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Cofer prospect (Piedmont Mineral Associates prospect), Gold-Pyrite Belt, Louisa County, Virginia, USAi
Regional Level Types
Cofer prospect (Piedmont Mineral Associates prospect)Prospect
Gold-Pyrite BeltBelt
Louisa CountyCounty
VirginiaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 2' 59'' North , 77° 52' 31'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Mineral483 (2017)5.3km
Louisa1,621 (2017)11.6km
Blue Ridge Shores813 (2011)14.4km
Gordonsville1,577 (2017)29.0km
Orange4,947 (2017)29.9km
Mindat Locality ID:
104199
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:104199:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Miller and Craig (1997) provide the most comprehensive view available of this ore deposit. The Cofer ore deposit consists of 4 larger and 2 smaller massive sulphide lenses totaling approximately 1.5 MT. The ores appear to be a Kuroko type deposit associated with metavolcanics of the Chopawamsic Formation. The ores of the Cofer deposit are grossly similar to those of similar deposits in the area but contain a much broader assemblage of minor minerals. Like several other ore deposits in the nearby area the Cofer orebodies were characterized by gahnite, irregularly distributed but widespread in concentrations up to several percent (Sandhaus and Craig, 1986).

The deposit has been outlined by extensive drilling and by substantial underground workings completed during the early to mid 1970's. The operation was suspended prior to any production because of deteriorating economic conditions. It is likely that the discovery and extensive exploration of the Cofer deposit was the last mining activity in this region.

Since 2008, the Cofer prospect has become one of many former mine sites to be reclaimed. Based on descriptions of "The Cofer Mine Orphaned Land Project" the site has been sealed, bulldozed, treated with lime, covered and revegetated. Recent air photos make it clear that the site has been extensively reworked.

Structure: Ne-Sw Trend

Alteration: High Temperature, Low To Medium Grade Metamorphism.

Tectonics: Eugeosyncline (Piedmont)

Commodity: Tetrahedrite-tennantite is argentiferous, electrum is 50% Au and 50% ag. All minor ore minerals occur in trace quantities

Deposit: Discovery year: 1950's max. Thickness above is for one lens. There are 4 lenses. Piedmont mineral associates includes NE W jersey zinc co. And callahan mining corp. ; info.src : 1 pub lit; 2 unpub rept

Deposit type: Massive sulfide, kuroko

Development: Deposit is on a stand-by status.

Geology: Mineralogy similar to japanese volcanogenic deposits. Core log delineated in gair (1978)

