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Ballard Mine (Ballard and Martin Mine), Enterprise, Jackson-Plymouth Mining District, Amador County, California, USAi
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 32' 52'' North , 120° 50' 44'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 960 (2017) | 7.3km |
| River Pines | 379 (2011) | 8.8km |
| Fiddletown | 235 (2011) | 9.2km |
| Drytown | 167 (2011) | 11.9km |
| Amador City | 189 (2017) | 14.4km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Amador County Gem & Mineral Society | Sutter Creek, California | 18km |
| El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society | Placerville, California | 21km |
| Gold Country Treasure Seekers | Placerville, California | 21km |
| Roseville Rock Rollers | Roseville, California | 45km |
| Fossils for Fun Society, Inc. | North Highlands, California | 48km |
A former lode Au mine located in the E½W½ sec. 14 & in sec. 23, T8N, R10E, MDM, 0.8 km (0.5 mile) N of Enterprise, along the E side of highway 49 and Big Indian Creek (about ¼ mile S of the Cosumnes River), on private land. Discovered in 1875. Operated initially in the 1870's. Idle until reopened in 1928 but operated only a short time. Active 1933 to 1937, 1941 to 1942, and a small amount of work was done in 1947. Idle in 1952. Operated by Ballard Mother Lode Mines, Inc. C/O John Ratto. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters. The shaft shown in the E½W½ sec. 14 is probably the main shaft of the mine. Mineralization is a quartz vein deposit hosted in slate. The ore body strikes N10W and dips 68E. Three parallel quartz veins about 600 feet apart and carry free gold ore associated with pyrite in a ribbon structure quartz and slate in ore shoots. Local rocks include Mesozoic volcanic rocks, unit 2 (Western Sierra Foothills and Western Klamath Mountains).
Workings include underground openings. The main shaft was sunk between the West and middle veins to a depth of 285 feet and with 600 feet of crosscuts. A second shaft S of the main shaft is 200 feet deep with 400 feet of crosscuts. Ore shoot on each vein W to E 250, 550 and 60 feet.
Ore exposed in the southern workings has not been completely developed but assays have been as high as $180 (period values) per ton but the average is around $10 (period values) per ton in $35 per ounce Au.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: Ribbon quartz in veins. |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10098213 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Calaveras-Baker DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- California
- Amador County
- Mother Lode BeltBelt
- Mother Lode BeltBelt
- Amador County
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