The French is a gold mine located in Mariposa 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.
French MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: French
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: California
County: Mariposa
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Pacific Mining Co.
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: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Sierra Nevada
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Slate
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: WALL ROCKS OF TWO PARALLEL VEINS ARE METAPYROXENE ANDESITE GREENSTONE OF UNKNOWN AGE AND SLATY METASEDIMENTS OF PAL AGE.
Comment (Deposit): HOLDING COMPANY OWNS THE FRENCH, FRENCH POCKET AND EVANS MINES. RECENT AU GRAVELS ON S. SIDE MERCED RIVER ( BULL. 108 ).
Comment (Workings): CROSSCUT ADIT 155 FT. LONG WITH DRIFTS TOTALING 660 FT., 2 INCLINED SHAFTS,DRIFTS AND LEVELS. TOTAL FOOTAGE OF WORKINGS , 1048 FT.
Comment (Production): OLD PROPERTY ACTIVE IN EARLIEST DAYS OF MINING IN THE COUNTY. WORKED INTERMITTENTLY BY VARIOUS LESSEES UP TO 1948. TOTAL RECORDED PRODUCTION SINCE 1903 IS ABOUT $116,750 AND PRODUCTION PRIOR TO THAT TIME MAY HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT AMOUNT. ORE TAKEN OUT IN 1903 AVERAGED $44.16 PER TON ;IN 1924 AVERAGE WAS $16.53 AND IN 1935-48 YIELD WAS $13.99 PER TON.
Comment (Deposit): VEINS
Comment (Location): 1 MI. E OF PINE TREE MINE, 1/2 MI. SO. OF MERCED RIVER. UTM ACC.
References
Reference (Deposit): BOWEN, O. E., JR., & GRAY, H., JR., 1957 , MINES AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIF.: CALIF. JOUR. MINES & GEOL., VOL. 53 , NOS. 1 & 2 , P. 99 - 100 , 262 .
Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C. A., 1934 , MOTHER LODE GOLD BELT OF CALIF.: CDM BULL. 108 , RECORD SHEET FACING P. 188 .
Reference (Deposit): LAIZURE, C. MCK., 1935 , CURRENT MINING ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT WITH SPEC. REF. TO GOLD: CALIF. JOUR. MINES & GEOL., VOL. 31 , NO. 1 , P. 33 .
Reference (Production): BOWEN AND GRAY, 1957
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.
