Hornitos Mining District, West Belt, Mariposa County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Hornitos Mining District | Mining District |
| West Belt | - not defined - |
| Mariposa County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° North , 120° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~26km
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Location: The Hornitos district is in the Sierra Nevada west gold belt in western Mariposa County about 15 miles west of the town of Mariposa (see fig. 4, Bulletin 193). The district contains a several-mile wide belt of lode-gold mines that extends from the vicinity of the Exchequer Reservoir SSE through Hornitos to the Indian Gulch area.
History: The streams in the area were first worked in 1849, and lode mining began in 1850 at the Washington Mine. The town was first settled by Mexicans who had been driven out of nearby Quartzburg. The name Hornitos is a diminutive of "homo" or small bake oven, from the Spanish. Mining activity was great from the 1860's through the 1880's, lesser from the 1890's to the 1920's. The Mt. Gaines Mine was worked on a major scale during the 1930s. Since World War II the area has been prospected, but there has been very little recorded production. Historically, this is the most productive district of the Sierra Nevada West gold belt.
Geology: The district is underlain by greenstone and green schist in the West portion and slate in the East. Also present are smaller amounts of amphibolite, mica schist, and hornfels. A number of small granodiorite intrusions are exposed, along the margins of which chiastolite-mica schist has developed.
Ore Deposits: A number of north-trending quartz veins and stringers containing free gold and varying amounts of sulfides, chiefly pyrite, are present, as well as several large bodies of mineralized greenstone or "gray ore." Some of the veins have very flat dips. The ore shoots vary considerably in size with stoping lengths ranging from a few to as much as 400 feet. Some of the veins have been mined to inclined depths of more than 1500 feet. Milling-grade ore commonly contains from 1/3, to more than ½ ounce per ton in gold.
Mines: Badger ($80,000+), Doss ($100,000), Duncan, Lost Douglas, Martinez, Mt. Gaines ($3.59 million). Number 1 Mine, Number 5 Mine, Number 8 Mine, Number 9 Mine, Ruth Pierce ($600,000), and the Washington Mine ($2,377,000).
History: The streams in the area were first worked in 1849, and lode mining began in 1850 at the Washington Mine. The town was first settled by Mexicans who had been driven out of nearby Quartzburg. The name Hornitos is a diminutive of "homo" or small bake oven, from the Spanish. Mining activity was great from the 1860's through the 1880's, lesser from the 1890's to the 1920's. The Mt. Gaines Mine was worked on a major scale during the 1930s. Since World War II the area has been prospected, but there has been very little recorded production. Historically, this is the most productive district of the Sierra Nevada West gold belt.
Geology: The district is underlain by greenstone and green schist in the West portion and slate in the East. Also present are smaller amounts of amphibolite, mica schist, and hornfels. A number of small granodiorite intrusions are exposed, along the margins of which chiastolite-mica schist has developed.
Ore Deposits: A number of north-trending quartz veins and stringers containing free gold and varying amounts of sulfides, chiefly pyrite, are present, as well as several large bodies of mineralized greenstone or "gray ore." Some of the veins have very flat dips. The ore shoots vary considerably in size with stoping lengths ranging from a few to as much as 400 feet. Some of the veins have been mined to inclined depths of more than 1500 feet. Milling-grade ore commonly contains from 1/3, to more than ½ ounce per ton in gold.
Mines: Badger ($80,000+), Doss ($100,000), Duncan, Lost Douglas, Martinez, Mt. Gaines ($3.59 million). Number 1 Mine, Number 5 Mine, Number 8 Mine, Number 9 Mine, Ruth Pierce ($600,000), and the Washington Mine ($2,377,000).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities33 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:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| ⓘ | Native Silver ? | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
| ⓘ | Native Osmium | 1.AF.05 | (Os,Ir,Ru) |
| ⓘ | Native Ruthenium | 1.AF.05 | (Ru,Ir) |
| ⓘ | Native Iridium | 1.AF.10 | (Ir,Os,Ru) |
| ⓘ | Native Platinum | 1.AF.10 | Pt |
| ⓘ | Isoferroplatinum | 1.AG.35 | Pt3Fe |
| ⓘ | Tetraferroplatinum | 1.AG.40 | PtFe |
| ⓘ | Native Sulphur | 1.CC.05 | S8 |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Acanthite | 2.BA.35 | Ag2S |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Cooperite | 2.CC.35b | PtS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | Proustite | 2.GA.05 | Ag3AsS3 |
