Essex Mine (Big Silver Mine), Badwater Springs, Saline Valley, Inyo County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Essex Mine (Big Silver Mine) | Mine |
| Badwater Springs | Group of Springs |
| Saline Valley | Valley |
| Inyo County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 46' 10'' North , 117° 53' 2'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Pine | 2,035 (2015) | 24.3km |
| Independence | 669 (2011) | 28.4km |
| Olancha | 192 (2015) | 55.3km |
| Big Pine | 1,756 (2014) | 56.8km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Pine Gem & Mineral Society | Lone Pine, California | 24km |
A former Pb-Ag-Cu-Au mine located in sec. 31, T13S, R38E, MDM, 2.5 km (1.6 miles) SSE of Badwater Springs, W of "The Dunes" and E of the mouth of McElvoy Canyon (1 mile S of Hunter Creek), in Saline Valley. MRDS database accuracy for this location is not stated.
Mineralization is a vein deposit hosted in limestone. The ore body strikes E-W and dips 70S at a width of 3.05 meters. Silver-bearing ore occurs along bedding planes of limestone, also in cross-fractures and fissures cutting limestone and diorite. The most intense enrichment occurs near contact between limestone and diorite. There are 2 systems of veins, one tending N, the other trending E. Geology in the vicinity of the mine is made up of Silurian and Ordovician metamorphic limestone and quartzite. The limestone is cut by numerous intrusions of fine-grained, dark green hornblende diorite. Local rocks include Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits.
Workings include underground openings. A tunnel was driven at 2,150 feet elevation S45W for 250 feet. Another tunnel was driven at 2,150 feet of elevation for 136 feet on the E-W vein. A crosscut tunnel was driven at 2,800 feet S20E. A number of short tunnels ranging from 20 to 50 feet in length were also driven.
Production data are found in: Tucker, W. Burling & Reid J. Sampson (1938): 477-478.
Ore was reported to carry 30 ounces Ag per ton and sorted up to 200 ounces Ag per ton. Ore shipped in 1928 had a recovery of 1.75% Pb, 65.6 ounces Ag/ton and some Cu & Au.
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
1 valid mineral.
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Linarite | 7.BC.65 | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10076623 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Antler Foreland BasinBasin
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
- Southern Basin and RangeWide Rift
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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