The Castro Mine is a chromium mine located in San Luis Obispo county, California at an elevation of 1,601 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: 1,601 Feet (488 Meters)
Commodity: Chromium
Lat, Long: 35.37361, -120.70750
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.
Castro Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Castro Mine
Commodity
Primary: Chromium
Location
State: California
County: San Luis Obispo
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: Ernest Vollmer Jr.,
Home Office: P. O. Box 317, San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93406
Years: 1976 -
Owner Name: Castro Mining Co., San Francisco (Now Defunct)
Years: 1957 -
Production
Year: 1944
Time Period: 1942-1944
Material type: CON
Description: Cp_Grade: ^Avg. 42% Cr2o3
Year: 1920
Time Period: 1918-1920
Material type: CON
Description: Cp_Grade: ^Avg. 40% Cr2o3
Year: 1957
Time Period: 1918-1957
Material type: CON
Description: Cp_Grade: ^Avg. 42% Cr2o3
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1875
Year Last Production: 1957
Discovery Year: 1876
Discovery Method: Unknown
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
Physiographic Detail: Santa Lucia Range
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: LENSE
Form: LENSE
Structure
Type: R
Description: Dominant Trend Of The Sonta Lucia Range Is To The Nw.
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: CONCENTRATES AVERAGED 42% CR2O3 WITH A CR TO FE RATIO OF 2.4.
Materials
Ore: Chromite
Comments
Comment (Location): WORKINGS LIE NEAR FOOT OF NW TRENDING QUESTA RIDGE.
Comment (Workings): WORKINGS (1950'S) CONSISTED OF TWO LARGE OPEN PITS.
Comment (Geology): QUESTA RIDGE COMPOSED OF ULTRAMAFIC BODY TRENDING NW-SE.
Comment (Deposit): CHROMITE BODIES ELONGATE TO NW. CASTRO MINE PROPERTY IS PATENTED.
References
Reference (Production): STINSON, 1975
Reference (Deposit): STINSON, M. C., 1975, CDMG MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, UNPUBLISHED
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.
