Big Canyon

The Big Canyon is a gold mine located in El Dorado county, California at an elevation of 810 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Name: Big Canyon  

State:  California

County:  El Dorado

Elevation: 810 Feet (247 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 38.611, -120.90500

Map: View on Google Maps

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.


Satelite image of the Big Canyon

Big Canyon MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Big Canyon
Secondary: Oro Fino


Commodity

Primary: Gold


Location

State: California
County: El Dorado


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Trough


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Metasedimentary Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian

Name: Metasedimentary Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: FREE GOLD 20 % OF AU IN ORE REMAINDER IN PYRITE AND PYRRHOTITE.


Materials

Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Albite


Comments

Comment (Geology): IN SHEAR ZONE WITH AMPHIBOLITE TO W AND SERPENTINE LENSE TO E, E OF SERPENTINE ARE METASEDIMENTARY ROCKS OF CALAVERAS GROUP. ORE BODY DIPS UP TO 40 E. THREE PERIODS OF SULFIDE MINERALIZATION; THE FIRST IS OF ARSENOPYRITE, THE SECOND OF BARREN PYRITE AND THE THIRD OF AURIFEROUS PYRITE.

Comment (Location): Location corrected based on PLS using GIS. ACC NW 1/4 OF NW 1/4 SEC

Comment (Production): ACTIVE PRIOR 1888 , 1893 - 1901 , 1915 , 1934 - 1940

Comment (Deposit): VEIN-LIKE MASS OF SHEARED AND BRECCIATED META-ANDESITE

Comment (Workings): DEVELOPED BY 200 FT. VERTICLE SHAFT AND A 540 FT. AT A 40 DEG. INCLINE, ORE STOPED TO SURFACE FROM 500 FT. LEVEL. ANOTHER 620 FT. SHAFT WAS SUNK ON A 45 DEG. INCLINE, ALSO MINED BY OPEN PIT. STOPES 450 FT. LONG AND UP TO 60 FT. WIDE.


References

Reference (Deposit): CLARK, W. B., AND CARLSON, D. W., 1956 , MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF EL DORADO CO., CALIF.: CALIF. JOUR. OF MINES AND GEOL., VOL 52 , NO. 4 , PG. 408 & 487 AND PL 10 .

Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C. A., 1938 , MIN. RESOURCES OF EL DORADO CO.: CALIF. JOUR. OF MINES AND GEOL., VOL. 34 , NO. 3 , PG 220 - 223 , 238 AND PL II.

Reference (Production): CLARK 1956


California Gold

Where to Find Gold in California

"Where to Find Gold in California" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in California. Read more: Where to Find Gold in California.