Mother Lode

The Mother Lode is a mercury mine located in Crook county, Oregon at an elevation of 6,201 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

Name: Mother Lode

State:  Oregon

County:  Crook

Elevation: 6,201 Feet (1,890 Meters)

Commodity: Mercury

Lat, Long: 44.33583, -120.35722

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.


Satelite image of the Mother Lode

Mother Lode MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Mother Lode
Secondary: Canyon Creek
Secondary: American Almaden
Secondary: Consolidated Quicksilver


Commodity

Primary: Mercury


Location

State: Oregon
County: Crook
District: Ochoco District


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Werdenhoff Mining Co.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1902
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Walla Walla Plateau


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: LENTICULAR - OR CHIMNEY LIKE


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Extensive Clay Alteration Along Faults And Shear Zones. Silicification, Carbonatization.


Rocks

Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: MINE YIELDED 10 LB HG PER FT. OF WORKINGS.


Materials

Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Opal
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Development): 10 TON ROTARY ON PROPERTY (CA. 1949) ; ECON.COM: 5 TO 20 LB. HG PER TON

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS AS OF CA. 1949. LAST OPERATED 1960.

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: ANDESITE AND BASALT FLOWS OF THE EOCENE CLARNO FM. OVERLAIN BY LATER ANDESITE AND BASALT FLOWS AND TUFFS. PLUGS AND DIKES OF RHYOLITE AND ANDESITE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTRUSIVE ROCKS.

Comment (Deposit): RECORD (M060842) MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED FROM OREGON FILE.


References

Reference (Production): BAILEY, E.H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E.H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES


Oregon Gold

Where to Find Gold in Oregon

"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.