Gold Canyon Mine, Plumbago, Alleghany Mining District (Forest Mining District), Sierra County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Gold Canyon Mine | Mine |
| Plumbago | - not defined - |
| Alleghany Mining District (Forest Mining District) | Mining District |
| Sierra County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
39° 26' 31'' North , 120° 48' 32'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 185 (2011) | 9.2km |
| Downieville | 282 (2011) | 13.1km |
| Pike | 134 (2011) | 16.2km |
| Sierra City | 221 (2011) | 20.4km |
| Camptonville | 158 (2011) | 20.6km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society | Grass Valley, California | 33km |
A former Au-Pb-Zn mine located in the W½ (estimated) sec. 12, T18N, R10E, MDM, 1.4 km (0.9 mile) SSE of Plumbago, along the W canyon wall of Buckeye Ravine, near its confluence with the Middle Yuba River, about 2½ miles SSE of Alleghany, on National Forest land. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 1,000 meters.
Mineralization is a gold-bearing vein deposit hosted in gabbro and serpentinite. The ore body strikes N60W and dips 55N. The main vein lies entirely within gabbro and may be a continuation of the Irelan fissure. There is a reverse fault along the vein, since serpentine forms the hanging wall at the E end of the workings. Along strike, the vein pinches out against serpentine, breaking into irregular stringers. Adjoining serpentine is altered near surface due to oxidation of Fe-bearing carbonate. There are two smaller veins with one following the serpentine contact. There is evidence of successive thrusts, more intense in the serpentine. The vein is cut by a number of parallel small faults near the serpentine contact, with principal movement clearly post-mineralization. Evidence; however, is present that the fissures formed prior to the main gold phase of mineralization since older quartz is crosscut by ore veins. Local alteration includes carbonitization. Local rocks include Paleozoic marine rocks, undivided, unit 4 (Western Sierra Nevada) and/or ultramafic rocks, chiefly Mesozoic, unit 2 (Western Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains).
Workings include underground openings comprised of several adits covering 1,500 feet of the main vein. There are 5,000 to 6,000 feet of drifts and 2,000 feet of raises and winzes.
Production data are found in: Ferguson & Gannett (1932).
Most production was from a small ore shoot in the E part of the main vein near the serpentinite contact. A small vein 130 feet S of the main vein was said to have yielded fine gold in the pan.
There has been intermittent production since 1860. Production ratio was set at about $105 (period values) per vein foot.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10103092 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Calaveras-Baker DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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References
(n.d.) Minerals Availability System (MAS), U.S. Bureau of Mines.file #0060910169
