The Black Velvet is a chromium mine located in Grant county, Oregon.
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
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Black Velvet MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Black Velvet
Commodity
Primary: Chromium
Location
State: Oregon
County: Grant
District: Canyon
Land Status
Administrative Organization: Malheur Natioal Forest
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Deposit Type: Podiform
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Walla Walla Plateau
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE PROBABLY CONTAINS BETWEEN 15 AND 25 % CHROMIC OXIDE.
Materials
Ore: Chromite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): ORE HAS PLANAR BANDING THAT DIPS PARALLEL TO BANDING IN ENCLOSING OLIVINITE. BANDING IS N - S, DIPPING 20 DEG. W.
Comment (Geology): BOULDERS CONSIST OF GRANITE WITH A LITTLE SCHIST AND LAVA. GOLD APPEARS FROM 6 TO SEVERAL FT ABOVE BEDROCK. GRAVELS AVERAGE 100 FT WIDE AND 10 FT DEEP; BOULDERS AVERAGE <2 FT IN DIAMETER, WITH A FINE GRAVEL AND SANDY MATRIX; NO CLAY
Comment (Production): AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 AU IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FROM THE CALHOUN-HOWELL OPERATION IN 1947-1950. VALUES RANGED FROM $0.20-0.30/YD HANDLED (1947)
Comment (Development): 30.5 CLAIMS TOTAL
Comment (Deposit): GRAVELS ARE CONTAINED IN OLD RIVER TERRACES. BENCH AVERAGES 10 FT THICK ON GRANITE BEDROCK, IS 50-75 FT ABOVE THE RIVER.
Comment (Workings): HYDRAULICKED IN EARLY DAYS. APPROXIMATELY 3 MI OF RIVER WORKED PRIOR TO WWII BY THE DAVIS DRAGLINE DREDGE. THE CALHOUN AND HOWELL DRAGLINE DREDGE WORKED UP STREAM TO THE BIG CREEK JUNCTION IN 1947-1950. ACREAGE GIVEN IS FOR 18 CLAIMS
Comment (Commodity): GOLD IS COARSE TO FLOUR SIZED
Comment (Location): PROPERTY EMBRACES THE NORTH FORK OF THE JOHN DAY RIVER FROM SEC. 33, T. 6 S., R. 32 E. UPSTREAM TO JUST BELOW MOUTH OF GRANITE CREEK IN T. 8 S., R. 34 E. LOCATION GIVEN IS ALONG RIVER AT BOUNDARY BETWEEN SECS. 10 AND 11.; PREVIOUS QUAD DESIGNATION = KELSAY BUTTE 1:24000
Comment (Location): SW 1/4 PROSPECT IS 750 FT. NW OF IRON KING WORKINGS.
Comment (Workings): ORE EXPOSED IN 2 CUTS FOR A DISTANCE OF 60 FT.
Comment (Geology): SERPENTINE IS DERIVED FROM DUNITE. ; GEOL.DESC: CHROMITE PINCHES OUT AT NORTH END. ALONG FAULT (IN NORTHERN TRENCH) SPOTTED CHROMITE AND SERPENTINE HAVE BEEN GROUND TO A STREAKED GRAY AND BROWN MASSIVE ROCK WHICH IS AS FULLY HARD AS ADJOINING SERPENTINIZED OLIVINITE. ELSEWHERE CONTACTS ARE GRADATIONAL.
References
Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1941 , ODGMI, BULL. 14 - B, P. 19 .
Reference (Deposit): ALLEN, J. E., 1938 , CHROMITE DEPOSITS IN OREGON: ODGMI, BULL 9 , P. 55 .
Reference (Deposit): THAYER, T. P., 1940 , CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF GRANT COUNTY, ORE., U.S.G.S. BULL. 922 - D, P. 99 - 100 .
Oregon Gold
"Where to Find Gold in Oregon" 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 Oregon. Read more: Where to Find Gold in Oregon.
