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Coulterville Mining District, Mariposa County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Coulterville Mining DistrictMining District
Mariposa CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° North , 119° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~58km
Mindat Locality ID:
244094
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:244094:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Location
This district is in southwestern Tuolumne County and northwestern Mariposa County. It is that portion of the Mother Lode gold belt that extends from the vicinity of the McAlpine mine southeast through Penon Blanco and the town of Coulterville to Virginia Point, a distance of about 10 miles.

History
The surface portions of the veins and the streams were worked during the gold rush. The town was named for George Coulter, who opened a store there in 1849. Quartz-mining began about 1852 with the discovery of the Malvina and Mary Harrison veins. Considerable lode mining was done from the 1860s through the 1890s, when many of the mines belonged to the Cook estate. There was some activity from the early 1900s until 1942. In recent years some work has been done at the Virginia, McAlpine and a few other mines.

Geology
In this district, the Mother Lode system is associated with an extensive northwest-trending lenticular body of serpentine. In a number of places the serpentine has been hydrothermally altered to mariposa-Quartz-ankerite rock. Slate and greenstone lie to the west, and amphibolite schist and greenstone are to the east. Also present are smaller amounts of chlorite schist, phyllite, and metadiorite and aplitic dikes.

Ore Deposits
The ore deposits consist of pyrite-bearing bodies of mariposite-quartz-ankerite rock, with numerous parallel quartz stringers and adjacent massive quartz veins. The gold occurs in the free state or with the pyrite and usually is found in the quartz stringers, although in places there are values in the massive veins. A number of high-grade pockets have been found in this district, some of which came from the gossan that overlies some of the deposits. Tellurides also have been found here. Milling ore usually ranges from 1/5 to 1/2 ounce of gold per ton. The shoots had stoping lengths of up to 400 feet and were mined to inclined depths of more than 1200 feet. The massive veins form prominent ridges; Penon Blanco Ridge is visible for many miles.

Mines
Mariposa County: Adelaide, Big Lode, Champion I ($150,000 to $200,000), Flyaway group, Louisa ($100,000), Malvina ($1 million), Mary Harrison ($1.5 million), Midas, Oro Rico, Potosi, Tyro ($110,000+), Virginia ($824,000).

Tuolumne County Mines: McAlpine ($100,000+)

