Birney Mine (Birney and Golden Slip), Vallecito, Vallecito Mining District, Calaveras County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Birney Mine (Birney and Golden Slip) | Mine |
| Vallecito | Census-designated Place |
| Vallecito Mining District | Mining District |
| Calaveras County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 4' 52'' North , 120° 30' 51'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Angels Camp | 2,677 (2012) | 2.6km |
| Vallecito | 442 (2011) | 3.7km |
| Murphys | 2,213 (2015) | 7.8km |
| Tuttletown | 668 (2011) | 11.0km |
| Columbia | 2,297 (2017) | 11.1km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society | Angels Camp, California | 3km |
| Amador County Gem & Mineral Society | Sutter Creek, California | 43km |
A Au occurrence located in sec. 26, T3N, R13E, MDM, about 3½ km WSW of Vallecito and 2.6 km (1.6 miles) ENE of Angels Camp (on the Birney Ranch; just N of highway 4). Operated in the 1890's. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 1,000 meters. Map GP-561 shows several mines in the sec. with most in the N½.
NOTE: There are 4 USGS MRDS database files which apparently pertain to this mine(s). Files #10029078 & 10163083 designate it he "Birney" and place it in sec. 26, T3N, R13E. Files #10029096 & 10260341 designate it as the "Birney and Golden Slipper," and place it in secs. 29 & 30 (not consistent with description of location on the Birney Ranch). Each pair of MRDS files has a separate MAS-MILS file number. The rather unique descriptive data pertaining to the deposit, i.e., 11 known surface veins, appears in both sets of files. The four MRDS files were interpreted as probably pertaining to the same mine, located in sec. 26.
Mineralization is a vein deposit. There are 11 veins known on the surface. Two "blind" veins have been discovered beneath. These veins all occur within a zone 200 feet wide in altered diabase (chloritic and talcose schist), and contain from 3 to 4% auriferous iron sulphurets (sulfides). Local rocks include Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range).
Workings include underground openings comprised of a 110 foot deep shaft worked through a 175 foot adit. A 10-stamp mill was used to treat the ore.
Good prospects were obtained on several of the veins. Long idle mine.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' Description: A component of schist. |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: Auriferous material. |
| ⓘ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Description: A component of schist. |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10029078 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Shoofly-Olds Ferry 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.
References
Eric, John H. (1955) Geology and mineral deposits of the Angels Camp and Sonora quadrangles, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, California. Special Report 41. California Division of Mines p.48 - plate 3
