Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Neat brilliant lustrous loose complete pyrite crystal measuring 3.2 x 2.8 x 2.1 cm in size overall. Complete all around with natural etching typical of the locality. No damage. Ex Lloyd Tate collection.

© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Pyrite, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

A shiny crystal of pyrite with inclusions of purple fluorite. Specimen size 2 x 1.9 x 2.3 cm.

© A&M

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Approx 10cm across. The Mineral Gallery specimen, shown at Westward Look Show, Tucson 2010

© J.Ralph 2010

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The above specimen is a Climax Mine Rhodochrosite on Quartz point matrix!Anyone who knows Rhodos knows just how incredibly difficult it is to find a good ClimaxRhodochrosite. Occasionally I see incomplete rhombs without matrix or even rarer - a partial orcoated rhomb on matrix. But the holy grail for Rhodo collectors is a good sized plate of ...

© Kevin Ward & exceptionalminerals.com

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Brilliant crystal of pyrite with almost mirror-like faces. The crystal has scattered overgrowth of smaller pyrite crystals. Minor edge imperfections do not detract from this showy crystal from the classic find in 1974. Overall size of mineral specimen: 3.5x3x2.5 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-30 mm.

© 2002 John H. Betts

Microcline

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Microcline is a common mineral, but this Colorado specimen was good enough that noted Colorado collector George Fisher saw fit to add it to his collection. It is an elongated crystal, sharply terminated, complete all around and undamaged. 5 x 1.7 x 1.3 cm

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

2.4 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm. One of the lesser known, yet important localities for Rhodochrosite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine is actually a Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This floater specimen hosts a single, gem quality, doubly-terminated, "needle" Quartz crystal with a few sharp, translucent, ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Fluorite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The contrast between the Quartz and the purple Fluorite is especially beautiful. The small bright crystals of Quartz embrace Fluorite octahedrons of rounded edges and parallel growths. The locality is very unusual.

Climax Open Pit Mine, Leadville, Colorado, USA

Former Jan Buma collection. Number 020856

Specimen size: 4.1 x 3.1 ...

© Fabre Minerals https://www.fabreminerals.com

Rhodochrosite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Rhodochrosite crystal. Specimen is from the collection of Jack Halpern #701. Scale at bottom of image is an inch with a rule at one cm.

© Rock Currier

Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.0 cm. Crystallized specimen from the collection of David J. Eicher. John H. Eicher Collection.

© David J. Eicher

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.3 x 3.9 x 1.6 cmA rarely seen Molybdite/Ferrimolybdite from the Climax Mine. This is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts soft yellow color semi-powdery crusts of Ferrimolybdite or possibly just Molybdite sitting on "sericite" matrix. “Minerals of Colorado” ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Fluorite, Calcite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Fluorite and Calcite. R. Kosnar specimen (1974). Scale at bottom of image is an inch with a rule at one cm.

© Rock Currier

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Rare matrix specimen of Rhodochrosite on Quartz from the Climax Mine!Anyone who knows Colorado minerals and Rhodochrosite knows just how rare matrixClimax pieces are - especially one that has large crystals. I've seen three in the pastten years of looking for one so I was thrilled to find this specimen. True, the Rhodosaren't Sweet Home ...

© Kevin Ward & exceptionalminerals.com

Rhodochrosite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Rhodochrosite. Specimen from the Tom McKee collection 1972. Scale at bottom of image is an inch with a rule at one cm.

© Rock Currier

Molybdenite, Quartz, Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Typical "ore" sample from Climax mine - collected in -75. A thin vein w molybdenite, qz and pyrite. Specimen size 28x40x 35 mm, coll and photo AÖ 2013.

© aö 2013

Rhodochrosite, Dolomite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Gemmy rhodochosite encrusted with dolomite (on pyrite matrix). Obtained in 2004. Alan Goldstein specimen (A141) and photo. FOV ~1cm.

© Alan Goldstein

Pyrite, Tetrahedrite Subgroup

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.3 x 4.0 x 3.7 cm. A rare, for the locality, pyrite with tetrahedrite crystal from the Climax Molybdenum Mine of Colorado. Climax was a bulk, low-grade molybdenum mine and mineral collecting by mine personnel was prohibited. This is a large, sharp, mirror-bright, rich brass-yellow cube nicely accented by a scattering of tetrahedrite crsystals. ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Molybdenite, Quartz, Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Slab of molybdenum ore from Climax Mine. Molybdenite, along with quartz and pyrite, are concentrated along shear zones in rhyolite porphyry. Specimen, about 20 cm in width, is on display in Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. Photograph by Norman King, 17 September 2015.

