Colorado - Idaho Springs: Argo Gold Mine and Mill - Floatation Cells
The floatation process was one of the major concentrating methods used in the Argo. Finely-ground ore was combined in a complicated chemical-water-oil-air mixture in such a way that metallic particles floated to the top of the cells. The metallic froth which formed was skimmed off the surface and dried. Through very careful selection and mixing of chemicals, specific metals such as gold could be separated from the rest of the ore.
The Argo Gold Mine and Mill, at 2350 Riverside Dr, is a former mine and gold that opened on April 1, 1913 at the entrance of the 4.6-mile Newhouse Tunnel, later called the Argo Tunnel. The Tunnel was built between 1893 and 1910 to drain the gold mines in Virginia Canyon, Gilpin Gulch, Russell Gulch, Quartz Hill, Nevadaville, and Central City. The mill, one of the largest and most modern in Colorado, was built by R.E. Shimer to strip the valuable metals like gold, silver, copper and lead from the ore extracted from the tunnel. Following a flooding accident in 1943 that left four miners dead, the tunnel was closed, and Argo Mill ceased operations.
The five-story mill sat abandoned until 1976 when it was purchased by James N. Maxwell, who renovated it and opened it to the public as a museum. The bottom level of the mill serves as a museum displaying mining and milling artifacts, old payroll records, milling receipts, and old photographs. After touring the Dougle Eagle mine, and the Argo Mill, visitors can pan for gold and gems.
National Register #78000836 (1978)
Colorado - Idaho Springs: Argo Gold Mine and Mill - Floatation Cells
The floatation process was one of the major concentrating methods used in the Argo. Finely-ground ore was combined in a complicated chemical-water-oil-air mixture in such a way that metallic particles floated to the top of the cells. The metallic froth which formed was skimmed off the surface and dried. Through very careful selection and mixing of chemicals, specific metals such as gold could be separated from the rest of the ore.
The Argo Gold Mine and Mill, at 2350 Riverside Dr, is a former mine and gold that opened on April 1, 1913 at the entrance of the 4.6-mile Newhouse Tunnel, later called the Argo Tunnel. The Tunnel was built between 1893 and 1910 to drain the gold mines in Virginia Canyon, Gilpin Gulch, Russell Gulch, Quartz Hill, Nevadaville, and Central City. The mill, one of the largest and most modern in Colorado, was built by R.E. Shimer to strip the valuable metals like gold, silver, copper and lead from the ore extracted from the tunnel. Following a flooding accident in 1943 that left four miners dead, the tunnel was closed, and Argo Mill ceased operations.
The five-story mill sat abandoned until 1976 when it was purchased by James N. Maxwell, who renovated it and opened it to the public as a museum. The bottom level of the mill serves as a museum displaying mining and milling artifacts, old payroll records, milling receipts, and old photographs. After touring the Dougle Eagle mine, and the Argo Mill, visitors can pan for gold and gems.
National Register #78000836 (1978)