Subject: Mining Companies and Mines
INTRODUCTION

Information on mining companies and mines can be found in a variety of places, many of them scattered and not easily identifiable. This guide emphasizes mining information on Colorado and the Western US.

WEBSITES (GENERAL)

  • Library Catalogs
  • Digital Photograph & Image Collections
  • Databases
  • Private Websites

WEBSITES (REGIONAL)

  • Colorado
  • Western US
  • US & Canada

LIST OF BOOKS AND JOURNALS

  • Journals on Mining
  • References & Books
    • General business sources for major mining companies
    • On existing mining companies
    • Historical directories
    • On regional and Colorado mining
    • Others of interest

MINING COMPANY STOCKS & CLAIMS

  • Mining Company Stocks
  • Mining Claims

RESEARCH TIPS

  • General Search Tips
  • Current Information
  • Retrospective Sources
WEBSITES (GENERAL)
Most of the following websites are freely accessible to the public. Restricted websites are so indicated. State and federal government websites have much excellent information on mined lands and related environmental issues.

Library Catalogs

 

Digital Photograph & Image Collections

 

Databases [For access to Colorado School of Mines campus network databases, see "Databases & E-Pubs" on the Library website. Your local library may also have access to these databases.]
  • Academic Search Premier [CSM campus network only]
  • EDGAR: Company information from the US Securities and Exchange Commission
  • EI Compendex (Engineering Index): Includes citations to literature on mining engineering.  [CSM campus network only]
  • Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management: Includes information on mining and environmental effects, restoration, etc.  [CSM campus network only]
  • Federal Land Patents Database: Includes records, some with accompanying digital images, documenting the transfer of federal land ownership to individuals.
  • Georef [CSM campus network only]
  • US Bureau of Land Management Land and Mineral Records LR2000: Provides access to BLM federal land--
    • Mineral patents and leases from 1982-present
    • Unpatented mining claims from 1976-present
  • USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS): Allows you to do searches for the locations of selected mines and old mining camps
  • WorldCat: Contains millions of library records for materials on all subjects [CSM campus network only]

 

Private Organizations. Tips for requesting information: Be concise and specific, and do your homework first.
WEBSITES (REGIONAL)
   

 LIST OF BOOKS & JOURNALS
The Colorado School of Mines Library owns the following titles. Our journals, reference and archive books don't circulate outside of our library, but portions may be photocopied. Books that do circulate can be borrowed via inter-library loan. Your local library may also have these titles.

Journals

  • E&MJ (Engineering & Mining Journal) [partial index]
  • Metals Week
  • Mining and Scientific Press [includes index]
  • Mining Journal [includes index]
  • Mining Magazine [includes index]
  • Mining Voice
  • Pay Dirt (different regions/titles)
  • Pit & Quarry
  • Proceedings of the Colorado Scientific Society (1883-1954)