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

2.7 x 1.7 x 1.2 cm. One of the lesser known, yet important localities for Rhodochrosite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine is actually a Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a few gem-quality, sharp, lustrous, colorless "needle" Quartz crystals with a few sharp, translucent, red/pink ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Molybdenite, Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Larger surface with molybdenite- very thin appr a mm. Specimen 40x 38x 30 appr. Coll and photo AÖ 2013.

© aö 2013

Pyrite, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

8.6 x 6.6 x 4.6 cm. One of the lesser known, yet important localities for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine is actually a Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a predominant, razor sharp, highly lustrous, slightly elongated, golden metallic cube of Pyrite measuring 1.6 cm long ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Pyrite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Small specimen from a huge mine, pyrite crystals and qz FOV ~5mm, specimen and photo AÖ.

© aö 2013

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.3 x 3.9 x 1.6 cmA rarely seen Molybdite/Ferrimolybdite from the Climax Mine. This is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts soft yellow color semi-powdery crusts of Ferrimolybdite or possibly just Molybdite sitting on "sericite" matrix. “Minerals of Colorado” ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Rhodochrosite, Dolomite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Gemmy rhodochosite encrusted with dolomite (on pyrite matrix). Obtained in 2004. Alan Goldstein specimen (A141) and photo. FOV ~9 mm.

© Alan Goldstein

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.3 x 3.9 x 1.6 cmA rarely seen Molybdite/Ferrimolybdite from the Climax Mine. This is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts soft yellow color semi-powdery crusts of Ferrimolybdite or possibly just Molybdite sitting on "sericite" matrix. “Minerals of Colorado” ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

FluoriteSize: 2.5x1.8x2cm

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

5.3 x 3.9 x 1.6 cmA rarely seen Molybdite/Ferrimolybdite from the Climax Mine. This is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts soft yellow color semi-powdery crusts of Ferrimolybdite or possibly just Molybdite sitting on "sericite" matrix. “Minerals of Colorado” ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Wolframite Group

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

A small spray of wolframite in massive quartz.This was a gift from the good folks at the Rock Hut in Leadville.Rick Dalrymple specimen & photo.

© Rick Dalrymple & Rockpick Legend Co.

Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

7.1 x 4.5 x 1.0 cm. Super bright, silvery-metallic, hexagonal parallel-growth, platy molybdenite crystals form a very fine small cabinet from this famous Colorado open pit molybdenum mine. Rare material in this quality. Ex. Bob Trimingham Collection.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite, Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

6.4 x 6.1 x 3.1 cm. Rare, old-time and rich molybdenite ore from the Climax Mine. Crusts of yellow ferrimolybdite (molybdite) richly cover both sides of the quartz-rich matrix. It is a rare secondary mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal vein and porphyry-type molybdenum-bearing deposits, or in breccia pipe deposits containing ...

© Rob Lavinsky & MineralAuctions.com

Pyrite, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

8.6 x 6.6 x 4.6 cm. One of the lesser known, yet important localities for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine is actually a Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a predominant, razor sharp, highly lustrous, slightly elongated, golden metallic cube of Pyrite measuring 1.6 cm long ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Microcline

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

3.8 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm. A nice, pearlescent, 4-sided microcline crystal with a pyramidal termination from near the famous Climax Molybdenum Mine. The crystal faces have very interesting, preferential, horizontal etching. Ex. George Fisher Collection.

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Rhodochrosite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

RhodochrositeSize: 2.2x1.8x1.8cmCleavage specimen from a very old collection

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Bright, flattened, floater crystal. Collection of Rudy Bolona.

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

7.3 x 4.4 x 3.5 cmLargest Crystal: 3.8 cmA classic and sometimes lesser known, yet important locality for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This locality is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a few sharp, highly lustrous, slightly elongated, golden metallic ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

PyriteSize: 0.8x1.3x0.6cm

Rhodochrosite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

6.0 x 4.0 x 1.9 cm. Rhodochrosite specimens from the Climax Mine are rare, because of management policies to discourage the collection of mineral specimens in order to concentrate on tonnage of ore when it was working. Few specimens of this size and caliber ever came out, and even fewer were preserved for collectors. This large rhomb is ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Molybdite, Ferrimolybdite, Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

6.4 x 6.1 x 3.1 cm. Rare, old-time and rich molybdenite ore from the Climax Mine. Crusts of yellow ferrimolybdite (molybdite) richly cover both sides of the quartz-rich matrix. It is a rare secondary mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal vein and porphyry-type molybdenum-bearing deposits, or in breccia pipe deposits containing ...

© Rob Lavinsky & MineralAuctions.com

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

6.6 x 5.2 x 4.7 cm. Mineral specimens are uncommon from this famous Colorado open pit and underground molybdenum mine, as this was a large bulk tonnage operation and collecting was forbidden by management. This large sharp, elongated cube has mirror-bright, brass-yellow color and fine stepped-growth form. Some of Colorado's finest pyrite specimens ...

