Pilliken Mine (Pillikin Mine; Pillikan Mine; Pilliken Chrome Mine), Flagstaff Hill, Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area), El Dorado County, California, USAi
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 46' 56'' North , 121° 5' 30'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Granite Bay | 20,402 (2011) | 6.6km |
| Loomis | 6,733 (2017) | 9.8km |
| Penryn | 831 (2011) | 10.3km |
| El Dorado Hills | 42,108 (2011) | 10.8km |
| Newcastle | 1,224 (2011) | 10.8km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Roseville Rock Rollers | Roseville, California | 17km |
| El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society | Placerville, California | 26km |
| Gold Country Treasure Seekers | Placerville, California | 26km |
| Fossils for Fun Society, Inc. | North Highlands, California | 27km |
| Sacramento Valley Detecting Buffs | North Highlands, California | 27km |
A former Cr-Fe-Ni occurrence/mine located in sec. 21 & in the NE¼ sec. 28, T11N, R8E, MDM, 1.7 km (1.1 miles) NNW of Flagstaff Hill (coordinates of record), on private (patented) land (located claim). Discovered in 1853. Owned by the Red Line Transfer Company (owned by Union Bank of San Francisco) (100%), California (1979). Operated by the Western Chrome Products (100%), California (1979). database stated accuracy for this location is 500 meters. Real estate development in the area will probably prevent proposed larger scale mining of this deposit. Present holdings include also the Bonanza King, Chrome Gulch, Donnelly, Nielson and Steele Mines.
Mineralization is a Cr-Fe-Ni deposit hosted in Late Cretaceous ultramafic intrusive rock. The ore body strikes and dips N10W, is 60 meters thick, 730 meters wide and 329 meters long, The orebodies are: 1.) Fissure vein/tabular; 2.) shear zone/irregular; and, 3.) disseminated. The primary mode of origin was magmatic differentiation. Primary ore control was lithology. Wallrock alteration is intense (silicification, carbonitization). Garnierite was reported in siliceous lateritic soil. Local rocks include ultramafic rocks, chiefly Mesozoic, unit 2 (Western Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains) and/or Mesozoic volcanic rocks, unit 2 (Western Sierra Foothills and Western Klamath Mountains).
Workings include surface and underground openings comprised of an open pit.
A few pockets of ore were mined prior to 1894. Worked during WWI. Idle during the period 1918 to 1936. Worked 1936 to 1939, 1940 to 1942, 1944 to 1945. To 1945 these deposits yielded a total of 27,144 long tons of chromite. Little ore was produced during the period 1941 to 1953 with some [production during the period 1954 to 1955, but idle since that time.
Production statistics by year:
1916: lump ore: 2,170 tonnes (grade unknown)
1917: lump ore: 3,452 tonnes @ 43% Cr2O3
1918: lump ore & concentrates: 3,682 tonnes @ 50% Cr2O3
1936: lump ore & concentrates: 30 tonnes (grade unknown)
1937: lump ore & concentrates: 470 tonnes @ 50% Cr2O3
1938: lump ore & concentrates: 770 tonnes @ 49% Cr2O3
1939: lump ore & concentrates: 3,085 tonnes @ 45-48% Cr203
1940: lump ore & concentrates: 1,800 metric tonnes @ 42 weight percent Cr2O3
1941: lump ore & concentrates: 4,489 tonnes @ 42.00% Cr203
1942: lump ore & concentrates: 7,173 tonnes @ 41-43% Cr203
1943: lump ore: 276 tonnes @ 43.00% Cr203
1944: lump ore: 165 tonnes @ 44.00% Cr203
1953: lump ore: 299 tonnes @ 45.00% Cr203
1953: concentrates: 191 tonnes @ 42.00% Cr203
1954: lump ore: 219 tonnes @ 45.10% Cr203
1954: concentrate: 146 tonnes @ 45.10% Cr203
1955: lump ore: 28 tonnes @ 44.50% Cr203
1955: concentrates: 166 tonnes @ 45.00% Cr203
1957: lump ore: ?? tonnes @ 42.80% Cr203 (moderate tonnages) .
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities13 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnesiochromite | 4.BB.05 | MgCr2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Uvarovite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Enstatite | 9.DA.05 | Mg2Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Antigorite | 9.ED.15 | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| ⓘ | Népouite | 9.ED.15 | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Diallage' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Pyroxene Group' | - | ADSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | 'Garnierite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Népouite | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Magnesiochromite | MgCr2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Népouite | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Uvarovite | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| Mg | ⓘ Magnesiochromite | MgCr2O4 |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Mg | ⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Népouite | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Uvarovite | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Si | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Uvarovite | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Cr | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Chromium-bearing Clinochlore | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| Cr | ⓘ Magnesiochromite | MgCr2O4 |
| Cr | ⓘ Uvarovite | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite-Magnesiochromite Series | |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Népouite | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10029649 |
|---|
Localities in this Region
- California
- El Dorado County
- Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area)
- Flagstaff Hill
- Pilliken Mine (Pillikin Mine; Pillikan Mine; Pilliken Chrome Mine)
- Flagstaff Hill
- Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area)
- El Dorado County
- California
- El Dorado County
- Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area)
- Flagstaff Hill
- Pilliken Mine (Pillikin Mine; Pillikan Mine; Pilliken Chrome Mine)
- Flagstaff Hill
- Salmon Falls Mining District (Flagstaff Hill area)
- El Dorado County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Foothills-Wallowa 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
(n.d.) Minerals Availability System (MAS), U.S. Bureau of Mines.file #0060170006
Pillikin Mine area 3, Pilliken Mine, Flagstaff Hill, Salmon Falls Mining District, El Dorado County, California, USA