Colorado Topaz Gem Mine Silver Dorris Placer Mining Claim Au Ag Sluice

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TOPAZ MTN Mine
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BRENAY TOPAZ Mine
20 Acre Unpatented Placer Mining Claim on Federal Land in Park County, CO
**Our claims are less than 1 mile from the famous Topaz Mountain Gem Mine**
The Topaz Mountain Gem mine can be reached from Lake George, Park Co., Colorado by following Park Co. Rd. 77 north for about 7 miles from where it intersects US Rt. 24; then turning right (northeast) onto Forest Service Rd. 211 (Matakat, aka Matukat, Matucat, Rd.) and driving approximately 2.5 miles to the entrance gate (on the north side of Matakat Rd., just past the cattle guard). The locality occupies 2 Forest Service placer claims owned by Glacier Peak Mining, LLC, which is operated by Joseph L. Dorris (i.e. Prospectors Show) and his family.
The famous Topaz Mtn Gem Mine is not to be confused with the mine that is being auctioned off. The mine being auctioned off is located nearby this famous mine. COLLECTING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED from the famous mine except when Mr. Dorris is present, and requires purchase of a bag of gem gravel. For detailed directions, conditions, and dates, go to:
https://pinnacle5minerals.com/GlacierPeakWeb/Visits/TopazVisits.html
(Pictures of the famous mine)
This is a rare chance to own a claim in this particular area. Park County only has about 8 percent of State  owned lands while privately owned land accounts for about 41  percent. With the purchase of this claim you will be getting the exclusive mineral rights to 20 acres on an excellent spot located in Park County nearby the famous Topaz Mountain Gem Mine.
This claim is located in the Tarryall Mountains, a rugged, forested area that includes parts of Pike National Forest and the Lost Creek Wilderness.
Topaz occurs in the Tarryall Mts. in miarolitic cavities in pegmatites, in colluvial deposits, and in colluvial/alluvial deposits produced by glacial meltwater (Michalski, 1986). At the Topaz Mountain Gem mine, topaz occurs in 2 types of deposits. First, it forms well rounded "cutters" in small seams of deeper gravel that was deposited between large boulders. Second, it occurs in "pristine", sharply terminated crystals in poorly sorted granite colluvium. Both types probably originated in the rugged outcrops of 970- to 990-million-year-old potassium rich granite that occur to the east and northwest of the mine. These outcrops are a part of the Redskin stock, a late intrusive phase of the Pikes Peak batholith. Topaz occurrences are concentrated along the contact between the Pikes Peak Granite and the Redskin stock (Muntyan and Muntyan, 1985).
Topaz is a semiprecious gemstone that occurs as very hard, transparent crystals in a variety of colors. Topaz crystals, are naturally amber colored, but become colorless after exposure to sunlight. Topaz forms within cavities of the volcanic rock, rhyolite, from eruptions that occurred six to seven million years ago during the Tertiary Period. Topaz is embedded in the rhyolite rock, and also found loose on the slopes and arroyos
Topaz occurs in a variety of colors. Colorado topaz is usually pale blue, while Utah topaz is a sherry brown or amber color.
Other minerals at this locality include rare, euhedral zircon crystals (Joe Dorris, personal communication, 2012), common smoky quartz (some with phenakite or needly schorl crystals attached), milky quartz, microcline, albite, goethite, ferrocolumbite (Dorris, 2006), and altered biotite.
We also found records of other minerals found in this area that include:
Albite
Columbite-(Fe)
Fluorite
Goethite
Hematite
Microcline
Muscovite
Phenakite
Quartz
Schorl
Topaz
Zircon
(
https://www.mindat.org/loc-159278.html
)
(105 carat bi-color topaz found by Tim Dorris at the Topaz Mtn Gem Mine)
(Topaz found at the Topaz Mtn Gem Mine)
This area was heavily timbered until the Hayman fire of 2002. When it swept through, it burned much of the timber from the claims and the surrounding hillsides. Now, scarred and blackened snags cover the mountains. Recovery is underway, and much like the area around the Glacier Peak amazonite claims farther south, the wildflowers have returned in abundance. Aspens are also up to six feet tall. The grass is quite lush. Of course, it will be many years before all of the pines and firs return.
