The Little Bonanza is a mercury mine located in San Luis Obispo county, California at an elevation of 2,001 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: 2,001 Feet (610 Meters)
Commodity: Mercury
Lat, Long: 35.58722, -120.91611
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.
Little Bonanza MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Little Bonanza
Secondary: Alice
Secondary: Modoc
Secondary: Josephine
Secondary: Tartaglia
Secondary: George
Commodity
Primary: Mercury
Location
State: California
County: San Luis Obispo
District: Adelaide
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Unknown
Ownership
Owner Name: Earl Merrifield And Others
Production
Year: 1962
Time Period: To 1962
Material type: HG
Description: Cp_Grade: ^5-12 Lb/Ton
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1862
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Coast Ranges
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: IRREGULAR
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silica Carbonate Alteration Of Serpentine
Rocks
Name: Serpentinite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Serpentinite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Cinnabar
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Location): LOCATED AT CENTER OF SECTION
Comment (Development): FIRST DEPOSIT DISCOVERED IN COUNTY
Comment (Workings): IDLE SINCE 1940, SOME WORKINGS CAVED
References
Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E. B., YATES, R. G., AND GRANGER, A. E., 1940, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND SOUTHWESTERN MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: USGS BULL. 922 - R, P. 515 - 580
Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E. H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES
Reference (Deposit): HOLMES, G. W., JR., 1965, MERCURY IN CALIFORNIA: IN USBM IC 8252
Reference (Deposit): 6) RANSOME, A.L. AND KELLOGG, J.L., 1939, QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA: CJMG, V. 35, P. 353-486
Reference (Production): USBM DATA
Reference (Deposit): FRANKE, H.A., 1935, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIF.: CJMG, V. 31, P. 434-455
Reference (Deposit): 5) BRADLEY, W.W., 1918, QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA: CJMG BULL. 78, 389 P.
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.
