Bluebird Kyanite Mine (Vitrefrax Corporation property; Vitrefrax Mine; Bluebird Hill Kyanite deposit; Drifted Snow; Foster Bluebird Mine; Bluebird Mine; Ogilby Kyanite deposit), Vitrefrax Hill (Bluebird Hill), Obregon, Cargo Muchacho Mining District (Hedges Mining District; Ogilby Mining District), Cargo Muchacho Mountains, Imperial County, California, USAi
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 50' 39'' North , 114° 48' 24'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Los Algodones | 4,874 (2015) | 17.4km |
| Colonia Ladrillera | 277 (2018) | 18.7km |
| Colonia Francisco Santana Peralta | 578 (2013) | 18.8km |
| Donovan Estates | 1,508 (2017) | 19.2km |
| Avenue B and C | 4,176 (2017) | 19.5km |
A former Au-kyanite-mica occurrence/mine located in sec. 18 & in the NW¼NW¼ sec. 19, T15S, R21E, SBM, 2.2 km (7,400 feet) SW of Obregon (2.5 miles NE of Ogilby) W slope of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. Owned by the Vitrefrax Corporation. Acquired by Aluminum Silicates Company of Los Angeles in 1949. Operated during the period 1925-1946. MRDS database accuracy for this location is not stated. Kyanite was used for refractory cement products ("Argon" & "Durex").
Mineralization is a metamorphic deposit hosted in quartzite and schist. The ore body is bedded at a thickness of 121.92 meters and a length of 1,609.3 meters. The outcrop is discontinuous along its length. At the quarry, the quartz-kyanite quartzite forms the core of the hill with interbedded quartz-sericite schist at the flanks. Local rocks include Schist of various types and ages, unit 9 (Cargo Muchacho Mountains).
Workings include surface openings at a length of 30.48 meters and an overall depth of 7.62 meters. Three staggered benches in the hillside. Above the top bench is a 75 foot cut 50 feet wide.
Total production was 10 tons valued at $80,000 (period values).
Mines rock was 35% kyanite, the remainder is 15% kyanite.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
17 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 DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) References: |
| ⓘ Almandine Formula: Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 Description: Occurs as crystals to 8 mm. Common in a pyrophyllite lens. |
| ⓘ Andalusite Formula: Al2(SiO4)O Colour: Pale brown Description: Occurs as crystals in sericite and pyrophyllite per Pemberton. This may actually refer to the Drifted Snow Mine (https://www.mindat.org/loc-300076.html) (WW Besse, 2018). |
| ⓘ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Colour: Pinkish Description: Occurs as euhedral crystals filling vugs or seams in a pyrophyllite lens. |
| ⓘ Baryte var. Strontium-bearing Baryte Formula: (Ba,Sr)SO4 Colour: Pinkish Description: Occurs as euhedral crystals filling vugs or seams in a pyrophyllite lens. |
| ⓘ 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ Carnotite Formula: K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O Colour: Brilliant yellow Description: Occurs as films on fracture surfaces of a pyrophyllite lens. |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
| ⓘ Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 References: |
| ⓘ Kyanite Formula: Al2(SiO4)O Colour: Blue Description: Occurs as crystals with quartzite and muscovite schist. References: |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' Description: Occurs as pseudomorphs after pyritohedral pyrite crystals to 25 mm diameter. |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 Description: Relatively pure muscovite, var. sericite. References: |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 Description: Relatively pure muscovite, var. sericite. References: |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au References: |
| ⓘ Pyrophyllite Formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2 Colour: Apple-green Description: Occurs as foliated bodies in the Vitrefax Formation. References: |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Rutile Formula: TiO2 Colour: Deep red Description: Occurs as crystals to 2 mm long. Common in pyrophyllite lenses. References: |
| ⓘ Scorzalite Formula: Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 Description: Occurs with quartz-kyanite concentrations. |
| ⓘ Svanbergite Formula: SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 Habit: Pseudocubic rhombohedra. Colour: Nearly colourless to honey-yellow Description: Occurs as crystals to 2 mm in a pyrophyllite lens. |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z Colour: Black 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 | |||
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
| ⓘ | Carnotite | 4.HB.05 | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | var. Strontium-bearing Baryte | 7.AD.35 | (Ba,Sr)SO4 |
| ⓘ | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Scorzalite | 8.BB.40 | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Svanbergite | 8.BL.05 | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Almandine | 9.AD.25 | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Andalusite | 9.AF.10 | Al2(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Kyanite | 9.AF.15 | Al2(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Pyrophyllite | 9.EC.10 | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| H | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| O | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte var. Strontium-bearing Baryte | (Ba,Sr)SO4 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Al | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| P | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Baryte var. Strontium-bearing Baryte | (Ba,Sr)SO4 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| K | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Ti | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| V | Vanadium | |
| V | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| Sr | Strontium | |
| Sr | ⓘ Svanbergite | SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Sr | ⓘ Baryte var. Strontium-bearing Baryte | (Ba,Sr)SO4 |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte var. Strontium-bearing Baryte | (Ba,Sr)SO4 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10105299 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
- Sonoran DesertDesert
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
- Southern Basin and RangeWide Rift
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Bluebird Kyanite Mine, Vitrefrax Hill, Obregon, Cargo Muchacho Mining District, Cargo Muchacho Mountains, Imperial County, California, USA