| ⓘ | Pyrargyrite | 2.GA.05 | Ag3SbS3 |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | var. Milky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Todorokite | 4.DK.10 | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Alunite | 7.BC.10 | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Andalusite | 9.AF.10 | Al2(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Rhodonite | 9.DK.05 | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| ⓘ | Pyrophyllite | 9.EC.10 | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Psilomelane' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| O | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Milky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Milky Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| S | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Cooperite | PtS |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Native Sulphur | S8 |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| Ca | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| Mn | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Isoferroplatinum | Pt3Fe |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Tetraferroplatinum | PtFe |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| Sr | Strontium | |
| Sr | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Ru | Ruthenium | |
| Ru | ⓘ Native Iridium | (Ir,Os,Ru) |
| Ru | ⓘ Native Osmium | (Os,Ir,Ru) |
| Ru | ⓘ Native Ruthenium | (Ru,Ir) |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Acanthite | Ag2S |
| Ag | ⓘ Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| Ag | ⓘ Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver | Ag |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Ba | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Os | Osmium | |
| Os | ⓘ Native Iridium | (Ir,Os,Ru) |
| Os | ⓘ Native Osmium | (Os,Ir,Ru) |
| Ir | Iridium | |
| Ir | ⓘ Native Iridium | (Ir,Os,Ru) |
| Ir | ⓘ Native Osmium | (Os,Ir,Ru) |
| Ir | ⓘ Native Ruthenium | (Ru,Ir) |
| Pt | Platinum | |
| Pt | ⓘ Cooperite | PtS |
| Pt | ⓘ Isoferroplatinum | Pt3Fe |
| Pt | ⓘ Native Platinum | Pt |
| Pt | ⓘ Tetraferroplatinum | PtFe |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Localities in this Region
- California
- Mariposa County
- West Belt
- Hornitos Mining District
- Hornitos
- Anderson occurrence [1]
- Barker Corporation dredge grounds
- Calderon Mine
- Crocker - Huffman Land and Water Company property
- D. M. Poole Mine
- Domingas occurrence
- Duncan Mine (Lost Douglas Mine)
- Gardosa prospect
- Gonzales Mine (Houghton and Gonzales Mine)
- Josie claims (Key Lode; Key Lode Extension)
- Lucky Quartz Mine
- Miller's Ranch
- Spangler Mine
- Unidentified Au mine [12]
- Unnamed Au property [42]
- Unnamed Au property [51]
- Unnamed Au prospect [17]
- Unnamed Au prospect [59]
- Unnamed Pyrite-Quartz occurrence [1]
- Washington Mine (Red Cloud Mine; Johnny Lind Mine; Jenny Lind Mine)
- Quartz Mountain [2]
- Quartzburg
- Hornitos
- Hornitos Mining District
- West Belt
- Mariposa County
- California
- Mariposa County
- West Belt
- Hornitos Mining District
- Quartzburg
- Enterprise Mine (Barcroft Mine)
- Georgia Mine
- Ginaco 1 and 2 claims
- Guest Mine
- Independence claims (Starlight)
- Jessie Mine (Kay lode; Kay lode extension)
- Mount Gaines Mine (Frenchman Mine; Bearfield Mine; Barfield Mine; Mount Gaines Gold Mine)
- Number Eight Mine
- Number Five Mine (Monte Carlo Mine; Number 5 claim; Jack Quartz claim; Standby fractional claim; No. 5 Extension claim)
- Number Nine Mine (Yosemite Ginaca Mine; Bill Jones and McCall Mine)
- Number One Mine (Martin Quartz Mine)
- Organeta Mine
- Poole Mine (Poole Track)
- Porcupine Placer Mine
- Quartzburg School
- Silver Lead Mine (St. Gabriel and Honeycomb Mine; Silver Lead & Margaretta Mine; Silver Lead claim; Margaretta claim; St. Gabriel claim; Honeycomb claim)
- St. Gabriel Mine
- Sunset I group (Trujillo; Sunset claim; South Sunset Extension claim; La Venue & Nacimiento del Oro claim)
- Unnamed Au placer [16]
- Unnamed Au property [55]
- Unnamed Au prospect [15]
- Yellow Jacket claim
- Santa Cruz Mountain
- Three Buttes (Tres Cerritos)
- Pacific Slate Company Quarry
- Pyrophyllite occurrence near Indian Gulch
- Silver Bar Nos. 2; 3; 4 prospect
- Unknown stone deposit [2]
- Unnamed Alunite occurrence [1]
- Unnamed Andalusite occurrence [1]
- Unnamed Au occurrence [18]
- Unnamed placer Au mine [45]
- Unnamed placer Au property [48]
- Unnamed Serpentine occurrence [1]
- Waltz property [1]
- Waltz property [2]
- Quartzburg
- Hornitos Mining District
- West Belt
- Mariposa County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Foothills-Wallowa DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- California
- Mother Lode BeltBelt
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.
References
Pyrophyllite occurrence near Indian Gulch, Three Buttes, Hornitos Mining District, West Belt, Mariposa County, California, USA