The Maxwell is a gold and silver mine located in Baker county, Oregon at an elevation of 7,100 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: 7,100 Feet (2,164 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Lat, Long: 44.855, -118.09722
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.
Maxwell MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Maxwell
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Arsenic
Tertiary: Antimony
Location
State: Oregon
County: Baker
District: Rock Creek
Land Status
Land ownership: Private
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: Wallowa-Whitman National 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
Physiographic Detail: Blue Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Triassic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Calcite
Comments
Comment (Production): PRODUCTION SAID TO HAVE BEEN MAINLY FROM FREE MILLING GOLD ORE NEAR SURFACE.
Comment (Development): 8 PATENTED CLAIMS; DEVELOPED WITH THE HIGHLAND MINE SINCE 1936.
Comment (Deposit): TWO VEINS EXPLORED. N30E VEIN IS A BRECCIA ZONE, IN PART IN QUARTZ DIORITE AND IN PART ALONG THE CONTACT. ORE IN THIS VEIN OCCURS AS LENSES OF FINE PYRITE, SERICITE, AND FUCHSITE IN DENSE QUARTZ.
Comment (Workings): 6000 FT IN 18 TUNNELS IN 1914 PRODUCTION SAID TO HAVE BEEN MAINLY FROM FREE MILLING GOLD ORE NEAR SURFACE.
Comment (Geology): PROPERTY IS ON A SET OF SHEAR ZONES WHICH GENERALLY PARALLEL THE CONTACT BETWEEN HORNFELSED ARGILLITE AND QUARTZ DIORITE.
References
Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C., AND RAMP,L., 1968, GOLD AND SILVER IN OREGON: ODGMI BULL. 61, P.
Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1939: ODGMI BULL. 14-A, P. 87.
Reference (Deposit): PARDEE, J.T., AND HEWETT, D.F., 1914, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE SUMPTER QUADRANGLE, OREGON: OREGON BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, VOL. 1, NO. 6, P. 77.
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.