© Rob Lavinsky & irocks.com

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Mirror-like, brassy, intergrown cubes of pyrite from the famous Climax Mine, spanning 7.4 cm, constitute this specimen from the collection of David J. Eicher. Ex-Kosnar Collection.

© David J. Eicher

Pyrite, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

7.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 cmLargest Crystal: 1.0 cmA classic and sometimes lesser known, yet important locality for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This locality is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a razor sharp, highly lustrous, slightly elongated, golden ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

3.4 x 3.3 x 1.8 cmOne of the lesser known, yet important localities for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine is actually a Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a group of sharp, slightly compressed, golden metallic cubes of Pyrite associated with minor black Sphalerite, ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Rhodochrosite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The same formations that produce the spectacular rhodochrosite specimens at the Sweet Home Mine above Alma also extend westward under Mt. Bross, and are occasionally intersected in the Climax mine workings, although the specimens are usually not of as high a quality. An example is this specimen from Climax, collected several decades ago, which ...

Wolframite Group, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

A lustrous crystal of dark brown wolframite on purple fluorite.

© Frank Karasti

Fluorite, Quartz

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Purple fluorite on quartz matrix. This was collected just west of the mine on a service road bermed with mine waste.

© Frank Karasti

Wolframite Group, Fluorite, Muscovite (Var: Sericite)

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Dark brown wolframite with purple fluorite and white sericite on the right. All in a host rock of siliceous rhyolite. The wolframite seems to have been broken before being encased in the host rock.

© Frank Karasti

Pyrite, Fluorite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

7.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 cmLargest Crystal: 1.0 cmA classic and sometimes lesser known, yet important locality for Pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This locality is actually a significant Molybdenum mine with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a razor sharp, highly lustrous, slightly elongated, golden ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Thin metallic grey molybdenite veins running through matrix.Old reference material, purchased in 1964.

© Andrew Hodgson

Fluorite, Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

A blue tinted fluorite with golden pyrite on quartz. I have not identified the tiny crystal just right of center.

© Frank Karasti

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

A complete all-around pair of interpenetrating pyrite crystals from the Climax Mine of Colorado. The elongated cubes have mirror-bright brass-yellow color and cubic and octahedral interference stepped-growth faces. Very nearly pristine, with only one small spot of out-of-sight conchoidal bruising on a face. Mineral specimens are uncommon from this ...

© Rob Lavinsky & MineralAuctions.com

Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Section of a drill core with molybdenite from the collection of Eric and Carolyn Fritzsch #0311

Silver

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This is a micromount specimen of silver from the Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado. I acquired the specimen from Don and Mary Jane Smoley at the 2022 Erie mineral show. This specimen was in the former collection of Philip C. Evanoff (1915-2018): #02839.Jamison K. Brizendine specimen and photo.

© Jamison K. Brizendine

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

One of the lesser known, yet important localities for pyrite in Colorado is the Climax Mine. This mine was big a molybdenum producer with a very large open pit and some underground tunnels. This specimen hosts a predominant, sharp, striated, golden metallic crystal of pyrite with a beautiful combination of pyritohedral and octahedral faces ...

© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Molybdenite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Some sparse molybdenite from the Climax Mine.Collected by Bob Werner sometime in the 1960s.

Silver

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This is a micromount specimen of silver from the Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado. I acquired the specimen from Don and Mary Jane Smoley at the 2023 Mansfield mineral show. This specimen was in the former collection of Philip C. Evanoff (1915-2018): #02841.Jamison K. Brizendine specimen and photo.

© Jamison K. Brizendine

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Self-recovered when I worked at the Climax mine in the early 1980s along with several other pyrite specimens, a couple that where of high quality.

© Casey Jones

Climax Molybdenum Mine

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The name Climax comes from the location of the mine at the Continental Divide. A railway stop was built there to uncouple extra locomotives used in the climb. Molybdenite was discovered at the location in 1879, but it wasn’t identified as molybdenite until 1895. In 1915, a process for separating molybdenum from the molybdenite was developed and ...

© Nathalie Brandes

Climax Molybdenum Mine

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Photo by Dean Gesch, U.S. Geological Survey. Public domain photo, courtesy of USGS.

Climax Mine tailings ponds

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Major tailings ponds for Climax Mine (Photo 3 on index map–mindat photo no. 708627). The near pond is Robinson Tailings Pond and the more distant one is Tenmile Tailings Pond. The surface elevation of Tenmile is approximately 10,920 feet (3328 m) and the outflow is 10,700 feet (3261 m), making the tailings pile about 220 feet (67 m) in depth, ...