Rock formation(s): Chopawamsic Formation
Chopawamsic Formation


Ore(s): Elongate Troughs

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


39 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

Antlerite
Formula: Cu3(SO4)(OH)4
Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
Bianchite
Formula: Zn(SO4) · 6H2O
'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
Boulangerite
Formula: Pb5Sb4S11
Bournonite
Formula: PbCuSbS3
Brochantite
Formula: Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Chalcanthite
Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Cosalite
Formula: Pb2Bi2S5
Covellite
Formula: CuS
Digenite
Formula: Cu9S5
'Feldspar Group'
'Freibergite Subgroup'
Formula: (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
Gahnite
Formula: ZnAl2O4
Galena
Formula: PbS
Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
Gudmundite
Formula: FeSbS
Gunningite
Formula: ZnSO4 · H2O
Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
'K Feldspar'
Kobellite
Formula: Pb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
Linarite
Formula: PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Mackinawite
Formula: FeS
Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
Melanterite
Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Native Bismuth
Formula: Bi
Native Gold
Formula: Au
Native Gold var. Electrum
Formula: (Au,Ag)
Plumbonacrite
Formula: Pb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Rozenite
Formula: FeSO4 · 4H2O
Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Serpierite
Formula: Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Native Gold
var. Electrum
1.AA.05(Au,Ag)
1.AA.05Au
Native Bismuth1.CA.05Bi
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Digenite2.BA.10Cu9S5
Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
Covellite2.CA.05aCuS
Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Pyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
Mackinawite2.CC.25FeS
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Marcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Arsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
Gudmundite2.EB.20FeSbS
Bournonite2.GA.50PbCuSbS3
'Freibergite Subgroup'2.GB.05(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Kobellite2.HB.10aPb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
Boulangerite2.HC.15Pb5Sb4S11
Cosalite2.JB.10Pb2Bi2S5
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Goethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
Gahnite4.BB.05ZnAl2O4
Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Ilmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Rutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Plumbonacrite5.BE.15Pb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Antlerite7.BB.15Cu3(SO4)(OH)4
Brochantite7.BB.25Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Linarite7.BC.65PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Gunningite7.CB.05ZnSO4 · H2O
Rozenite7.CB.15FeSO4 · 4H2O
Chalcanthite7.CB.20CuSO4 · 5H2O
Bianchite7.CB.25Zn(SO4) · 6H2O
Melanterite7.CB.35Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Gypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Serpierite7.DD.30Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
'Feldspar Group'-
'K Feldspar'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H AntleriteCu3(SO4)(OH)4
H BianchiteZn(SO4) · 6H2O
H BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
H BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
H ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
H GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
H GunningiteZnSO4 · H2O
H GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
H LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
H MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H PlumbonacritePb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
H RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
H SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
CCarbon
C PlumbonacritePb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
OOxygen
O AntleriteCu3(SO4)(OH)4
O BianchiteZn(SO4) · 6H2O
O BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
O BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
O ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
O GahniteZnAl2O4
O GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
O GunningiteZnSO4 · H2O
O GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
O HematiteFe2O3
O IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
O LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
O MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
O MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O PlumbonacritePb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
O QuartzSiO2
O RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
O RutileTiO2
O SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
FFluorine
F BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MgMagnesium
Mg BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
AlAluminium
Al BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Al GahniteZnAl2O4
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Si BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si QuartzSiO2
SSulfur
S AntleriteCu3(SO4)(OH)4
S ArsenopyriteFeAsS
S BianchiteZn(SO4) · 6H2O
S BorniteCu5FeS4
S BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
S BournonitePbCuSbS3
S BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
S ChalcociteCu2S
S CosalitePb2Bi2S5
S CovelliteCuS
S DigeniteCu9S5
S Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
S GalenaPbS
S GudmunditeFeSbS
S GunningiteZnSO4 · H2O
S GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
S KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
S LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
S MackinawiteFeS
S MarcasiteFeS2
S MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
S MolybdeniteMoS2
S PyriteFeS2
S PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
S RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
S SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
S SphaleriteZnS
S Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
KPotassium
K BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Ca GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Ca SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
TiTitanium
Ti BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Ti IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Ti RutileTiO2
FeIron
Fe ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Fe BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fe BorniteCu5FeS4
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Fe GudmunditeFeSbS
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Fe MackinawiteFeS
Fe MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Fe MarcasiteFeS2
Fe MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Fe PyriteFeS2
Fe PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Fe RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
CuCopper
Cu AntleriteCu3(SO4)(OH)4
Cu BorniteCu5FeS4
Cu BournonitePbCuSbS3
Cu BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
Cu CovelliteCuS
Cu DigeniteCu9S5
Cu Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Cu KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
Cu LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Cu SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Cu Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Zn BianchiteZn(SO4) · 6H2O
Zn GahniteZnAl2O4
Zn GunningiteZnSO4 · H2O
Zn SerpieriteCa(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
Zn SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
As ArsenopyriteFeAsS
MoMolybdenum
Mo MolybdeniteMoS2
AgSilver
Ag Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Ag Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
SbAntimony
Sb BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
Sb BournonitePbCuSbS3
Sb Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Sb GudmunditeFeSbS
Sb KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
Sb Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AuGold
Au Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Au Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pb BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
Pb BournonitePbCuSbS3
Pb CosalitePb2Bi2S5
Pb GalenaPbS
Pb KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69
Pb LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Pb PlumbonacritePb5O(OH)2(CO3)3
BiBismuth
Bi Native BismuthBi
Bi CosalitePb2Bi2S5
Bi KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10080205

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

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