Circle Cliffs Mining District, Garfield County, Utah, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
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Circle Cliffs Mining District | Mining Region |
Garfield County | County |
Utah | State |
USA | Country |
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Type:
Mindat Locality ID:
37843
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:37843:6
GUID (UUID V4):
24cc6c4a-d153-4509-88b9-e4657d76c818
The Circle Cliffs district, part of the Henry Mountains U mining area, is located about 27 mi east of Escalante in east-central Garfield County. The district is a modest U-V producer with a poorly documented history. The district was in production from about 1956 to 1965. Total district metal production at modern metal prices is estimated at $2.4 million. The largest operation is the Rainy Day underground mine on the east side of the district, which accounts for about 70% of the district’s production. The Horsehead and Centipede mines account for most of the rest.
The Circle Cliffs district is geologically situated in the Escalante Canyons section of the Colorado Plateau in south-central Utah. The district’s mines flank the doubly plunging, north-northwest-trending Circle Cliffs anticline. The west limb of the fold dips gently (5° to 10°) west and the eastern limb, known as the Waterpocket fold, is steeper (10° to 35°). The anticline plunges gently to the northwest and southeast. The exposed rocks range from Permian in the eroded core of the fold to Cretaceous around the rim (Doelling, 1974).
The bulk of the Circle Cliffs’ U-V ±Cu prospects and production is associated with the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, although there are also U-V occurrences in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation on the east flank of the district (USGS Model 30c). The Triassic-hosted ores are primarily in basal Shinarump Conglomerate Member of the Chinle Formation channels where it has cut down into the underlying Moenkopi Formation. The Shinarump channels snake northward across the district. Mineralized rock typically ranges from 0.05% to 0.20% U3O8, 0.15% V2O5, and 0.5% to 0.3% Cu (Doelling, 1974).
Most of the deposits are small and irregular in shape, and the largest mine in the district, the Rainy Day mine, is a remarkable shoestring-shaped orebody of less than 6 square ft in cross-sectional area but mined for an extraordinary 1800 ft in length along the steep, southern Shinarump channel-fill and Moenkopi shale contact. No ore occurs in the adjoining large, open Shinarump channel despite abundant carbonaceous trash. The primary ore and sulfide minerals include uraninite, roscoelite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, and galena (Davidson, 1959). Both the Rainy Day and Colt Mesa mines have the pink Co mineral erythrite. The Mo mineral ilsemannite is reported from the Rainy Day mine. In addition to U-V ±Cu, the Circle Cliffs district ores are geochemically anomalous in Ag, Co, Mo, Pb, Zn, Y, and Yb.
Much of the southern and eastern parts of the Circle Cliffs district is in Capital Reef National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Grand Staircase Escalante Canyons National Monument.
The Circle Cliffs district is geologically situated in the Escalante Canyons section of the Colorado Plateau in south-central Utah. The district’s mines flank the doubly plunging, north-northwest-trending Circle Cliffs anticline. The west limb of the fold dips gently (5° to 10°) west and the eastern limb, known as the Waterpocket fold, is steeper (10° to 35°). The anticline plunges gently to the northwest and southeast. The exposed rocks range from Permian in the eroded core of the fold to Cretaceous around the rim (Doelling, 1974).
The bulk of the Circle Cliffs’ U-V ±Cu prospects and production is associated with the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, although there are also U-V occurrences in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation on the east flank of the district (USGS Model 30c). The Triassic-hosted ores are primarily in basal Shinarump Conglomerate Member of the Chinle Formation channels where it has cut down into the underlying Moenkopi Formation. The Shinarump channels snake northward across the district. Mineralized rock typically ranges from 0.05% to 0.20% U3O8, 0.15% V2O5, and 0.5% to 0.3% Cu (Doelling, 1974).
Most of the deposits are small and irregular in shape, and the largest mine in the district, the Rainy Day mine, is a remarkable shoestring-shaped orebody of less than 6 square ft in cross-sectional area but mined for an extraordinary 1800 ft in length along the steep, southern Shinarump channel-fill and Moenkopi shale contact. No ore occurs in the adjoining large, open Shinarump channel despite abundant carbonaceous trash. The primary ore and sulfide minerals include uraninite, roscoelite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, and galena (Davidson, 1959). Both the Rainy Day and Colt Mesa mines have the pink Co mineral erythrite. The Mo mineral ilsemannite is reported from the Rainy Day mine. In addition to U-V ±Cu, the Circle Cliffs district ores are geochemically anomalous in Ag, Co, Mo, Pb, Zn, Y, and Yb.
