Paint Mines, El Paso County, CO Photo Gallery by Jim Larkey at pbase.com

Paint Mines, El Paso County, CO

Paint Mines Interpretive Park is approximately 750 acres and is located in the northeast section of the County near Calhan. The mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by American Indians for making pottery and ceremonial paints. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos, that were formed through erosive action that created incised gullies and exposed layers of selenite clay and jasper.
...........Courtesy, El Paso County Parks

pages 1 2 ALL

Check out www.elpasoco.com/parks	The open plains dominate the area and support a mix of native short-grass and mid-grass prairie communities	Archaeological studies indicate that humans have inhabited the Paint Mines for nearly 9,000 years	The earliest people were likely the descendents of the first Americans who migrated over the Bering Land Bridge
Throughout the history of the Paint Mines, people are known to have visited the area to gather the colorful clays	Clays tinged with red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray hues, to produce ceramics	Kristin & Linda
Hoodoos...outcrops that erode, with a hard capstone that allows columns of clay to be preserved beneath them	Selenite (gypsum) contributes to the color, and white quartzitic crystals dazzle the eye		Hoodoos

The Pillars	Doug	Curious local resident, Weasel, with winter colors	Overview of Paint Mines

pages 1 2 ALL

comment |

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment