Benton

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

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.

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.