Chaffee County, Colorado - near Bonanza, CO, USA.

Up in the high hills of Colorado’s backcountry, just south of Poncha Springs, there is a long history of old and lucrative . The Droz Creek is just such a mine. The operation is an old one. The mine has been loosely filled in but shows to be a very substantial mine. There are old footings and many old relics around the mine also. A massive tailing is positive evidence of hundreds if not thousands of feet of workings. There is very limited history on this mine. In fact, we were not able to find even so much as a historical name. The mine was significant enough to warrant building a few cabins, a small trestle, a tipple and some heavy duty rail. Outside the ores show quartz, gold, iron, pyrites and some possible lead. The road to the mine and the cabins are in excellent condition and could be navigated with a good high clearance 2WD vehicle. The cabin itself is in excellent repair and is apparently maintained by a local snowmobile club. It’s sound, solid and has no issues, it will keep you warm and dry when the snows get high. The claim is set covering a beautiful hillside and gulch, which is the general trend that the lode likely follows based on the geological mapping of the area. This area falls between the Bonanza and Poncha Springs district and likely has not been defined or captured due to this element. It is a very impressive mine in a very impressive area. The cabin is a definite benefit that can allow the claimant to stay on site at their mine for an extended period with a properly executed Notice of Operation. GRE can help you with this document if needed. The Droz Creek Mine is a full 20 acre lode mining claim. The claim is set in Colorados stunning high country back drop. Aspens and pines are abundant in the area. An excellent road leads directly past the mine and to the cabin. There is an old path from the over to the cabin. It appear there may have been a more thorofare from the mine to the cabin but it is rarely used. The mine is obscured from sight of the road or even the cabin by the dense tree growth. The survey team reported that the mine doesn’t appear to have been touched in 20 or more years. Based on condition, the mine was closed by old school Forest Service methodology and not very well. There are old broken trees spread across it in and attempt to hide it, but it’s a poor job. The top of the mine has started to open and is blowing a bit of cool air, indicating there is another entrance or air vent to the mine. There is substantial room for parking and staging in the open meadow just below the cabin. This meadow is fully on the claim and located between the mine and the cabin. The cabin is well maintained and has a fire pit, picnic tables and many stumps and such for sitting. There is running water on the claim that is coming from Droz Creek and coming out of the mine itself. A pipe leads out of the mine and has a steady flow of clear water. Any water should always be treated as suspect, and treated before drinking, but this could also be used for crushing and panning operations. With a long history of substantial gold and silver production, this area is extremely “hot” for location. Add the amenities of the cabin, picnic tables and such and you have a stellar claim that is ready to work for short times or maybe you should just plan to stay at the cabin for the summer while you work your site. There is gold and some lead/silver (galena) that is visible in the tailings and the mine could be made safely accessible with less than a days work and a shovel. Inside the mine is obviously more of the same minerals and likely in a more concentrated form.

Noted Commodities:
Copper, gold, Fluorite, Opal, Pyrite