Rathgeb Mine (Union-Rathgeb Mine), Kentucky House, San Andreas Mining District, Calaveras County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Rathgeb Mine (Union-Rathgeb Mine) | Mine |
| Kentucky House | - not defined - |
| San Andreas Mining District | Mining District |
| Calaveras County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 9' 30'' North , 120° 38' 51'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| San Andreas | 2,783 (2011) | 5.1km |
| Mountain Ranch | 1,628 (2011) | 12.1km |
| Angels Camp | 2,677 (2012) | 13.8km |
| Valley Springs | 3,553 (2011) | 16.3km |
| Murphys | 2,213 (2015) | 16.5km |
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 | 14km |
| Amador County Gem & Mineral Society | Sutter Creek, California | 29km |
A former Au-U (trace) mine located in secs. 33 & 34, T4N, R12E, MDM, 2.3 km (1.4 miles) ESE of Kentucky House, and about 3 miles SSE of San Andreas. Operated in the early 1850's to the 1870's. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 1,000 meters.
Mineralization is a vein deposit. The vein strikes N and dips 70E and lies on a contact of blasck clay slates and amphibolite schist. Local rocks include undivided pre-Cenozoic metavolcanic rocks, unit 2 (undivided).
Workings include underground openings comprised of a 220 foot deep shaft, with short drifts on the 120 and 200 foot levels. An excerpt from an account by T.A. Rickard (Bulletin 108, p. 147) says that acicular black crystals of pitchblende (uraninite), together with uranium ochre, were in the quartz associated with the gold, in a large pocket taken from this mine in 1887. However, Logan (1936) says that this excerpt really applies to the Union CFordova mine in sec. 33, same T&R. A radioactivity reconnaissance of the dump and tests of the quartz vein indicate only low gamma-ray activity and fail to confirm the presence of uraniferous minerals (Special Report 49).
In 1873 ore on the dump was reported to be worth $7 (period values) a ton, containing 5% sulfides and coming from a vein 4 feet thick. Production in 1870 amounted to $5,000 (period values).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au Description: Spongy gold. References: |
| ⓘ 'Uraconite' ? Description: Occurs as yellow ochres on pitchblende in contact with gold. References: |
| ⓘ Uraninite ? Formula: UO2 Habit: Acicular Description: Occurs as crystals in pockets with spongy gold, quartz, and clay. References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Uraninite ? | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Uraconite' ? | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10028903 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Calaveras-Baker DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- California
- Mother Lode BeltBelt
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References
(n.d.) Minerals Availability System (MAS), U.S. Bureau of Mines.file ID #0060090023