Much of the southern and eastern parts of the Circle Cliffs district is in Capital Reef National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Grand Staircase Escalante Canyons National Monument.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities28 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS |
ⓘ Autunite Formula: Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Localities: |
ⓘ Bieberite Formula: CoSO4 · 7H2O |
ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 |
ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
ⓘ Carnotite Formula: K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Localities: Reported from at least 12 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Localities: Reported from at least 10 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
ⓘ 'Clay minerals' |
ⓘ Copper Formula: Cu |
ⓘ 'Copper Stain' Localities: |
ⓘ Erythrite Formula: Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O Localities: |
ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 |
ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS Localities: |
ⓘ Guarinoite Formula: Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O Localities: Reported from at least 10 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
ⓘ Kaolinite Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
ⓘ 'Limonite' Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Localities: Reported from at least 27 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 Localities: |
ⓘ 'Mica Group' |
ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Localities: Reported from at least 13 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Localities: Description: Silicified wood |
ⓘ Smithsonite Formula: ZnCO3 |
ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Localities: |
ⓘ Torbernite Formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O Localities: Reported from at least 20 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Uraninite Formula: UO2 Localities: Reported from at least 14 localities in this region. |
ⓘ Uranophane Formula: Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O Localities: |
ⓘ Zeunerite Formula: Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O Localities: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
ⓘ | Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
Group 3 - Halides | |||
ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
ⓘ | Uraninite | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
ⓘ | Carnotite | 4.HB.05 | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
ⓘ | Smithsonite | 5.AB.05 | ZnCO3 |
ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
ⓘ | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
ⓘ | Bieberite | 7.CB.35 | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
ⓘ | Guarinoite | 7.DD.80 | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
ⓘ | Erythrite | 8.CE.40 | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
ⓘ | Autunite | 8.EB.05 | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
ⓘ | Torbernite | 8.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
ⓘ | Zeunerite | 8.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
ⓘ | Uranophane | 9.AK.15 | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
ⓘ | Kaolinite | 9.ED.05 | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
Unclassified | |||
ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Clay minerals' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Mica Group' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Copper Stain' | - |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
H | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
H | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
H | ⓘ Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
H | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
H | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
H | ⓘ Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
C | Carbon | |
C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
C | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
O | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
O | ⓘ Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
O | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
O | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
O | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
O | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
O | ⓘ Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
F | Fluorine | |
F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
Al | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
Si | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
P | Phosphorus | |
P | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
P | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
S | Sulfur | |
S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
S | ⓘ Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
S | ⓘ Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
K | Potassium | |
K | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Ca | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
V | Vanadium | |
V | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
Co | Cobalt | |
Co | ⓘ Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O |
Co | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
Cu | ⓘ Copper | Cu |
Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Cu | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
Cu | ⓘ Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
Zn | Zinc | |
Zn | ⓘ Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
Zn | ⓘ Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
As | Arsenic | |
As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
As | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
As | ⓘ Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
Pb | Lead | |
Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
U | Uranium | |
U | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
U | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
U | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
U | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
U | ⓘ Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
Fossils
There are 4 fossil localities from the PaleoBioDB database within this region.BETA TEST - These data are provided on an experimental basis and are taken from external databases. Mindat.org has no control currently over the accuracy of these data.
Occurrences | 19 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Youngest Fossil Listed | 201 Ma (Early Jurassic) | |||||||||
Oldest Fossil Listed | 279 Ma (Permian) | |||||||||
Stratigraphic Units |
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Fossils from Region | Click here to show the list. | |||||||||
Fossil Localities | Click to show 4 fossil localities |
Localities in this Region
- Utah
- Garfield County
- Circle Cliffs Mining District
- Acme Mine
- B & M
- Bart Occurrence (Midas Prospects; Centipede)
- Betty Jack
- Big Tree (MAS 2)
- Black Widow Mine
- Blue Bird (MAS 4 1023)
- Blue Goose Mine
- Buff (Buff 1 - 8 Mas 6 1008)
- Bull (Bull 1 - 15 MAS 7)
- Centipede (Centipede 1 - 7 MAS 8 1012)
- Circle Cliffs Area Occurrence
- Colt Mesa Mine
- Cool Occurrence (Cool Nos. 1 - 12 MAS 9 1010)
- Copper Head Occurrence (MAS 10 1018)
- Dodie Occurrence (Midas No. 3; Mas 11 1016)
- Dream Prospect
- Duke Mine
- East Flank Occurrence
- Glen Rae Occurrence (MAS 13 1023a)
- Hope (MAS 14 1020 A)
- Hope Prospect
- Horse Canyon
- Horse Canyon prospect
- Horse Head Mine
- Hotshot
- Jake (Mas 17)
- Lone B Mine
- Circle Cliffs Mining District
- Garfield County
- Utah
- Garfield County
- Circle Cliffs Mining District
- Mesa Occurrence (Mas 19 1027)
- Midas 4 Occurrence (Mas 21 1019)
- Midas No. 4 Prospect
- Moqui Occurrence (Mas 22 1006)
- Muley Twist Occurrence
- Oasis Occurrence (Mas 23 1026)
- Olympic Occurrence (Mas24 1041)
- Pardner-Stud Horse Occurrence
- Rainy Day Mine (Mas 25 1030)
- Red Cliff (Mas 26 1009)
- Red Head - Lampstand Occurrence (Torpedo Head Mas27 1007)
- Rocky Mountain Mine (Circle Cliffs 1 - 20)
- Silver Falls Occurrence (Duke Mine)
- Sneaky-Silver Falls
- Solitude Occurrence (MAS 29 1040)
- Steam Boat Mine
- Stud Horse Mine
- Sun Dog Occurrence
- Tenderfoot
- The Peaks Occurrence
- Three Pardners Occurrence (Mas 31 1017)
- Unknown Copper - Uranium Occurrence (Mas 32 1015; MRDS - 10088117)
- Unknown Uranium Occurrence (MRDS - 10020755)
- Unknown Uranium Occurrence (MRDS - 10202871)
- West Flank Occurrence
- White Canyon Flat Prospect
- Willie
- Yellow Jacket (Mas 33 1029; Circle Cliffs No. 6)
- Zelda Occurrence (Mas 34 1020)
- Circle Cliffs Mining District
- Garfield County
Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Chugar Group Area BasinBasin
- Great Plains DomainDomain
- Mojave DomainDomain
USA
- Colorado PlateauPlateau
- Utah
- Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park
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Circle Cliffs Mining District, Garfield County, Utah, USA