Minerals of Pikes Peak Colorado
Pikes Peak when seen from the “Garden of the Gods” is a
majestic and beautiful site to behold. This area is a famous rockhounding area
that attracts serious collectors and scientist from all over the world to this
mineral diverse area. There a many area and collecting spots covering the
Colorado Front Range that includes the Pikes Peak Region. These areas go near
Colorado Springs on the south to west of Denver to the north. This area mostly
a large mass of granite that covers about 1,200 square miles. Areas that
cracked and were refilled through time have left cone formations, and at times
continued out to form a skin of minerals or fine grained granite, through this
process many crystals may be formed, within the boundaries of these cones and the ring shaped zones
around the edges of an intrusive center. These pockets are called “miarolitic
cavities” and those are the cavities we like, and we get to be the dentist that
does the extracting!
Primary Minerals of Interest
Topaz, smoky quartz crystals, amazonite, amazonite crystals,
amazonite with topaz, phenakite, fluorite, zircon, goethite, feldspar,
pegmatites, and rare minerals such as, amphibole, astrophyllite, cryolite, bastnaesite,
riebeckite, tysonite. Many variations of colors and quality can be found
depending on what site you are searching. (Check first to see what areas you
can collect in and check the laws and regulations as these often change)
Areas of Interest
Crystal Park; Just the name sounds great to those
interested in crystals. The park is located on the eastern slope of Camerons
Cone, a 10,700’ conical peak southeast of the pike’s peak summit. The mountains
here form a bowl-shaped valley named Crystal Park. Roads are maintained well,
sad to say some of the area is becoming built up with private homes, and the
National Forest covers much of the area. Collecting areas range from the
Northern slopes of Camerons Cone to Specimen Rock on the south. This area smoky,
and amazonite crystals can be found, also a good amount of Topaz is in this
area.
Crystal Peak; Another Crystal area sound just as good and it
said to be one of the best, and it is quite famous. Its about 35 miles west of Colorado
Springs north of Highway 24 and between Florissant and lake George. You will
see the Knoll, that is Crystal Peak about 3.5 miles north of Florissant. It is
ring shaped and about 5 miles in diameter. The eastern part also has private
homes built on it, and the western and north parts are on National Forest land.
The collection area is located near Crystal Peak. This has produced topaz,
fluorite and goethite. The price is some of the finest deep black smoky quarts and
deep blue amazonite specimens in the world!
Devils Head; Another intrusive center, sitting at 9,700 ‘forming
a distinctive peak seen as far away as Denver. Devils head is some 33 miles
somewhat south west of Denver. Most collecting is found on the west side of the
mountain. The area is noted for large topaz crystals and large smoky quarts
crystals of gem quality deep and dark black, some several feet in length have
be found here. Also, a pale amazonite is
in this area.
Gold Camp Road; This location brags some rarer minerals of
the region. The Gold Camp Road is along an old railroad grade that goes from
Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek, and north to Cheyenne Cannon. Areas of
collecting are from Helen Hunt Falls all the way to St Peter’s Dome and
continue north to High Drive. There are a large amount of fluorine minerals
including, fluorite and somewhat rare minerals as amphibole, bastnaesite,
cryolite, riebeckite, tysonite, and even rarer astrophyllite. Also, colorful
and large zircon crystals can be found in these areas. As is with all these
areas smoky quarts crystals and amazonite can be found.
Pikes Peak; The name sake of the area of our discussion.
A nice hike to the peak can yield some treasures along the way. Pikes Peak is
an intrusive center. Along Barr Trail is
Glenn Cove a Famous spot and it’s a glacial cirque at 11,000’ on the north side
of the mountain. Amazonite can be found along the way and at the Glenn Cove quarts,
amazonite and topaz crystals can be found in steep cliff pockets.
Rosalie Lobe; this is an isolated lob off Pikes Peak
Granite on the southeast slop of Mount Evans with a 14,000’ peak, just west of
Denver. Similar minerals are found here along with good smoky quarts, amazonite
and topaz.
Tarryall
Mountains; Another intrusive
center named Redskin Stock. The Tarryall Mountains are about 12 miles of Lake
George. This is a better-known topaz area. Pegmatite contains pockets of the minerals.
Placers also can yield minerals. Mostly smoky quarts amazonite is found here
however the amazonite can be pale to pink or white microcline feldspar that makes
a very nice specimens for mineral collectors.
Lapidary
Many of the minerals
collected here are suited for mineral collecting of specimens. However, faceting
and cabochons of superior quality can be had as well.
Where to collect
In my research it
seems that many collecting may be open to casual collecting but be on the look
out for claims and change in status. The pay to dig sites are only opening for
mineral/rockhound clubs and charge $50 for a bag of minerals and then let you
hunt, but there is one more catch you must pay for what you find. Also, the
latest copy of Rockhounding Colorado can be of help to find open areas. I will
leave some collecting information links near the bottom you can check out.
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References
·
Granite Tectonics Of
Pikes Peak Composite Batholith, Colorado Pegmatite Symposium - 1986, R.M.
Hutchinson - Colorado School of Mines
·
Colorado Gem Trails
and Mineral Guide, Richard M. Pearl, 3rd rev. ed. 1993
·
A Brief Summary of the
Mineral Deposits of the Pikes Peak Batholith, Colorado, Rocks & Minerals,
September 1, 2001
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