The French Hill is a gold mine located in Del Norte county, California at an elevation of 1,949 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: 1,949 Feet (594 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 41.82528, -123.97083
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.
French Hill MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: French Hill
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Platinum
Location
State: California
County: Del Norte
District: Smith River Area
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.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: John H. Hopkins
Years: 1946 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Stream Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1860
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: Placer Au-PGE
Orebody
Form: STREAM SEDIMENT DEPOSITS
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: GOLD 924 FINENESS
Materials
Ore: Gold
Comments
Comment (Location): PARTS OF DREDGED AREA LIE WITHIN TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST. DREDGING TOOK PLACE FOR ABOUT 8 MI ALONG RIVER NEAR JUNCTION CITY AND INCLUDE SMALLER CLAIMS SUCH AS BERGIN PLACER (FORMERLY A SEPARATE RECORD BUT MERGED WITH THIS RECORD 01/92). LOCATION GIVEN IS IN TAILINGS EAST OF BENJAMIN FLAT AT JUNCTION CITY
Comment (Commodity): 340 POUNDS PYRITE. SPENCER FOUND NO PGE IN 1970'S
Comment (Reserve-Resource): LARGE RESERVES
Comment (Location): LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR BUILDINGS AT FRENCH FLAT
Comment (Production): SMALL ANNUAL PT RECOVERY. EARLY OPERATIONS RECOVERED 1 OZ PT/$1,000 AU (1 OZ PT/48.38 OZ AU) (LOGAN, P. 62) ANOTHER REPORT STATES THAT PT FORMED 5% OF TOTAL VALUES.
Comment (Workings): HYDRAULIC, DREDGING
Comment (Geology): HORNBLENDE SCHIST BEDROCK
Comment (Deposit): RECORD W025905 HAS BEEN MERGED AND DELETED.
Comment (Deposit): GRAVEL OCCURS IN AN ANCIENT CHANNEL 800-1,000 FT WIDE
Comment (Workings): HYDRAULIC AND SLUICING, IDLE IN RECENT YEARS EXCEPT FOR MINOR SLUICING
Comment (Production): BERGIN PLACER SAID TO HAVE PRODUCED MORE THAN 1 OZ/YR PT
Comment (Deposit): SOME OF PLACER MATERIAL CONSISTED OF RIVER TERRACE GRAVELS
References
Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C.A., 1919, PLATINUM AND ALLIED METALS IN CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU BULLETIN 85, P. 58-59.
Reference (Deposit): CLARK, W.B., 1970, GOLD DISTRICTS OF CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 193, P. 142-143.
Reference (Deposit): CLARK, W.B., 1970, PLATINUM: CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY MINERAL INFORMATION SERVICE, V. 23, NO. 6, P. 116.
Reference (Deposit): CATER, F.W., JR., AND WELLS, F.G., 1953, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE GASQUET QUADRANGLE, CALIFORNIA-OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 995-C, P. 79-133.
Reference (Deposit): O'BRIEN, J.C., 1952, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF DEL NORTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 48, NO. 4, P. 278, 303.
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.
