The Ballard is a gold mine located in Amador county, California.
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.
Ballard MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Ballard
Secondary: Ballard and Martin
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: California
County: Amador
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
Type: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Ballard Mother Lode Mines, Inc.
Home Office: C/O John Ratto
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1875
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
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Comments
Comment (Location): E 1/2 OF W 1/2 OF SEC. 14 .
Comment (Workings): MAIN SHAFT BETWEEN WEST AND MIDDLE VEIN 285 FT WITH 600 FT CROSSCUTS, SECOND SHAFT SOUTH OF MAIN SHAFT IS 200 FT WITH 400 FT CROSSCUTS; ORE SHOOT ON EACH VEIN WEST TO EAST 250 , 550 , 60 FT; ORIGINALLY WORKED 1870'S.
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: THREE PARALLEL QUARTZ VEINS ABOUT 600 FT APART CARRIES GOLD ORE ASSOCIATED WITH PYRITE IN A RIBBON STRUCTURE QUARTZ AND SLATE IN ORE SHOOTS.
Comment (Production): FIRST WORKED IN 1870'S; IDLE UNTIL REOPENED IN 1928 BUT OPERATED ONLY A SHORT TIME. ACTIVE 1933-1937, 1941-1942, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF WORK DONE IN 1947. IDLE IN 1952. THE ORE,CHIEFLY FREE GOLD ASSOCIATED WITH PYRITE IN A RIBBON STRUCTURE OF QUARTZ AND SLATE. ORE EXPOSED IN THE SOUTHERN WORKINGS HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY DEVELOPED BUT ASSAYS HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS $180 PER TON BUT AVERAGE IS AROUND $10 PER TON IN $35 PER OUNCE GOLD. THE SHAFT SHOWN IN E 1/2 W 1/2 SEC. 14, IS PROBABLY THE MAIN SHAFT OF THE MINE
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1870'S
References
Reference (Deposit): CARLSON, D.W. AND CLARK, W.B., 1954 , MINES AND MIN. RES. OF AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.: CJMG, VOL. 50 , P. 170 .
Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C.A., 1934 , MOTHER LODE GOLD BELT OF CAL.: CMB BULL 108 , P 70
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.
