 2, P. 405-472
Deposit:: FIE
Commodities (Major) - Silver, Lead; (Trace) - Manganese, Iron
Development Status: Past Producer
Structure: Silver Cliff Volcanic Center, Wet Mtns, Wet Mtn Valley, Silver Cliff Graben, Fault; Geyser Vent, Breccia Pipe
Host Rock: Rhyolite
Tectonic Structure: Central Cordillera (Southern Rocky Mtns)

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


13 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Bromargyrite
Formula: AgBr
ⓘ Chalcophanite
Formula: ZnMn4+3O7 · 3H2O
ⓘ Chlorargyrite
Formula: AgCl
ⓘ Cryptomelane
Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘ Dickite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ 'Limonite'
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Todorokite ?
Formula: (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘBromargyrite3.AA.15AgBr
ⓘChlorargyrite3.AA.15AgCl
ⓘFluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘCryptomelane4.DK.05aK(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘTodorokite ?4.DK.10(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
ⓘChalcophanite4.FL.20ZnMn4+3O7 · 3H2O
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘJarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘDickite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Limonite'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ChalcophaniteZnMn34+O7 · 3H2O
Hⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
OOxygen
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ ChalcophaniteZnMn34+O7 · 3H2O
Oⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Oⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
FFluorine
Fⓘ FluoriteCaF2
NaSodium
Naⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
KPotassium
Kⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Kⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Kⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Caⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
MnManganese
Mnⓘ ChalcophaniteZnMn34+O7 · 3H2O
Mnⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Mnⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
FeIron
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
ZnZinc
Znⓘ ChalcophaniteZnMn34+O7 · 3H2O
BrBromine
Brⓘ BromargyriteAgBr
SrStrontium
Srⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
AgSilver
Agⓘ BromargyriteAgBr
Agⓘ ChlorargyriteAgCl
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Baⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesOther Regions
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 14:50:00 Page updated: August 26, 2025 08:32:14
Go to top of page