This district, in south-central San Diego County approximately 35 miles east of San Diego, includes the Descanso area to the west. A number of small lode-gold mines in the area were first worked around 1900, and a few have been prospected since. The deposits usually consist of a series of parallel quartz veins and stringers containing native gold and often abundant sulfides. None have been developed to depths of greater than 150 feet. The country rock is granodiorite, gneiss, diorite, and gabbro. The principal properties have been the Descanso, Free Coinage, Gold Standard, Good Luck, and Oak Canyon mines.
Bibliography
Merrill, F. J. H., 1916, San Diego County, Deer Park, Descanso, and Pine Valley Districts: California Min. Bur. Rept. 14, pp. 662-664.
Weber, F. Harold, Jr., 1963, San Diego County, gold: California Div. Mines and Geology County Rept. 3, pp. 115-167.