Come to Hike, Camp, Ride and Shoot - or come to pull some shiny rock$ out of the ground;-)
Buyer will receive the following with their completed transaction:
Quitclaim deed showing full ownership of the claim. This will be stamped, recorded and verified with the County and the BLM offices.
Welcome packet with all of the rules and regulations as they relate to the State and BLM where the claim is located.
Educational documents to annually renew your mining claim with the BLM.
A CD of all of the documented images of the claim including maps of the site.
Map of claim marked and GPS coordinates.
Multiple maps showing claim location and surrounding areas for access.
Colorado has produced thousands of topaz specimens from numerous localities with some gem crystals approaching five pounds in weight (Eckel and others, 1997)!
Local rock club members are familiar with the best known source of Colorado topaz---the pegmatites associated with the Pikes Peak Batholith (Precambrian in age, around 1.05 Ga).  Several of the Colorado mineral societies have claims that may produce topaz and certainly some society members have individual claims.
For many years a commercial topaz operation was open to the public near Spruce Grove Campground as the Topaz Mountain Gem Mine. The intrepid rockhounders could purchase “buckets” of material and hunt for the rough crystals. Today mines of the Glacier Peak Mining L.L.C. at Topaz Mountain “produce the finest U. S. topaz crystals and cutting rough …and perhaps the finest bi-color sherry and blue topaz ever found” (personal communication, Joseph L. Dorris).
Specimens found onsite at the famous Topaz Mountain Gem Mine
Here are some tools that you should bring: rock hammer, or regular hammer, screwdriver, bags for your gems, hiking boots, hat, sunscreen, bug repellent and once again don't forget the water! Jeans are also a good idea because you will be spending most of your time on your knees, and the rocks are very ruff and jagged.
One of the more interesting aspects of the Pikes Peak topaz is that many of the crystals are found in stream sediments and weathered granite. Prospectors screen for the crystals rather than “pound rock”.  These alluvial specimens are commonly frosted on the surface but have not been transported a great distance from their granitic source.
ABOUT THE MINING DISTRICT
The Pikes Peak granite formed in several stages. In the initial stage, about 1.02 billion years ago, a large mass of magma intruded into what is now the Front Range of Colorado. Although there may have been volcanoes overlying the intrusion, the majority of the magma never reached the surface, but formed and cooled at a depth of about 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.3 km). Ultimately, the underground extent of the magma covered an area of 1,200 square miles (3,100 km2). Later on, over the next 40-million years, newer pulses of magma pushed into the existing granite, re-melting and pushing it aside to form, what are now called "intrusive centers." As the magma flowed into these intrusive centers, it tended to form a circular masses of rock with concentric rings of varying composition that look something like a bulls eye. The granite in the intrusive centers is different from the original granite, with higher concentrations of rare elements and more exotic minerals. Some of the best mineral collecting areas in Colorado can be found around the edges of these intrusive centers.
The Tarryall Mountains are located about 12 miles (19 km) north of Lake George. They represent an intrusive center called the Redskin Stock. Like the other localities in the region, smoky quartz and amazonite are the primary minerals, however, the amazonite is usually very pale and grading into ordinary pink or white microcline feldspar.
The Tarryall Mountains are located about 12 miles (19 km) north of Lake George. They represent an intrusive center called the Redskin Stock. Like the other localities in the region, smoky quartz and amazonite are the primary minerals, however, the amazonite is usually very pale and grading into ordinary pink or white microcline feldspar.
(Drone shots of the surrounding lands)
The Tarryall Mountains are famous as being one of the better topaz localities in the region. They are found in the typical pegmatite veins and pockets, but also as placer deposits where flowing water and gravity have sorted the slightly heavier topaz to the bottom of gravels.
( httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineralogy_of_the_Pikes_Peak_Region )
TRAVEL / ACTIVITIES
Four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles are recommended in all seasons on Park County roads, and an emergency kit of blankets, energy snacks, water, flashlights, and a shovel are essential in the winter, which can begin in late September and last until May.
