Carbonate Mine

Useful Information

Location:	Bald Mountain, near Breckenridge. (39.462425, -105.982310)
Open:	JUL to SEP daily. By appointment only, weather dependent. [2023]
Fee:	Adults USD 45, Children (0-18) not allowed. [2023]
Classification:	Silver Mine Zinc Mine Lead Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	A=3,597 m asl, T=-2 °C.
Guided tours:	D=3 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	The Carbonate Mine, PO Box 5183, Breckenridge, CO 80424, Tel: +1-720-226-0702. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1896	mine opened.
late 1950's	mine closed.

Geology

Description

Carbonate Mine is despite the name not a carbonate mine, it was mined for anglesite and galena. The mine is located far up Bald Mountain, a place which is not reachable by normal cars. Visitors are picked up just north of the town of Breckenridge and brought up to the mine by a 4WD vehicle. That's the reason why the mine is only open during summer and the visit is weather dependent.

Because of the height the tour is pretty impressive, but requires some care. The mine temperature is below zero, which explains the ice formations inside. Warm clothes and appropriate shoes are essential, the guides will not take visitors without closed shoes into the mine. Helmets, miners lamps or torches, and rain jackets are provided. The ice forms huge crystals, which are very fragile. As they are pure white, they are probably the reason for the name, as they resemble calcite (carbonate) crystals.