Holcomb Valley is on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains just north of Big Bear Lake. Placer deposits were discovered here in 1860 by W. F. Holcomb and were extensively worked for a few years following, mostly by Mexicans. The area has been intermittently prospected ever since. From 1933 to 1941 about 200,000 cubic yards were mined by power shovel, with an average recovery of 38 cents per yard. The gold-bearing material consists of Recent and older alluvium. There are a number of small lode-gold prospects. The gold occurs in thin shear and fracture zones in granitic rocks or in contacts between carbonate andintrusive rocks.
Bibliography
Cloudman, H. C., Huguenin, Emile, and Merrill, F. J. H., 1920, Holcomb Valley district: California Min. Bur. Rept. 16, pp. 798-799.
Gray, C. H., Jr., 1960, Placer gold in Geology of the San Bernardino Mountains north of Big Bear Lake: California Div. Mines Spec. Rept. 65, pp.51-54.