Mining History, Production, Mines and Prospects
Between 1859 and 1989 (when the London Mine shut down after the last of several brief post World War II revivals), mines in Park County produced in excess of 9,404,623 ounces of silver, 1,366,374 ounces of gold, 12,668,632 pounds of zinc, 63,333,051 pounds of lead, and 3,334,886 pounds of copper worth over 0 million at 1999 metal prices (silver—.00/ounce, gold— 0.00/ounce, zinc—{{detail_product_description}}.50/pound, lead = {{detail_product_description}}.50/pound, copper—{{detail_product_description}}.75/pound). The USGS compiled data on over 235 mines and prospects in Park County within the Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) database. Of this total, 101 occur in northwest Park County, 49 occur in the east-central Park County, and 24 are located in southeast Park County. The remaining 61 mines and prospects are scattered. It is estimated, from an examination of topographic maps and other literature sources, that there are at least 600 old workings in the County. Half are located in northwest Park County. In northwest Park County, Reiber (unpublished report, 1999) documented the presence of over 3,000 patented mining claims.
ACCESS
/ MAPS
To reach the claim you are able to use either 2WD or 4WD depending on the road conditions, and the time of year. The main paved road leading you to the area is called Tarryall Rd. Once you on that road you are looking for a dirt road named Matukat Rd. Continue on this road until you read the claim. This road goes right through the claim, giving you easy access to your vehicle and equipment. There is plenty of space on the claim to park a small camper or trailer.
U.S. Highways 285 and 24, Colorado Highway 9, many Park County roads, and numerous national forest access routes provide automobile access into and through the County. Some of the National Forest routes are suitable for off-highway vehicles (OHVs) only. Five water storage reservoirs (Antero, Elevenmile, Tarryall, Spinney and Montgomery) have become important wildlife and aquatic recreation areas, attracting 0.5 million people each year.
Mining claims are a tangible asset just like any other Real property (real estate) and show a lifetime proof of all interests in minerals in the area specified by the above claim. Once you own this claim and the associated mineral rights, you will own them for life as long as you keep up with the annual fees. This claim can be bought, sold, leased or used as collateral, just like any other piece of real estate.
A mining claim can be willed or passed down to future generations as part of a trust or your estate, or you can trade it, lease it out for a period or time (or indefinitely), gift it to a family member or friend and you can also transfer or sell just an interest in it in part or in its entirety just like any other real property using a quitclaim deed which is a recordable conveyance. In other words, you could sell a 25% or a 50% share in it if you wanted in order to bring on a partner in the future - or you could sell the entire claim in whole.
This Buy It Now is for full/all interest in this 20 acre placer mining claim (unless the acreage indicated in the above mine description is different). This claim covers the entire site, (unless the claim description above describes different measurements), and includes full rights to all minerals, gems and just about whatever else you may find of value on the property (except oil and gas, which are handled separately). The buyer of this claim will receive a notarized quitclaim deed to the full claim and all associated documentation showing full ownership of the claim. We pay ALL fees associated with transferring this claim into your name - legal fees, title transfer fees, document fees, notary costs, recording fees and even shipping fees and not a penny more.
In order to hold on to your claim for life, you will need to pay an annual maintenance fee to the Government (BLM, not us) every year.  Currently the maintenance fee is 5 per year per claim that you own, and it is due on September 1st of every year.
NOTE that if you own fewer than 10 claims nationwide, we can assist you in filing the paperwork to waive the maintenance fee every year. That means you will only pay per year for your maintenance fee instead of 5.  We guarantee that all past fees have been paid in full and there are no outstanding debts or amounts owed on the claim prior to the transfer of ownership into your name.
The federal government retains ownership of the land - so this means that you will not have any annual real estate taxes due on your mining claim, and you will not have to maintain liability insurance in case someone gets injured on your claim due to no fault of your own.
How do Transfers of Ownership in Mining Claims work if I decide to sell my claim in the future?
First, we handle all the paperwork and costs associated with transferring this claim into your name should you win this auction. But if you decide to sell this claim at some point in the future, interest in a properly recorded mining claim or site may be transferred (i.e sold) in part or its entirety. A quitclaim deed or recordable conveyance document is required and if you do sell your claim someday and the transfer documents should be filed within 60 days after the transfer.
We can and will help you with the paperwork for no cost should you need a hand selling your claim in the future if you pay all of the County, State and Federal fees (usually less than to ).
But again - with regard to transferring this claim initially into your name, we take care of all the paperwork at our expense. You do not have to worry about anything. we handle the BLM transfer documentation and the county recording.
