Mary Murphy Mine facts for kids

Tramhouse, Mary Murphy Mine, 1984

Lower terminal at Romley, old tram from the Alley Belle mine. Ore was loaded onto railcars here.

The Mary Murphy Mine was a very important gold mine in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. It was located near a historic town called St. Elmo, Colorado. This mine was a major part of the Chalk Creek mining area.

The Mary Murphy Mine was active for a long time, from 1870 until 1925. During these years, it produced a huge amount of gold. It dug up about 220,000 ounces of gold! This gold was worth $4.4 million back then. That would be like $180 million today (in 2008 money). The mine also produced a lot of silver, lead, and zinc.

To move the ore, there were two aerial tramways. These were like cable cars that carried materials. They connected the mine to Romley, Colorado. From Romley, the ore could be loaded onto trains from the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad.

A Look Back at the Mine

In 1984, a group called the Historic American Engineering Record studied the mine. They made detailed records of the buildings and structures that were still standing there. This helps us learn about how mines used to work.

Protecting the Environment

Over the years, water draining from the old mine caused problems. This water flowed into Chalk Creek, which is a river that feeds into the Upper Arkansas River. Sometimes, this mine drainage was harmful to fish. For example, in 1986, it caused many young trout to die at a fish farm nearby.

To fix this, the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology stepped in. They gathered all the waste materials from the mine. Then, they covered them up in a safe, dry spot at the mill site. This greatly reduced the harmful metals in the water. Since then, fish have been much safer. The Mary Murphy Mine site is now used to test new ways to clean up old mines in the Colorado Rockies. This helps protect our rivers and wildlife.

Visiting the Mary Murphy Mine

Today, the Mary Murphy Mine is a popular spot for adventurers. Many people who enjoy four-wheeling visit the area. It is also a favorite place for those who like to explore ghost towns. It's a cool place to see history and nature together!