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Surprise Mine, Panamint Valley, Inyo County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Surprise MineMine
Panamint ValleyValley
Inyo CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 16' 4'' North , 117° 21' 23'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
36.26778,-117.35639
GRN:
N25W68
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BWk : Cold desert climate
Mindat Locality ID:
79491
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:79491:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A former Ag-Pb-Cu-Au-Zn mine located in sec. 19 (and/or sec. 20), T19S, R42E, MDM, in the Panamint Valley, about 4¼ miles ENE of Lookout City and about 11 miles E of Darwin. Operated during the period 1947-1951. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 10 meters.

NOTE: USGS MRDS database file #10236121 places this locality within the Argus Range Wilderness; however, it is located in the center of the Panamint Valley.

Mineralization is a replacement type deposit hosted in limestone. The ore body is irregular. Controls for ore emplacement included drag folds and faults. Limestone beds are contorted but locally trend E and dip 50S. The ore is partially oxidized to anglesite and cerussite. The largest ore body mined was along the hanging wall of a reverse fault. Faults along the ore acted as channel ways for dolomitizing solutions. Local rocks include Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 2 (SE California Carbonate Assemblage) and/or Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits.

Local geologic structures include a fault and folds.

Workings include underground openings comprised of 3 adits with winzes and raises. Exploration was underway during 1952-1953.

Production data are found in: Goodwin, J.G. (1957): 515 - 516.

Ore averaged 31.6% Pb, 25.2 ounces Ag and 0.084 ounces Au/ton, with minor Cu & Zn.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


8 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
ⓘ Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Mimetite
Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl
ⓘ Pyromorphite
Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl
Description: Occurs as euhedral crystals in oxidized Pb ore.
ⓘ Smithsonite
Formula: ZnCO3

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘSmithsonite5.AB.05ZnCO3
ⓘCerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘMimetite8.BN.05Pb5(AsO4)3Cl
ⓘPyromorphite8.BN.05Pb5(PO4)3Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
CCarbon
Cⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Cⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Oⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
Oⓘ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
Oⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
AlAluminium
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
SiSilicon
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
Clⓘ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
FeIron
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
AsArsenic
Asⓘ MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
PbLead
Pbⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Pbⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl
Pbⓘ PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10033998

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

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 ID #0060270565
Norman, L.A. & Richard M. Stewart (1951), Mines and mineral resources of Inyo County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology (Report 47): 47: 81.
Goodwin, Joseph Grant (1957) Lead and zinc in California. California Journal of Mines and Geology, Division of Mines (Report 53): 53(3&4): 515-516.
Hall, Wayne Everett & Hal G. Stephens (1963), Economic geology of the Panamint Butte quadrangle and Modoc district, Inyo County, California: California Division of Mines & Geology Special Report 73: 26, 35.
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 144, 266, 305.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.
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