The Ajax Mine is a chromium mine located in Grant county, Oregon at an elevation of 5,279 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
Elevation: 5,279 Feet (1,609 Meters)
Commodity: Chromium
Lat, Long: 44.35194, -118.75333
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.
Ajax Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Ajax Mine
Commodity
Primary: Chromium
Tertiary: Platinum
Tertiary: Palladium
Tertiary: Iridium
Tertiary: Ruthenium
Tertiary: Rhodium
Location
State: Oregon
County: Grant
District: Canyon City District
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.
Administrative Organization: Malheur Natioal Forest
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: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Blue Mountain Section
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Podiform chromite (minor)
Orebody
Form: LENSES
Structure
Type: L
Description: Country Rock Is Highly Broken And Jointed
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Peridotite And Dunite Are Locally Serpentinized
Rocks
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: RH=7 PPB. 35-41% CR2O3
Analytical Data: RU=<100 PPB
Analytical Data: IR=<20 PPB
Analytical Data: PD=21 PPB
Analytical Data: 1 PGE ANALYSIS: PT=46 PPB
Materials
Ore: Chromite
Comments
Comment (Location): NEAR CENTER OF SOUTH HALF OF SECTION ON WEST SIDE OF INDIAN CREEK ABOUT 1,000 FT ABOVE THE CREEK. LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR PGE SAMPLE SITE LOCATION. TOPO MAP SHOWS NO PROSPECTS IN AREA.
Comment (Production): 25 TONS WERE REMOVED FROM A CUT 25 X 5 X 5 FT
Comment (Workings): 3 OPEN CUTS OVER 140 FT DISTANCE, EACH ABOUT 25 FT LONG AND 40 FT APART
Comment (Geology): PERIDOTITE IS PORPHYRITIC AWAY FROM ORE ZONE. LONG AXES OF LENSES PARALLEL DUNITE CONTACTS. SPOTTED ORE FINGERS OUT INTO DUNITE IN SERIES OF IRREGULAR CONES EXTENDING PARALLEL TO LINEAR BANDING, WHICH TRENDS N80E AND PITCHES 50E.
Comment (Deposit): STRIKE IS FOR ORE ZONE; INDIVIDUAL EN ECHELON ORE BODIES STRIKE N50-60E. DIP IS FOR INDIVIDUAL ORE BODIES. ORE FORMS LOW-GRADE DISSEMINATED KIDNEYS. ORE HAS A CONSPICUOUS LINEAR BANDING FROM ELONGATION OF CHROMITE NODULES.
References
Reference (Deposit): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, 1941, OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, NORTHEASTERN OREGON - WEST HALF: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 14-B, P. 19.
Reference (Deposit): ALLEN, J.E., 1941, CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF OREGON (REVISED ED.): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 9, P. 65.
Reference (Deposit): CARLSON, C.A., AND OTHERS, 1985, ANALYSES FOR PLATINUM-GROUP ELEMENTS IN SAMPLES FROM PODIFORM CHROMITE DEPOSITS, CALIFORNIA AND OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 85-442, 14 P.
Reference (Deposit): THAYER, T.P., 1940, CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF GRANT COUNTY, OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 922-D, P. 103.
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.
