Abandoned mines: The threat they leave behind in Colorado Springs

A KRDO special report here showed how state leaders worry a spill similar to the Gold King Mine disaster in southwest Colorado will happen again.

There are 500,000 abandoned mines in the U.S. that all pose some some type of risk.

“At one time there were up to 25 working coal mines here,” said Dave Futey, museum manager at Western Museum of Mining and Industry.

Mining thrived from the late 19th century until the 1950s in Colorado Springs.

“In Colorado Springs there were no other precious minerals except for coal,” said Rick Sauers, executive director at Western Museum of Mining and Industry

When natural gas took over in the 1950’s, it left behind thousands of abandoned mines.

“Where Woodmen Road is there’s mine shafts that went east of I-25,” said John Rasmussen.

Rasmussen has studied mining maps for 25 years.

“The Pike View mine is quite a large mine,” said Rasmussen.

The Pike View mine began operating in 1897 as a supplier of soft coal. Past mining laws never required cleanup after mining. Therefore the Pike View mine was left abandoned.

The area has since been developed over by a community now known as Rockrimmon. There are several problems that lie below the community.

“Some of those shafts are as shallow as 40 feet. If something collapses 40 feet below your home, that could cause a problem,” said Futey.

Over the years, problems have been resurfacing for homeowners in Rockrimmon.

“You create these big cavities underground. If you have a building on top of that with heavy structures on top of it, you can have subsidence and things collapse,” said Sauers.

Several homeowners in Rockrimmon KRDO spoke with say they had no idea they lived on top of the abandoned mine.

“No, I did not know. I was never informed by a Realtor either,” said Harold Pearman.

Pearman knows about the issue now because of past underlying water issues.

“It is certainly a problem that affects everyone’s driveways, sidewalks and especially basement flooring,” said Pearman.

Those issues are minor compared to his neighbors.

“Oh yeah, we have huge foundations issues because of the mine,” said Brenda Verghese.

Verghese says her issues started as a mystery.

“Doors wouldn’t shut or doors would automatically open,” said Verghese.

She later learned the problem was developing over decades.

“We had some contractors groups come out and look at it and said your house is actually heaving in the middle because of the mines,” said Verghese.

The mine that lies beneath Rockrimmon is similar to the one on display at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry.

“The bigger mines had railway systems underneath to make it easier to move things,” said Sauers.

Since the mines are so deep down, engineers say a complete collapse isn’t likely
but cracks and shifts are.

“As we build closer to those types of environments we can become impacted by them and cracks can happen,” said Futey.

The damage is a reminder of the legacy Colorado Springs carries in mining.

“It not only helped build the state of Colorado but it’s an important industry even to this day,” said Stuart Sanderson, president of Colorado Mining Association.

Colorado senators recently introduced the Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Mines Act, which would ensure mining companies pay royalties and that funding would go towards clean up.

For a map of abandoned mines in Colorado Springs in the Rockrimmon area, click here. For a map of abandoned mines in Colorado Springs in the Cragmoor area, click here. To view a list and map of abandoned mines in the state of Colorado, click here.