References & Books

General Business Sources that include major mining company information
  • D&B Principal International Businesses
  • Directory of Corporate Affiliations
  • Standard & Poor's Corporation Descriptions
  • Ward's Business Directory of Major U.S. Private Companies
Mining Companies (Current)
  • Canadian Mines Handbook
  • E&MJ International Directory of Mining
  • Financial Times Mining International Yearbook
  • Industrial Minerals Directory: A World Guide to Producers and Processors
  • Jobson's Mining Year Book
  • Keystone Coal Industry Manual
  • Mining Annual Review (Mining Journal publication)
  • Mining Source Book
  • Randol Mining Directory
  • Who Owns Who in Mining (Roskill publication)
  • Mining directories for various countries
Mining Companies (Historical Directories)
  • American Mines Annual. 1901.
  • Colorado Directory of Mines. 1879.
  • Colorado Mining Directory. 1883.
  • Copper Handbook. 1900-1912/13. Continued by:
    • Mines Handbook. 1916-1931. Continued by:
    • Mines Register. 1937-1971.
  • Financial Post Survey of Mines. 1940-1945, 1975-1976, 1979-1982.
  • Mining Manual and Mining Year Book. 1915, 1917-1918, 1921.
  • Mining Year Book. 1933-1984.
  • Walter R. Skinner's Mining International Year Book. Scattered years, 1929-1978.
  • Western Mining Directory. 1979-1984, 1992, 1998-1999.
Colorado & Regional Mining
  • Carroll, C.J., Bauer, M.A. 2002. Historic Coal Mines of Colorado. CD-ROM. Colorado Geological Survey Information Series 64.
  • Colorado Bureau of Mines.
    • Annual reports and series publications--bulletins, circulars.
  • Colorado Geological Survey.
    • Active Permitted Mine Operations in Colorado.
    • Open file reports on the evaluation of mineral and mineral fuel potential of State mineral lands (various counties).
  • Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division: County Report series (Current Status of Colorado Mines Issued Permits Since 1973).
  • Colorado Mining Association (CMA) yearbook series.
  • Vanderwilt, J., ed. 1947. Mineral Resources of Colorado.
    • Del Rio, S.M., ed. 1960. Mineral Resources of Colorado: First Sequel.
  • Dunn, L.G. 2003. Colorado Mining Districts: A Reference.
  • Eberhart, P. 1981. Guide to the Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps.
  • Henderson, C.W. 1926. Mining in Colorado: A History of Discovery, Development and Production. USGS Prof. Paper 138.
  • Hill, J.E. 1912. Mining Districts of the Western United States.
  • Hollister, O.J. 1867. The Mines of Colorado. 1867.
  • Industrial Minerals of Colorado. 1949.
  • McGregor, J.K., Abston, C. 1994. Photographs of Historical Mining Operations in Colorado and Utah from the USGS Library. CD-ROM.
  • Noel, T.J. 1994. Historical Atlas of Colorado. 1994.
  • Parker, B. 1992. Gold Panning and Placering in Colorado: How and Where.
  • Rooney, R. 1994. Mining in Colorado: A Selective Bibliography.
  • Smith, A.E. 1993. Bibliography of Colorado Mining History.
  • Smith, D.A. 1967. Rocky Mountain Mining Camps: The Urban Frontier.
  • Their Silent Profile: Inactive Coal and Metal Mines of Colorado. 1982.
  • Local and regional histories. There are numerous histories on Colorado mining camps, mining districts, and counties. Search the CSM Library catalog for specific titles.
Other Titles of Interest
  • Fell, J.E. 1979. Ores to Metals: The Rocky Mountain Smelting Industry.
  • Fossett, F. 1876. Colorado: A Historical, Descriptive and Statistical Work on the Rocky Mountain Gold and Silver Mining Region.
  • Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station (Ogden UT). 1983. Anatomy of a Mine from Prospect to Production.
  • King, J. 1977. A Mine to Make a Mine: Financing the Colorado Mining Industry, 1859-1902.
  • Lynch, M. 2001. Mining in World History.
  • McPherson, R. 2003. Modern Prospecting: How to Find, Claim and Sell Mineral Deposits.
  • Meyerriecks, W. 2001. Drills and Mills: Precious Metal Mining and Milling Methods of the Frontier West.
  • "Mining Camps Speak" series.
  • Newspaper (historical) index card files. For example, the Rocky Mountain News index at the CSM Library; the Denver papers index at the Denver Public Library.
  • Rickart, T.A. 1932. A History of American Mining.
  • Spence, C.C. 1970. Mining Engineers & the American West: The Lace-Boot Brigade, 1849-1933.
  • Twitty, E. 2002. Riches to Rust: A Guide to Mining in the Old West.
  • WPA histories (various regions).
MINING COMPANY STOCKS & CLAIMS

