[Rockhounds] Abandoned mines: Who owns them?

[Paintricks at aol.com]

I too am curious of this topic.  I just bought a house outside of  Cripple 
Creek, Colorado.  I have an abandoned gold mine just feet from the  back of the 
house.  It's a shaft that goes in about 23 feet with a boulder  wedged in the 
entrance.  Since I own the land it sits on,  Can I  obtain mineral rights to 
it or can I just open the claim back up?  Mineral  rights are hard to come by 
here but I figure there is always a way to get access  to my own land.  The 
land below my property is a different story from what  I hear.
  Where would I go to re open the claim online?
  Thanks,
   Kevin



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