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

30 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

โ“˜ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
โ“˜ Altaite
Formula: PbTe
โ“˜ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
โ“˜ Bementite
Formula: Mn7Si6O15(OH)8
Description: Occurs with oxides and carbonates.
โ“˜ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
โ“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
โ“˜ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
โ“˜ 'Chlorite Group'
โ“˜ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
โ“˜ Cinnabar
Formula: HgS
โ“˜ Covellite
Formula: CuS
โ“˜ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
โ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite
Formula: Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
โ“˜ 'Freibergite Subgroup'
Formula: (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
โ“˜ Galena
Formula: PbS
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
โ“˜ Gersdorffite
Formula: NiAsS
โ“˜ Graphite
Formula: C
โ“˜ Hessite
Formula: Ag2Te
โ“˜ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
โ“˜ Melonite
Formula: NiTe2
โ“˜ Millerite
Formula: NiS
โ“˜ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Muscovite var. Mariposite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
Description: Occurs as a component of quartz-mariposite-ankerite rock vein material.
โ“˜ Muscovite var. Phengite
Formula: KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Native Gold
Formula: Au
Localities: Reported from at least 41 localities in this region.
โ“˜ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
โ“˜ Petzite
Formula: Ag3AuTe2
โ“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
โ“˜ Pyromorphite
Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl
Description: Occurs in small amounts in local mines.
โ“˜ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
โ“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Localities: Reported from at least 33 localities in this region.
Description: Occurs as a component of quartz-mariposite-ankerite rock vein material.
โ“˜ Quartz var. Milky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
โ“˜ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Habit: Prismatic; heart-shaped twinned crystals.
Description: Occurs in Mariposite.
โ“˜ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
โ“˜ 'Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
โ“˜ Skutterudite
Formula: CoAs3
โ“˜ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
โ“˜ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
โ“˜ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
โ“˜Native Gold1.AA.05Au
โ“˜Graphite1.CB.05aC
โ“˜Native Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
โ“˜Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
โ“˜Hessite2.BA.60Ag2Te
โ“˜Petzite2.BA.75Ag3AuTe2
โ“˜Covellite2.CA.05aCuS
โ“˜Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
โ“˜Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
โ“˜Pyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
โ“˜Millerite2.CC.20NiS
โ“˜Altaite2.CD.10PbTe
โ“˜Galena2.CD.10PbS
โ“˜Cinnabar2.CD.15aHgS
โ“˜Melonite2.EA.20NiTe2
โ“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
โ“˜Gersdorffite2.EB.25NiAsS
โ“˜Skutterudite2.EC.05CoAs3
โ“˜'Freibergite Subgroup'2.GB.05(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
โ“˜'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
โ“˜Chromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
โ“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
โ“˜var. Milky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
โ“˜Rutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
โ“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
โ“˜Magnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
โ“˜Ankerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
โ“˜Dolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
โ“˜var. Iron-bearing Dolomite5.AB.10Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
โ“˜Pyromorphite8.BN.05Pb5(PO4)3Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
โ“˜Talc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
โ“˜Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜var. Phengite9.EC.15KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
โ“˜var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜var. Mariposite9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
โ“˜Bementite9.EE.05Mn7Si6O15(OH)8
โ“˜Albite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
โ“˜'Chlorite Group'-
โ“˜'Serpentine Subgroup
var. Bastite'
-D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
โ“˜''-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hโ“˜ BementiteMn7Si6O15(OH)8
Hโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Hโ“˜ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Hโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cโ“˜ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Cโ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cโ“˜ GraphiteC
Cโ“˜ MagnesiteMgCO3
Cโ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing DolomiteCa(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oโ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oโ“˜ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oโ“˜ BementiteMn7Si6O15(OH)8
Oโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oโ“˜ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oโ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oโ“˜ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
Oโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oโ“˜ RutileTiO2
Oโ“˜ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Oโ“˜ Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
Oโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
Oโ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing DolomiteCa(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
Oโ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
NaSodium
Naโ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
MgMagnesium
Mgโ“˜ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgโ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgโ“˜ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Mgโ“˜ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Mgโ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing DolomiteCa(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alโ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Alโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siโ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siโ“˜ BementiteMn7Si6O15(OH)8
Siโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siโ“˜ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Siโ“˜ Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
Siโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
Siโ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
PPhosphorus
Pโ“˜ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
SSulfur
Sโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sโ“˜ CinnabarHgS
Sโ“˜ CovelliteCuS
Sโ“˜ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Sโ“˜ GalenaPbS
Sโ“˜ GersdorffiteNiAsS
Sโ“˜ MilleriteNiS
Sโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sโ“˜ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sโ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
Sโ“˜ Native SulphurS8
Sโ“˜ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ClChlorine
Clโ“˜ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
KPotassium
Kโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Kโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caโ“˜ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Caโ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caโ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing DolomiteCa(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
TiTitanium
Tiโ“˜ RutileTiO2
CrChromium
Crโ“˜ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crโ“˜ Muscovite var. MaripositeK(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
MnManganese
Mnโ“˜ BementiteMn7Si6O15(OH)8
Mnโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
FeIron
Feโ“˜ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feโ“˜ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feโ“˜ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Feโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Feโ“˜ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
Feโ“˜ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing DolomiteCa(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2
CoCobalt
Coโ“˜ SkutteruditeCoAs3
NiNickel
Niโ“˜ GersdorffiteNiAsS
Niโ“˜ MeloniteNiTe2
Niโ“˜ MilleriteNiS
Niโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
CuCopper
Cuโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuโ“˜ CovelliteCuS
Cuโ“˜ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Cuโ“˜ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Znโ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
Znโ“˜ Serpentine Subgroup var. BastiteD3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn
AsArsenic
Asโ“˜ GersdorffiteNiAsS
Asโ“˜ SkutteruditeCoAs3
AgSilver
Agโ“˜ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Agโ“˜ HessiteAg2Te
Agโ“˜ PetziteAg3AuTe2
SbAntimony
Sbโ“˜ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Sbโ“˜ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
TeTellurium
Teโ“˜ AltaitePbTe
Teโ“˜ HessiteAg2Te
Teโ“˜ MeloniteNiTe2
Teโ“˜ PetziteAg3AuTe2
AuGold
Auโ“˜ Native GoldAu
Auโ“˜ PetziteAg3AuTe2
HgMercury
Hgโ“˜ CinnabarHgS
PbLead
Pbโ“˜ AltaitePbTe
Pbโ“˜ GalenaPbS
Pbโ“˜ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

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