Ray Mine

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

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.

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.