Log In
Pillikin Mine area 3 (West Basin), Pilliken Mine (Pillikin Mine; Pillikan Mine; Pilliken Chrome Mine), Flagstaff Hill, Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area), El Dorado County, California, USAi
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 46' 53'' North , 121° 5' 29'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Kรถppen climate type:
A former Cr-Ni occurrence/mine located in secs. 21 & 28, T11N, R8E, MDM, 1.6 km (1.0 mile) NNW of Flagstaff Hill (coordinates of record), N of Anderson Creek (approximately 5.5 air miles SW of Pilot Hill), on private land. MRDS database accuracy for this location is not stated.
Mineralization is hosted in dunite and lherzolite. The ore body forms layers, grains, nodules and lenticular masses, strikes N35W and dips E at a thickness of 30.48 meters, a width of 60.96 meters and a length of 579.12 meters. Local alteration includes serpentinization, silicification, and alteration to talc and magnesite. There are at least 3 major ore zones consisting of 13 ore bodies and many smaller ones. Some of the silicified and deeply weathered dunite in shovel pit No. 7 is slightly nickeliferous. The Pilliken deposits occur in a tabular, NNW-trending, ultramafic body ยพ mile wide and 4 miles long, that dips steeply to the E. Local alteration includes serpentinization, silicification and the alteration to talc and magnesite. Local rocks include ultramafic rocks, chiefly Mesozoic, unit 2 (Western Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains). Local rocks include ultramafic rocks, chiefly Mesozoic, unit 2 (Western Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains).
Local geologic structures include 2 schistose meta-diorite dike systems were injected along faults that trend N45W and N65E, across the West Basin.
Workings include surface openings comprised of a large pit of dimensions 200 feet X 50 feet X 50 feet, 9 smaller pits and numerous bulldozer cuts and trenches.
Production data are found in: Cater, F.W., Jr., G.A. Rynearson & D.H. Dow (1951).
Analytical data results: The majority of the ore bodies contain 10 to 20% Cr2O3.
Reserve-Resource data are found in: Cater, F.W., Jr., G.A. Rynearson & D.H. Dow (1951).
Reserves and resources data: Type: in-situ; estimate year: 1951: total resources equal 64,000 metric tons of ore at 8 weight percent Cr (1951).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| โ 'Chlorite Group' |
| โ Chromite ? Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| โ 'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series' References: Pavel M. Kartashov - look https://www.mindat.org/mesg-821658.htmlIdentified by Pavel Kartashov: Inferred (explain how) |
| โ Magnesite Formula: MgCO3 |
| โ Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| โ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| โ | Chromite ? | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| โ | Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 ยท nH2O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| โ | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| โ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| โ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| โ | 'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | โ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| O | โ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | โ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | โ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| Mg | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | โ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | โ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Cr | โ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | โ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10043680 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Foothills-Wallowa DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
Pillikin Mine area 3, Pilliken Mine, Flagstaff Hill, Salmon Falls Mining District, El Dorado County, California, USA