Unknown

The Unknown is a iron and copper mine located in Inyo county, California at an elevation of 3,999 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: Unknown

Commodity

Primary: Iron
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: California
County: Inyo
District: Argus

Land Status

Land ownership: Military Reservation
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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Naval Weapons Center
Home Office: China Lake, Ca.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1930
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Hornblendite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Hornblendite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Covellite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Clay
Gangue: Limonite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): THERE IS NO SURFACE EXPRESSION OF THE VEIN MATERIAL EXCEPT IN THE WORKINGS. AREA MOSTLY COVERED BY SLOPE WASH

Comment (Commodity): GOLD AND SILVER VALUES MAY BE TIED IN TO COPPER-IRON MINERALOGY

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF: 1 SHAFT IN VEIN-39'DEEP, 65 DEGREE DIP 5 1/2 'LONG, 5 FEET WIDE 2 SHAFT IN VEIN-CAVED, TOP IS 4 1/2'LONG, 3 1/2'WID E, TOP 2' OF SHAFT EXPOSED 3 10' OF DRIFT ALONG VIEN STRIKE SO. OF 1 S HAFT, DRIFT AVERAGE HEIGHT = 6'

Comment (Deposit): THIS SMALL GROUP OF WORKINGS EXPOSED PARTIAL EXTENT OF A COPPER-IR ON-PRECIOUS METAL-BEARING SHEAR ZONE. CAVED SHAFTS MAY HAVE EXTENDED D EEPER DOWN DIP. APPROXIMATELY 80' OF SHEAR ZONE IS EXPOSED ALONG STRIK E. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 3 FIELD OBSERV

References

Reference (Deposit): W. F. DURBIN, GARY HOBSON - RECONNAISANCE, MAPPING, & SAMPLING COMP LETED 4-14-83

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.