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Coulterville Mining District, Mariposa County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Coulterville Mining District | Mining District |
| Mariposa County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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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
Type:
Kรถppen climate type:
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+)
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 ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities30 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| โ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| โ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| โ | Native Sulphur | 1.CC.05 | S8 |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| โ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| โ | Hessite | 2.BA.60 | Ag2Te |
| โ | Petzite | 2.BA.75 | Ag3AuTe2 |
| โ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| โ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| โ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| โ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| โ | Millerite | 2.CC.20 | NiS |
| โ | Altaite | 2.CD.10 | PbTe |
| โ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| โ | Cinnabar | 2.CD.15a | HgS |
| โ | Melonite | 2.EA.20 | NiTe2 |
| โ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| โ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
| โ | Skutterudite | 2.EC.05 | CoAs3 |
| โ | 'Freibergite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| โ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| โ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| โ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| โ | var. Milky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| โ | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| โ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| โ | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
| โ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| โ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| โ | var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| โ | Pyromorphite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| โ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| โ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| โ | var. Phengite | 9.EC.15 | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| โ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| โ | var. Mariposite | 9.EC.15 | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| โ | Bementite | 9.EE.05 | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| โ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(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
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | โ Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| H | โ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| H | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| H | โ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| H | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | โ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | โ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | โ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | โ Graphite | C |
| C | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| C | โ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | โ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | โ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | โ Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| O | โ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | โ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| O | โ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| O | โ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | โ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | โ Rutile | TiO2 |
| O | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| O | โ Quartz var. Milky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | โ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| O | โ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| O | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | โ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | โ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | โ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| Mg | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| Mg | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Mg | โ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | โ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | โ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Al | โ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | โ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | โ Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| Si | โ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Si | โ Quartz var. Milky Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | โ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | โ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | โ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | โ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | โ Cinnabar | HgS |
| S | โ Covellite | CuS |
| S | โ Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| S | โ Galena | PbS |
| S | โ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| S | โ Millerite | NiS |
| S | โ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | โ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | โ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | โ Native Sulphur | S8 |
| S | โ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | โ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | โ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| K | โ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | โ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | โ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | โ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | โ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | โ Rutile | TiO2 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Cr | โ Muscovite var. Mariposite | K(Al,Cr)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | โ Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| Mn | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | โ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | โ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | โ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | โ Muscovite var. Phengite | KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2 |
| Fe | โ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | โ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Fe | โ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Co | Cobalt | |
| Co | โ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | โ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| Ni | โ Melonite | NiTe2 |
| Ni | โ Millerite | NiS |
| Ni | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | โ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | โ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | โ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | โ Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| Cu | โ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | โ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Zn | โ Serpentine Subgroup var. Bastite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | โ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| As | โ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | โ Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| Ag | โ Hessite | Ag2Te |
| Ag | โ Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | โ Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| Sb | โ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Te | Tellurium | |
| Te | โ Altaite | PbTe |
| Te | โ Hessite | Ag2Te |
| Te | โ Melonite | NiTe2 |
| Te | โ Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | โ Native Gold | Au |
| Au | โ Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| Hg | Mercury | |
| Hg | โ Cinnabar | HgS |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | โ Altaite | PbTe |
| Pb | โ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | โ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
Localities in this Region
- California
- Mariposa County
- Coulterville Mining District
- Coulterville
- Adelaide and Anderson Mines
- Alba Mine (Orofino Mine; Mastedon Mine)
- American Mine
- Anderson occurrence (2)
- Anita Mine
- Big Break Mine (Contact lode; Big Break Extension No. 1)
- Big Chick Placer Mine
- Billings Mine [2]
- Black Horse Mine
- Black Jack Mine
- Black Sam Mine (Yellow Pine Mine)
- Blossom Mine (Sixteen-To-One Mine)
- Blue Jay occurrence
- Bozeman prospect
- Bull Dog prospect (Mammoth; Columbia; Eureka; Bonanza; Bonaza Bug; Jumper; Sunset)
- Butte Mine
- Cabinet Mine
- Castagnetto IV Mine (Carson claim; Carson 1 claim; Carson 2 claim; Bouvier claim)
- Champion I Mine
- Chateau Mine
- Consolidated Eureka II Mine (Lafayette & Eastern Star Mine; Eastern Star; Eureka II Mine; Lafayette)
- ⭔Coulterville area
- Coulterville road cut
- Crystal Mine (Penobscott Mine)
- Glendire Mine
- Horseshoe Bend Mountain
- Coulterville
- Coulterville Mining District
- Mariposa County
- California
- Mariposa County
- Coulterville Mining District
- Mariposa County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Shoofly-Olds Ferry DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- California
- Mother Lode BeltBelt
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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Oro Rico Mine, Peรฑon Blanco Peak, Coulterville, Coulterville Mining District, Mariposa County, California, USA