The Benton is a gold and silver mine located in Josephine county, Oregon at an elevation of 1,099 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: 1,099 Feet (335 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Lat, Long: 42.67639, -123.62833
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.
Benton MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Benton
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc
Location
State: Oregon
County: Josephine
District: Mt. Reuben
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.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Benton Resources (Us), Ltd
Production
Year: 1942
Time Period: 1935-1942
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^0.22-0.35 Au, 0.01 Ag
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
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
Not available
Orebody
Form: LENS
Structure
Type: L
Description: Tension Cracks
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Marcasite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Chlorite
Comments
Comment (Workings): ADITS TO 1020 LEVEL RAISES LARGEST MINE IN SOUTHWEST OREGON DURING THIS PERIOD
Comment (Geology): MINERALIZATION IS ADJACENT TO A MAJOR THRUST FAULT WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLEXLY INTRUDED BY BODIES OF DIORITE, GABBRO, AND SERPENTINE ; GEOL.DESC: GREENSTONE IN CONTACT WITH QUARTZ DIORITE
Comment (Deposit): RECORD NUMBER (M013313) HAS BEEN MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED FROM THE OREGON FILE.
Comment (Production): LARGEST MINE IN SOUTHWEST OREGON DURING THIS PERIOD
Comment (Deposit): LENS CONTAIN MARGINAL ORE WITH LOCALIZED BODIES OF HIGH GRADE.
References
Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C. AND RAMP, L., 1968, GOLD AND SILVER IN OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 61, P.207
Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1942, ODGMI BULL. 14-C, VOL. 2, SEC. 1, P.26
Reference (Deposit): YOUNGBERG, E.A., 1947, MINES AND PROSPECTS OF THE MOUNT REUBEN MINING DISTRICT, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 34, P.31
Reference (Production): USBM
Reference (Deposit): RAMP, L. AND PETERSON, N.V., 1979, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 100, P.27.
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.
