The Leviathan is a copper and sulfur mine located in Alpine county, California.
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
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.
Leviathan MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Leviathan
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Primary: Sulfur
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Location
State: California
County: Alpine
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Sierra Nevada
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene
Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pliocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Sulfur
Comments
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: SULPHUR IN MASSES, STRINGERS, AND VEINS, IN A GRAY, ALTERED PORPHYRITIC ANDESITE. MAXIMUM THICKNESS IS 135'. MINED IN AN OPEN PIT. 1500' X 600'. ORE AVERAGES 28% SULPHUR WITH TRACES OF CINNABAR. SULPHUR OCCURS AS REPLACEMENT IN TUFF. THIN BEDS OF SULPHUR INTERFINGER WITH TUFF ONE MILE SOUTH AND ONE MILE WEST OF PIT
Comment (Deposit): ADD. REF. NO.4. USBM IC 7898; NO.5. GEOL. SOC. SAC. GUIDEBOOK ANN. FIELD TRIP JUNE 18-19, 1966-P.63-68- GEOL MAP FOLLOWING P.62 & PLATES INPACKED
Comment (Production): PRODUCED NEARLY ALL SULPHUR MINED IN CALIF - AVE. ABOUT 250,000 TONS ANNUALLY. COPPER PRODUCTION BET. 100,000 AND 1,000,000 CU.OUTPUT IS SENT TO YERINGTON,NEVADA,AND USED TO MAKE SULPHURIC ACID. BOUGHT BY ANACONDA CO. IN 1952 POSSIBLY TRAIL NEAR RIM OF PIT. GEOL SOC. SAC. GUIDEBOOK 1966 SHOWS OUTLINES OF S BODY. PIT, 2,000' LONG, 1,000' WIDE, 400' DEEP. SULPHUR RESERVES EXPECTED TO BE EXHAUSTED AND 1961 BE LAST YEAR OF OPERATION - E&MJ V. 162, NO.7, JULY 1961, P.121 (NEVADA NOTES) NEVADA NEWSLETTER 4/15/60, P.4; 4/15/61, P.2. MINE PURCHASED BY U.S. BORAX LATE SUMMER 1967 - SURFACE EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION OF UNNAMED PORTIONS BEGUN IMMEDIATELY.DRILLING MAY FOLLOW - MIS V.21, 1968, NO.2, P.27-8. MINE WAS DISCOVERED IN 1863 AND WAS FIRST WORKED FOR COPPER & GOLD. FIRST S PRODUCTION WAS IN 1933
Comment (Workings): OPEN PIT 1,500 FT. LONG, 600 FT. WIDE
References
Reference (Deposit): ERIC, J.H., 1948 : COPPER IN CALIFORNIA BULL. 144 ; DIV. OF MINES, P. 213
Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C.A., 1931 ; SACRAMENTO FIELD DIV.; 27TH REPT. STATE MIN.; CALIF. DIV. OF MINES, P. 491
Reference (Deposit): LYDON, P.A., 1957 ; MINERAL COMMODITIES OF CALIFORNIA BULL. 176 : DIV. OF MINES, P. 613 - 614
California Gold
"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.
