North Fork Chrome Mine

The North Fork Chrome Mine is a chromium mine located in Placer county, California at an elevation of 3,481 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: North Fork Chrome Mine

State:  California

County:  Placer

Elevation: 3,481 Feet (1,061 Meters)

Commodity: Chromium

Lat, Long: 39.16139, -120.78611

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 North Fork Chrome Mine

North Fork Chrome Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: North Fork Chrome Mine


Commodity

Primary: Chromium


Location

State: California
County: Placer
District: Foresthill Divide 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: U.S. Government

Owner Name: H. A. And C. A. Geisen Dorfer
Years: 1940 - 1943


Production

Not available


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: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Sierra Nevada


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR


Structure

Type: L
Description: Peridotite Fractured By Two Prominent Sets Of Joints, Clearing The Rock Mass Into Roughly Rectangular Boulders


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Complete Serpentinization Of Dunite


Rocks

Not available


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Chromite


Comments

Comment (Geology): DEPOSIT LOCATED IN A LINEAR MASS OF ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS THAT HAS INTRODED A SEQUENCE OF PALEOZOIC META MOROHICS OF THE CALAVERAS GROUP. THE EASTERN CONTACT OF THE ULTRAMAFICS IS COLLINEAR WITH AND PROBABLY PART OF THE MELONES FAULT ZONE.

Comment (Location): MINE LOCATED ON A STEEP EAST FACING SLOPE OF A NORTH TRENDING RIDGE OF FOREST HILL DIVIDE. FOREST HILL DIVIDE SEPARATES GIANT GAP GULCH FROM MC IN TYRE GULCH.

Comment (Production): 1ST PRODUCTION FIGURE ABOVE MINED IN 1918 BUT NOT SHIPPED UNTIL 1940.

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT CONTAINED BETWEEN 20-60% CR2O3

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSISTED OF ON OPEN CUT 15 FT LONG AND 15 FT DEEP (1953). ALL WORKINGS OBLITERATED BY A BULLDOZER AS OF 1975


References

Reference (Deposit): RYNEARSON, G.A., 1953, CDMG BULL 134, PT. 3, CHAPT. 5, P. 207, 208, 311

Reference (Deposit): STINSON, M.C., 1975, CDMG MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, UNPUBLISHED.

Reference (Production): CDMG BULL 134, PT. 3, CHAPT. 5, P. 208


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"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.