The Independence Mine Claim covers multiple mines and prospects on 40-acre Lode Mining Claim. Colorado Mine IDs are CMC289886 and CMC289887. The claim is located along CO Highway 82, also known as Independence Pass Road. The road is closed from October to May of each year. The mines are an example of Colorado’s forgotten or hidden natural resources. Gold and Silver in substantial quantities have been reported as late as 1981. These values would be relatively simple to develop and extract due to the already in place infrastructure of a state Highway. The Independence Mines produced very rich gold ore. Vanderwilt (1947) quotes “stopes yielding 2.3 ounces per ton of gold in 1932”, but due to lack of development and workforce, production had diminished to 2 tons in 1940. Dunn (2003) indicates that most of Pitkin County's gold production probably came from this Independence Mines. Silver was also present. On July 4 of 1879, miners at a small camp just below the Divide struck gold. They named it the Independence claim after the holiday, and soon a small tent city developed on the site. The Independence Mine contained chalcopyrite, gold, and silver. Independence was primarily a gold camp. It was also known, from time to time, as Mammoth City, Chipeta, Sparkill, or Farwell (Eberhart, 1969). The Independence Mine, contained chalcopyrite, gold, and silver. Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc. surveyors found good values of gold and silver on the surface of the mines but there were no open portals to examine the work underground. The area is remote and accessible for only a few months out of the year which may account for some of the lack of development. At its elevation, winter comes early, October is common, and the snows do not melt off until May. The access road is closed from October to April.