The Rough and Ready Bench is a platinum and gold mine located in Josephine county, Oregon at an elevation of 2,799 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: 2,799 Feet (853 Meters)
Commodity: Platinum, Gold
Lat, Long: 42.11667, -123.81806
Map: View on Google Maps
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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.
Rough and Ready Bench MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Rough and Ready Bench
Secondary: Part of the Rough and Ready Group
Commodity
Primary: Platinum
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Nickel
Tertiary: Chromium
Tertiary: Cobalt
Location
State: Oregon
County: Josephine
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: Siskiyou National Forest
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Surface
Ownership
Owner Name: Inspiration Development Co. ; Walt Freeman
Years: 1978 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Deposit Type: Residual
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Klamath Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Lateritic Ni
Orebody
Form: BLANKET
Structure
Type: L
Description: Shear Zone - Fault Contact
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Serpentinization
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: FE=0.0-40.7% FE
Analytical Data: CR=0.0-2.56%
Analytical Data: CO=0.0-0.13%
Analytical Data: CALCULATED AVERAGE GRADE OF SOIL AND SAPROLITE IS 0.7% NI, 1.4% CR, 0.08% CO. 34 ASSAYS OF ROUGH AND READY GROUP: NI=0.3-1.58%
Materials
Ore: Platinum
Ore: Gold
Comments
Comment (Deposit): ESTIMATED VOLUME OF UNWEATHERED ROCK IN SOIL IS 40%. DEPTH OF LATERITIC DEVELOPMENT IS GENERALLY LESS THAN 10 FT
Comment (Location): WEST EDGE OF SEC. 6, MAINLY IN SEC. 1. LOCATION GIVEN IS NEAR SECTION BOUNDARY IN E PART SEC. 1.
Comment (Production): SAID TO HAVE HAD A SMALL BYPRODUCT PGE PRODUCTION
Comment (Development): BENCH MINED IN EARLY DAYS FOR PLACER GOLD AND PLATINUM. NICKEL EXPLORATION BEGAN IN THE 1950'S. INSPIRATION DID DRILLING, SAMPLING, AND SEISMIC SURVEYS. APPLICATION TO PATENT 4,360 ACRES SUBMITTED IN 1992
Comment (Geology): AREA IS UNDERLAIN BY SERPENTINIZED HARZBURGINT OF JOSEPHINE OPHIOLITE, IN FAULT CONTACT WITH UPPER JURASSIC GALICE FORMATION. FAULT IS VERTICAL AND STRIKES ABOUT N20E. LATERITE IS REMNANT OF OLD UPLAND WEATHERED SURFACE.
References
Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, 1978, INVESTIGATIONS OF NICKEL IN OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES MISCELLANEOUS PAPER 20, P. 35-38.
Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, AND PETERSON, N.V., 1979, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 100, P. 37.
Reference (Deposit): HLADKE, F.R., 1993, MINING AND EXPLORATION IN OREGON DURING 1992: OREGON GEOLOGY, V. 55, NO. 2, P. 27-34.
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.
