Defender Mine, Pioneer, West Point Mining District, East Belt, Amador County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Defender Mine | Mine |
| Pioneer | - not defined - |
| West Point Mining District | Mining District |
| East Belt | - not defined - |
| Amador County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 26' 9'' North , 120° 33' 39'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Pioneer | 1,094 (2011) | 1.1km |
| Buckhorn | 2,429 (2017) | 3.3km |
| Red Corral | 1,413 (2017) | 4.7km |
| West Point | 674 (2011) | 5.0km |
| Volcano | 115 (2017) | 6.1km |
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 | 22km |
| El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society | Placerville, California | 39km |
| Gold Country Treasure Seekers | Placerville, California | 39km |
| Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society | Angels Camp, California | 41km |
A former Au-Fe-Cu-Zn-Pb mine located in the SW¼SW¼ sec. 29, T7N, R13E, MDM, 1.1 km (0.7 mile) ENE of Pioneer and 5 miles SE of Volcano, on private land. Operated in the 1930's. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters.
Mineralizationm is a quartz vein deposit hosted in granodiorite. The ore body strikes N15W and dips 85SW at a thickness of 0.51 meters. The vein is cut by a series of diorite dikes averaging 4 inches (10 cm) to 2 feet (0.6 meter) thick. One dike at the 200 level is 22 feet thick with no ore S of this dike. Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) and/or Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range).
Workings include underground openings with a length of 137.16 meters and an overall depth of 144.78 meters, and comprised of a 480 foot inclined shaft. On the 200 foot level, 300 feet of drifts were driven N and 150 feet S. Most ore was produced between surface and 200 feet of depth.
Production data are found in: Carlson, D.W. and Clark W.B. (1954).
Last ore produced assayed at $7 to $9 (period values) per ton.
A Au-Zn-Cu-Pb-Fe occurrence located in the SE¼SW¼ (estimated) sec. 29, T7N, R13E, MDM, 0.8 km (0.5 mile) SSE of Pioneer, S of the South Branch Sutter Creek (about 5 miles SE of Volcano), on private land. Operated in the 1930's. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters.
Mineralization is a quartz vein deposit hosted in diorite. The ore body strikes N15W and dips 85SW at a thickness of 0.51 meter. The vein is cut by a series of diorite dikes averaging 4 inches to 2 feet thick. One dike at the 200 foot level is 22 feet thick with no ore S of this dike. Free gold and pyrite are associated with minor galena, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) and/or Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range).
Workings include underground openings with a length of 137.16 meters and an overall depth of 144.78 meters, and comprised of a 480 foot inclined shaft. Drifts were driven 300 feet N and 150 feet S on the 200 foot level. Most ore was produced between surface and the 200 foot level.
Production data are found in: Carlson, D.W. & W.B. Clark (1954).
The last ore produced assayed at $7 to $9 (period values) Au/ton.
Mineralizationm is a quartz vein deposit hosted in granodiorite. The ore body strikes N15W and dips 85SW at a thickness of 0.51 meters. The vein is cut by a series of diorite dikes averaging 4 inches (10 cm) to 2 feet (0.6 meter) thick. One dike at the 200 level is 22 feet thick with no ore S of this dike. Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) and/or Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range).
Workings include underground openings with a length of 137.16 meters and an overall depth of 144.78 meters, and comprised of a 480 foot inclined shaft. On the 200 foot level, 300 feet of drifts were driven N and 150 feet S. Most ore was produced between surface and 200 feet of depth.
Production data are found in: Carlson, D.W. and Clark W.B. (1954).
Last ore produced assayed at $7 to $9 (period values) per ton.
A Au-Zn-Cu-Pb-Fe occurrence located in the SE¼SW¼ (estimated) sec. 29, T7N, R13E, MDM, 0.8 km (0.5 mile) SSE of Pioneer, S of the South Branch Sutter Creek (about 5 miles SE of Volcano), on private land. Operated in the 1930's. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters.
Mineralization is a quartz vein deposit hosted in diorite. The ore body strikes N15W and dips 85SW at a thickness of 0.51 meter. The vein is cut by a series of diorite dikes averaging 4 inches to 2 feet thick. One dike at the 200 foot level is 22 feet thick with no ore S of this dike. Free gold and pyrite are associated with minor galena, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) and/or Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range).
Workings include underground openings with a length of 137.16 meters and an overall depth of 144.78 meters, and comprised of a 480 foot inclined shaft. Drifts were driven 300 feet N and 150 feet S on the 200 foot level. Most ore was produced between surface and the 200 foot level.
Production data are found in: Carlson, D.W. & W.B. Clark (1954).
The last ore produced assayed at $7 to $9 (period values) Au/ton.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 References: |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ 'Psilomelane' |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS References: |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Psilomelane' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10103048 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Shoofly-Olds Ferry DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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