Thin Dime Prospect

The Thin Dime Prospect is a copper mine located in Inyo county, California at an elevation of 3,839 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: Thin Dime Prospect

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Tertiary: Silica
Tertiary: Iron

Location

State: California
County: Inyo
District: Argus

Land Status

Land ownership: Military Reservation
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.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Naval Weapons Center
Home Office: China Lake, Ca.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1938
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Bornite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Limonite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): WORKINGS WERE DEVELOPED TO EXPLORE EXTENT OF A 1 FOOT THICK QUARTZ-RICH MINERALIZED SHEAR ZONE. SHEAR ZONE SHOWED TRACES OF COPPER MINERALS AND LIMONITE. EFFORTS TO LOCATE DOWN-DIP EXTENT OF SHEAR ZONE ON THE SURFACE SHOWN BY 3 PITS IN APLITE ; INFO.SRC : 3 FIELD OBSERV; 4 OTHER SRC

Comment (Deposit): SHEAR ZONE IS DEVELOPED ALONG THE FOOTWALL CONTACT OF A NORTH-WEST STRIKING APLITE DIKE. ZONE IS CONSISTENTLY 1 FOOT THICK.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF 20' OF DRIFT ALONG STRIKE OF SHEAR ZONE. AT DRIFT FACE IS A WINZE THAT FOLLOWS ZONE DOWN DIP. IT IS FULL OF MUCK 10 FEET DOWN. THREE SMALL PROSPECT PITS ON SURFACE DOWN DIP FROM ADIT FAILED TO HIT ANYTHING BUT APLITE

References

Reference (Deposit): W.F. DURBIN, G. HOBSON-RECON., MAPPING, & SAMPLING COMPLETED 4-14-83

California Gold

"Where to Find Gold in California" 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 California. Read more: Where to Find Gold in California.