The Ray Mine is a chromium mine located in Grant county, Oregon at an elevation of 7,051 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: 7,051 Feet (2,149 Meters)
Commodity: Chromium
Lat, Long: 44.33972, -118.76917
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.
Ray Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Ray Mine
Secondary: Tip Top Mine
Secondary: Ray Springs Mine
Commodity
Primary: Chromium
Tertiary: Platinum
Tertiary: Palladium
Tertiary: Iridium
Tertiary: Ruthenium
Tertiary: Rhodium
Tertiary: Nickel
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
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Year: 1918
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^32-44.7% Cr2o3
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1918
Year Last Production: 1918
Discovery Year: 1918
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: SPOTTED ORE WITH SOME BANDING, MASSIVE
Structure
Type: L
Description: Rocks Highly Jointed Trending E, Dip 48s
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Dunite Partially Serpentinized, Peridotite More Completely Serpentinized
Rocks
Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: RH=64, 40 PPB. NI ANALYSES GAVE 0.22% AND 0.18% NI. ORE ASSAYED 32-44.7% CR2O3.
Analytical Data: RU=500, 400 PPB
Analytical Data: IR=100, 80 PPB
Analytical Data: PD=6, 6 PPB
Analytical Data: 2 PGE ANALYSES: PT=120, 45 PPB
Materials
Ore: Chromite
Comments
Comment (Location): NEAR EAST END OF BALDY MOUNTAIN. UTM GIVEN IS FOR PGE SAMPLE SITE LOCATION. LAT/LONG GIVEN ARE FOR MINE SYMBOL LABELED RAY MINE ON TOPO MAP; UTM FOR THIS IS 4910930N, 358970E.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): SEVERAL HUNDRED TONS OF RESOURCES
Comment (Deposit): MASSIVE ORE HAS BEEN MINED OUT. ALL THAT REMAINS IS THE DISSEMINATED SPOTTED ORE.
Comment (Workings): TUNNEL AND A COUPLE OPEN CUTS
Comment (Deposit): SEE ALSO: MRDS MP00072.
Comment (Geology): CONTACTS OF CHROMITE WITH PERIDOTITE ARE SHARP
Comment (Commodity): CHROMITE IS FINE GRAINED
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. 35-36.
Reference (Deposit): STOTELMEYER, R.B., 1977, ECONOMIC APPRAISAL OF THE STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AND ADJACENT AREAS, GRANT COUNTY, OREGON, IN MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AND ADJACENT AREAS, GRANT COUNTY, OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 77-420, P. 88-90.
Reference (Deposit): ALLEN, J.E., 1941, CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF OREGON (REVISED ED.): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 9, P. 64.
Reference (Deposit): WESTGATE, L.G., 1921, DEPOSITS OF CHROMITE IN EASTERN OREGON, IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 1920: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 725-A, P. 42.
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. 102-103.
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.