© Norman King

Map of Climax Mine posted on location

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This map of Climax Mine and vicinity are displayed at a rest stop along Colorado Hwy 90 directly across from the mine entrance and offices (map trimmed here for convenience). In this photo, north is to the top as it would be on any other map, but this is actually shown at the rest stop rotated 90 degrees to the left. Therefore, on the original map ...

© Norman King

Climax Mine tailings

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This is a panoramic view of the Climax Mine tailings taken in 2005. More recent photos show that grass is now growing in some areas.

Climax Mine site overview

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Overview of surface features at Climax Mine (Photo 1 on index map–mindat photo no. 708627). This was a major producer of molybdenum. Photo by Norman King, 15 September 2015.

© Norman King

Climax Mine power station, processing mill, and mine headquarters

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Power station, processing mill, and mine headquarters building at Climax Mine (Photo 2 on index map–mindat photo no. 708627). Photo by Norman King, 15 September 2015.

© Norman King

Robinson Tailings Pond

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The Robinson Tailings Pond covers an area of about 600 acres, filling a valley where the towns of Robinson, Kokomo, and Recen once existed. The valley began to be filled with tailings in the 1950s. In 1965, the residents of Kokomo-Recen (all nine of them), voted to abandon their towns.Capping the tailings pond began in the 1980s. Topsoil for ...

© Nathalie Brandes

Mayflower Tailings Storage Facility

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

In the past, the Mayflower Tailings Storage Facility was used for Stage 2 water treatment (removing manganese and traces of zinc and lead). When Climax Mine resumed operation in 2012, the mine needed to deposit tailings in the Mayflower Storage, so a new water treatment facility was constructed and tailing began to fill Mayflower in late ...

© Nathalie Brandes

Climax Molybdenum Co., circa 1924

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Workings of the Climax Molybdenum Co., Climax, Colorado, USA.Image appears in Hess, Frank L. (1924) Molybdenum deposits, a short review. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 761.

Storke Level Shaft

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This shaft was used to access the Storke Level of the mine, previously known as the 500 level. Ore was extracted from the early 1950s to the 1980s, when underground mining ceased at Climax. Infrastructure in the Storke Yard was demolished in the 1990s and the area was reclaimed, leaving only the shafthouse.The Storke Level was named for Arthur ...

© Nathalie Brandes

View of the Climax molybdenum mining area, ca. 1960.

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The Climac Molybdenum Mine at 11,318 ft. Fremont Pass 13 miles north of Leadville, Colorado, ca. 1960. Climax at that time was the largest underground mine in North America and supplied two-thirds of the Free World's supply of Molybdenum. Vintage picture postcard, published by R. C. Bishop (No. 43171), Denver, Colorado.G. Grundmann collection.

© R. C. Bishop

Climax Mine, 1940

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Climax Mine from Fremont Pass. Lake County, Colorado. 1940. Courtesy USGS Photo Library.

View of the Climax molybdenum mining area, 1980.

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The Climax molybdenum Mine, in Winter 1980. Photographer Karl Volkmann, Kempten.G. Grundmann collection.

© Karl Volkmann, Kempten

View of the Climax molybdenum mining area, 1935.

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The Phillipson Tunnel (1929) at Climax molybdenum Mine, ca. 1935. Vintage real photo postcard, photographer Sonborn (No. W-1204). G. Grundmann collection.

© Sonborn

Storke Shaft

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

This shaft was used to access the Storke Level of the mine, previously known as the 500 level. Ore was extracted from the early 1950s to the 1980s, when underground mining ceased at Climax. Infrastructure in the Storke Yard was demolished in the 1990s and the area was reclaimed, leaving only the shafthouse.The Storke Level was named for Arthur ...

© Nathalie Brandes

Mine Sign

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

In Colorado, mine signals were also standardized, as seen on this 12 x 36 inch metal sign, originally from the Storke level, Climax mine, Lake Co., Colorado. Author’s collection.

© www.excaliburmineral.com

View of the Climax molybdenum mining area, ca. 1935.

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

The Tram and Mill at Climax molybdenum Mine, ca. 1935. Vintage real photo postcard, photographer Sonborn (No. W-1206). G. Grundmann collection.

© Sonborn

Pyrite

Climax Mine, Climax, Climax Mining District, Lake County, Colorado, USA

An outstanding, rare and sculptural complete all-around pair of interpenetrating pyrite crystals from the Climax Mine of Colorado. The impressive elongated cubes have mirror-bright brass-yellow color and striking cubic and octahedral interference stepped-growth faces. Very nearly pristine, with only one small spot of out-of-sight conchoidal ...

© Rob Lavinsky & MineralAuctions.com