Lights Creek Copper deposits (Moonlight Mine; Sulfide Ridge deposits; Lights Canyon deposits), Moonlight Peak, Taylorsville Mining District, Plumas Copper Belt, Plumas County, California, USAi
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
40° 13' 0'' North , 120° 46' 60'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Group of Deposits
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Taylorsville | 140 (2011) | 16.4km |
| Greenville | 1,129 (2011) | 16.6km |
| Crescent Mills | 196 (2011) | 17.2km |
| Westwood | 1,647 (2011) | 21.3km |
| Janesville | 1,408 (2011) | 23.7km |
A group of two former Cu-Au-Ag-Pb-Mo-Zn mines located in sec. 7, T27N, R11E, MDM, 5.5 km (3.4 miles) ESE of Moonlight Peak, near Lights Creek in the Genesee Valley, on patented claim (private) land. Part of the property is located in sec 17. Discovered in 1880. First production was 1914. Lessee/Operator: Starfield Resources, Inc. (100.00%), Toronto, Canada (2009). Lessor: California-Engels Mining Co. (0.00%), Greenville, CA (2009). Owner-Operator: Placer Amex (100.00%), California (1978). MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters.
Mineralization is a porphyry Cu deposit (Deposit model: code 53; USGS model code 17; deposit model name: Porphyry Cu). The ore body is 180 meters thick, with a depth to top of 1 meter, width of 840 meters, and a length of 1,740 meters. Two types of ore body are present: disseminated massive and fissure vein. The primary mode of origin was magmatic emplacement while the secondary mode of origin was hydrothermal. Primary ore control was fracturing and the secondary control was lithology. There is moderate wall rock alteration (potassic). Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges).
Mafics represent 11.00 volume percent (VP). Metallics represent 3.30 VP. The order of importance is as follows: chalcopyrite, bornite, covelite, chalcocite, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla and native copper. Primary gangue minerals in order of abundance: magnetite, hematite, and pyrite. Minor minerals include pyrrhotite, molybdenite, sphalerite, galena, siderite, dolomite, calcite, epidote, chlorite, actinolite, tetrahedrite, tennanite, and luzonite. Minor oxidation minerals include limonite, manganese oxides, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, and native copper.
The Engles Mine in a shear zone and the Superior Mine in porphyry (copper porphyry). Sometime given as a joint name: Superior-Eagles Mine or Eagles-Superior Mine. Moonlight mine is a synonym for the joint names.
Workings include surface and underground openings. Mill was a flotation plant.
Reserve estimates in 2008 were 318,000,000 metric tons of ore.
Mineralization is a porphyry Cu deposit (Deposit model: code 53; USGS model code 17; deposit model name: Porphyry Cu). The ore body is 180 meters thick, with a depth to top of 1 meter, width of 840 meters, and a length of 1,740 meters. Two types of ore body are present: disseminated massive and fissure vein. The primary mode of origin was magmatic emplacement while the secondary mode of origin was hydrothermal. Primary ore control was fracturing and the secondary control was lithology. There is moderate wall rock alteration (potassic). Local rocks include Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges).
Mafics represent 11.00 volume percent (VP). Metallics represent 3.30 VP. The order of importance is as follows: chalcopyrite, bornite, covelite, chalcocite, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla and native copper. Primary gangue minerals in order of abundance: magnetite, hematite, and pyrite. Minor minerals include pyrrhotite, molybdenite, sphalerite, galena, siderite, dolomite, calcite, epidote, chlorite, actinolite, tetrahedrite, tennanite, and luzonite. Minor oxidation minerals include limonite, manganese oxides, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, and native copper.
The Engles Mine in a shear zone and the Superior Mine in porphyry (copper porphyry). Sometime given as a joint name: Superior-Eagles Mine or Eagles-Superior Mine. Moonlight mine is a synonym for the joint names.
Workings include surface and underground openings. Mill was a flotation plant.
Reserve estimates in 2008 were 318,000,000 metric tons of ore.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities34 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Stibnite | 2.DB.05 | Sb2S3 |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | 'Tennantite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| ⓘ | Jamesonite | 2.HB.15 | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
| ⓘ | Enargite | 2.KA.05 | Cu3AsS4 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Brochantite | 7.BB.25 | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Carbonatecyanotrichite | 7.DE.10 | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Titanite | 9.AG.15 | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Actinolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Prehnite | 9.DP.20 | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ | Natrolite | 9.GA.05 | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Scolecite | 9.GA.05 | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ | Thomsonite-Ca | 9.GA.10 | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Analcime | 9.GB.05 | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| ⓘ | Laumontite | 9.GB.10 | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chabazite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Feldspar Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Heulandite Subgroup' | - | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Stilbite Subgroup' | - | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| ⓘ | 'Axinite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Titanite | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Titanite | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| S | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Titanite | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Ti | ⓘ Titanite | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Cu | ⓘ Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| As | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
| Sb | ⓘ Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10261965 |
|---|
Localities in this Region
- California
- Plumas County
- Plumas Copper Belt
- Taylorsville Mining District
- Moonlight Peak
- Lights Creek Copper deposits (Moonlight Mine; Sulfide Ridge deposits; Lights Canyon deposits)
- Moonlight Peak
- Taylorsville Mining District
- Plumas Copper Belt
- Plumas County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Columbia Basin and RangeWide Rift
- Shoofly-Olds Ferry DomainDomain
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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References
(n.d.) Minerals Availability System (MAS), U.S. Bureau of Mines.file ID #0060630363






Engles Mine, Lights Creek Copper deposits, Moonlight Peak, Taylorsville Mining District, Plumas Copper Belt, Plumas County, California, USA