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Lights Creek Copper deposits (Moonlight Mine; Sulfide Ridge deposits; Lights Canyon deposits), Moonlight Peak, Taylorsville Mining District, Plumas Copper Belt, Plumas County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Lights Creek Copper deposits (Moonlight Mine; Sulfide Ridge deposits; Lights Canyon deposits)Group of Deposits
Moonlight PeakPeak
Taylorsville Mining DistrictMining District
Plumas Copper BeltBelt
Plumas CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
40° 13' 0'' North , 120° 46' 60'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Group of Deposits
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Taylorsville140 (2011)16.4km
Greenville1,129 (2011)16.6km
Crescent Mills196 (2011)17.2km
Westwood1,647 (2011)21.3km
Janesville1,408 (2011)23.7km
Mindat Locality ID:
86332
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:86332:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


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.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

34 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Analcime
Formula: Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Description: Occurs as druses in pegmatites and as an accessory mineral in igneous rocks.
'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
'Axinite Group'
References:
Jack Crowley specimen, JC105NIdentification: Dealer/Collection Label
Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
Brochantite
Formula: Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Description: Occurs as crystals.
Carbonatecyanotrichite
Formula: Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
Habit: Radial fibrous aggregates
Colour: Bright blue
'Chabazite'
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
'Chlorite Group'
Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Description: Occurs banded with malachite.
Covellite
Formula: CuS
Colour: Blue
Description: Occurs as a marginal replacement o0f bornite and chalcopyrite - as blue needles.
Enargite
Formula: Cu3AsS4
Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
'Feldspar Group'
Galena
Formula: PbS
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
'Heulandite Subgroup'
Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Description: Occurs abundantly replacing feldspar.
Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
Jamesonite
Formula: Pb4FeSb6S14
Laumontite
Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Description: Occurs in minor amounts.
'Limonite'
Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Description: Occurs banded with chrysocolla.
Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Native Copper
Formula: Cu
Native Gold
Formula: Au
Natrolite
Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Description: Occurs in druses of pegmatite.
Prehnite
Formula: Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Description: Occurs as a product of hydrothermal activity.
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Scolecite
Formula: CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
Habit: Fibrous
Description: Occurs as a hydrothermal mineral in small veinlets of finely radial fibers.
Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
Stibnite
Formula: Sb2S3
'Stilbite Subgroup'
Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
'Tennantite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Thomsonite-Ca
Formula: NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Titanite
Formula: CaTiO(SiO4)
Description: Occurs as numerous irregular grains with apatite in diorite country rock.
'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Native Copper1.AA.05Cu
Native Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
Covellite2.CA.05aCuS
Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
Pyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
Galena2.CD.10PbS
Stibnite2.DB.05Sb2S3
Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
'Tennantite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Jamesonite2.HB.15Pb4FeSb6S14
Enargite2.KA.05Cu3AsS4
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Ilmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Siderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Azurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Brochantite7.BB.25Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Carbonatecyanotrichite7.DE.10Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
Titanite9.AG.15CaTiO(SiO4)
Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Actinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Prehnite9.DP.20Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Natrolite9.GA.05Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Scolecite9.GA.05CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
Thomsonite-Ca9.GA.10NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Analcime9.GB.05Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Laumontite9.GB.10CaAl2Si4O12 · 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

HHydrogen
H Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
H AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
H AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
H BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
H CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
H ChrysocollaCu2-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 LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
H PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
H ScoleciteCaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
H Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
H Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
H Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
BBoron
B TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
C AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
C CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
C SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
O Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
O AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
O AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
O BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
O CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
O ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
O Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
O HematiteFe2O3
O Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
O IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
O LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
O MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
O PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
O QuartzSiO2
O ScoleciteCaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
O SideriteFeCO3
O Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
O Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
O TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
O TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
O Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
NaSodium
Na AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Na Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Na NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Na Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
MgMagnesium
Mg Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
AlAluminium
Al AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Al CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
Al ChrysocollaCu2-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 LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Al NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Al PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Al ScoleciteCaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
Al Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Al Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Al Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Si Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Si AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Si ChrysocollaCu2-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 LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Si PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Si QuartzSiO2
Si ScoleciteCaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
Si Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Si Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Si TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Si Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
PPhosphorus
P ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
S BorniteCu5FeS4
S BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
S CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
S ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
S ChalcociteCu2S
S CovelliteCuS
S EnargiteCu3AsS4
S GalenaPbS
S JamesonitePb4FeSb6S14
S MolybdeniteMoS2
S PyriteFeS2
S PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
S SphaleriteZnS
S StibniteSb2S3
S Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
S Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
KPotassium
K Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
K Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
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 LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Ca PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Ca ScoleciteCaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O
Ca Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Ca TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Ca ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
TiTitanium
Ti IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Ti TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
FeIron
Fe Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Fe BorniteCu5FeS4
Fe ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Fe Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Fe JamesonitePb4FeSb6S14
Fe MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Fe PyriteFeS2
Fe PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Fe SideriteFeCO3
CuCopper
Cu AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cu BorniteCu5FeS4
Cu BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Cu CarbonatecyanotrichiteCu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O
Cu ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
Cu ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cu CovelliteCuS
Cu Native CopperCu
Cu EnargiteCu3AsS4
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cu Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
Cu Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Zn SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
As EnargiteCu3AsS4
As Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
MoMolybdenum
Mo MolybdeniteMoS2
SbAntimony
Sb JamesonitePb4FeSb6S14
Sb StibniteSb2S3
Sb Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AuGold
Au Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pb GalenaPbS
Pb JamesonitePb4FeSb6S14

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10261965

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