Idarado Mine

The remains of the operation are visible from the Million Dollar Highway, north of Red Mountain Pass, between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado.

Newmont's lead exploration geologist/executive, Fred Searls, recommended utilizing the old Treasury Tunnel, extending it to intercept the Barstow and the Black Bear Mines.

Searls recognized the Barstow and Black Bear still possessed large reserves of lead and zinc beneath their historic workings, which the previous mine owners had not exploited as it was uneconomical.

At Searls direction, Newmont began buying outright, or leasing, most of the old mining claims in the area.

In June of 1943 the US Federal Government, leased the Idarado and paid to have the Treasury Tunnel extended the additional 7000' to come in beneath the old Black Bear workings.

Once the Treasury Tunnel was under the Black Bear, miners created a 600' vertical raise to intersect and drain the old workings.

In June of 1944 Newmont bought back the lease on Idarado from the federal government, repaying the cost of the Treasury extension.

A new, 250 ton-per-day selective flotation mill was built and by January of 1945 the mine was in full swing.

Telluride Mines had driven a tunnel at mill-level, into the mountain and created raises to connect with the Smuggler-Union workings, along with others.

Telluride Mines controlled most of the other historic producers as well, including the Liberty Bell, Tomboy, Ajax, Argentine and Montana.

Telluride mines was financially weak and unable to remain open given the low metal prices.

Things rebounded, and by 1973 Idarado had struck a new ore body which helped make the mine profitable again.

Eventually Idarado succumbed to the financial hemorrhage and closed their doors for good on September 30th, 1978.

Beginning in the 1980s, reclamation efforts took place at the mill-tailings ponds near the mine and farther north down the valley, near the old Ironton town site.