Can you build / camp on your claim?
Without an approved plan of operations, you have the same rights and restrictions as the public. If the area is open to camping to the public, then it is permissible. However, you need to check with the BLM Field Office or the local District Ranger for areas open to camping. Under Federal law in order to occupy the public lands under the mining laws for more than 14 calendar days in any 90 day period, a claimant must be involved in certain activities that (a) are reasonably incident; (b) constitute substantially regular work; (c) are reasonably calculated to lead to the extraction and beneficiation of minerals; (d) involve observable on-the-ground activity that can be verified; and (e) use appropriate equipment that is presently operable, subject to the need for reasonable assembly, maintenance, repair or fabrication of replacement parts. All five of these requirements must be met for occupancy to be permissible.
Although it is possible to build a permanent structure on a mining claim, it is extremely expensive and you will have to jump through way too many hoops to consider it easy to do. It would have to be in support of a commercial, year-round mining operation for starters, and you would need to post a large reclamation bond to insure that if you ever abandoned your claim, the bond would pay for the removal of the structure and the reclamation or the area. So in short, it is technically possible to build on your mining claim, but just be aware that it is very difficult and expensive to do - however, camping is almost always involved unless your claim is in a wilderness area, which is not very common at all.
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In addition to handling all of the paperwork to transfer this claim into your name, as well as paying all of the fees so you do not have any costs other than the final price of the auction when the bidding closes, we also pay all of the costs associated with mailing the paperwork to you as well as to the County and Federal Government for recording and sending you back certified copies.
We will ship you a folder with all paperwork, claim coordinates, maps and information on your claim, including a CD-Rom with all of the pictures of your claim upon your payment in full clearing.  We ship everything to you the same business day (if payment is received by 1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time) - and we will always provide you with the tracking information so you are always informed.
You initial claim packet that we mail has an unrecorded deed so that you can show ownership immediately after payment and be able to visit your claim. A second original deed goes to the County for recording the same day, and a third original deed goes to the BLM for certification as well.  Both of those originals will be returned to you so you will wind up with several original deeds - but the County and BLM deeds can take 3 to 6 weeks to be returned to you, which is why we send you the initial original on day one.
Your payment of this eBay item in full gives you 100% ownership of this entire claim, with no other fees and/or other costs for the transfer of ownership required. This is NOT for the down payment, this is NOT a partnership arrangement where someone else will own part of the claim with you, and there are NO other fees or costs for the transfer of this claim in your name.
eBay does not allow checkout on the eBay website for any Real Estate transactions - simply because it is not like selling a widget - the transfer of real estate is complicated and requires notary work, licensed professionals and recording. Note that this is eBay’s rules and not ours and it is the same for any mining claim seller on eBay
We also are not able to accept PayPal payments for mining claims, as claims are real estate and PayPal does not allow payments to be made on any real estate items, including single family homes, condos, mining claim or land purchases. We DO accept just about every other kind of payment method you can think of: Personal Checks, Business Checks, Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, Bank Wires, ACH payments, Direct Bank Deposit at any Bank of America Branch, Gold or Silver Bullion (at the day’s SPOT prices), etc. After the auction close, we will send you a secure link to handle the payment safely online if you prefer, and we can also take care of payment by mail or telephone, as we are a traditional Brick and Mortar business - so whichever method you prefer is perfectly fine with us.
We provide financing plans with no interest or fees. Financing terms are minimum of 0 down with the balance will due within 90-days via three equal monthly payments of the remaining balance after the down payment has been paid.
With all financing plans, we do not transfer the final deed into your name until the claim has been paid in full. In the event of a default on a payment plan, we do not refund your down payment - however, we do allow you to put that down payment towards any other purchase as a store credit in full. If you are financing a climate and there is less than 90 days until September 1st (i.e. from June 1st through September 1st), when the annual fee for mining claims is due to the Federal Government, we will add the 5 maintenance fee to your down payment and pay it to the BLM on your behalf thereby increasing your down payment to 5 instead of 0 - however, the 5 portion of the down payment does not go towards your principle balance since it is used to pay the annual fees to the government, therefore the actual down payment credit will still be 0. Approval for financing is automatic as long as you have a valid eBay account in good standing.