Mining Company Stocks

The Colorado School of Mines Library cannot give you the current value of mining stocks. For stock values (and the value of paper stocks as collectibles):
  • Goldsheet Mining Directory "Obsolete Securities": Includes links to resources and guidelines on researching obsolete securities.
  • Fischer Manuals of Obsolete and Worthless Stocks. Available in the CSM Library Reference Office [contact a Reference librarian with questions].
  • Dealer catalogs for old mining stocks (both print and Web versions)
  • For corporations incorporated in Colorado, or for stocks issued in Colorado:
    • 1861-1875 Colorado State Archives: Search the Archives for "Colorado Corporations," an electronic listing of businesses incorporated in Colorado in 1861-1875.
    • pre-1977 Public Records Archives, State of Colorado (303-866-2055). There may be a fee for a search.
    • 1977-1990 Secretary of the State of Colorado, Corporation Division (303-894-2251)
    • 1990-present Securities Division, State of Colorado (303-894-2320)
  • For out-of-state companies: Contact the state's securities division or equivalent.

Mining Claims

How do you file a claim on federal land? See the BLM Website "Solid Minerals" Program for FAQs.

Legal status of claims? The Colorado School of Mines Library has very little legal information on mining claims. Look for these records at:

  1. The Bureau of Land Management Information Center (best to start here first then proceed to #2 if needed)
    2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood CO 80215-7076.
    303-239-3600(phone requests are welcome). The BLM has legal mineral survey descriptions as well as patented and unpatented mine claim records.

  2. The assessor’s office of the county in which the claim is located.

What mining claim information does the Colorado School of Mines Library have? Our library has publications and maps on mining activities at some claims or locales. Search the library catalog Catalyst for these publications, including:

  • Maps of mining claims and mining districts
  • Mine reports contracted by the US Bureau of Mines (Mine Map Repository collection)
RESEARCH TIPS

Mining information is interdisciplinary (it appears in the literature of geology, engineering, business, environmental science, and history) and in many different formats (sources include library catalogs, archives, newspapers, industry journals, federal and state documents, and the Web.) Information research can be confusing and time-consuming unless you know where to start.

General Search Tips

  • Identify the location of the mine--the more specific, the better.
  • Start narrow. Search using the name of the mine or company as keywords. Be flexible--search variations, for example, "Pay Dirt Mine" as well as "Paydirt claim".
  • Broaden your search as needed. Most indexes don't include every mine or company--information may be available under broader terms such as mines in a particular district or county.
    • Use geographic keywords such as a town, mining district, or county.
    • Use commodity keywords (gold, silver, coal, etc.) with other broad keywords to refine your search.
  • Small mining operations can be difficult to research. Many weren't recorded in the published literature, or are only mentioned briefly. Browse through industry journals or local newspapers of the time; check old maps.
  • Don't ignore local or regional histories, some of which have been thoroughly researched.
  • Consult librarians and contact libraries with special collections or archives on mining for help.
  • Search the Web using a good search engine such as Google for the mine or company. You never know.
  • Expect to do some research using print resources--most historical information will NOT be available on the Web. Your search may take time, since a lot of original documentation is not very accessible.

Current Information

On companies: A lot of company information is available in standard business sources.

  • Current business directories
  • Databases covering business and company profiles, but also subjects such as geology, mineral resources, energy, engineering, and the environment
  • Recent industry journals and newsletters
  • Company annual reports and webpages

On mines: There aren't anywhere near as many operating mines in the US as there were in the past, making it easier to identify currently working mines.

  • Information on the company operating the mine (see above)
  • State agency publications and websites that record current mining activity
  • Commodity reports from the state or the US Geological Survey, especially if the mine is a significant (or only) producer of a commodity in the state
  • Regional journal and newspaper articles

Retrospective Sources

On companies: Most mining companies were short-lived; many were incorporated in the East rather than in their Western state of operation.

  • Back issues of business directories
  • Old company annual reports
  • Reference works on obsolete companies and stocks
  • Books with historical accounts of regional mining activity
  • Old issues of industry journals and local newspapers
  • State business archives (for companies incorporated in the state)

On mines: Most mines left few records beyond a filed claim.

  • Information on the company operating the mine (see above)
  • Library catalogs that include archives and historical materials on mining
  • Early US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Mines, and state geological survey and bureau of mines publications
  • Old issues of industry and regional journals and local newspapers
  • Federal (US Bureau of Land Management) and county records on mine claims