The Blue Moon is a zinc and copper mine located in Mariposa 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.
Blue Moon MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Blue Moon
Secondary: Blue Cloud
Secondary: Red Cloud
Secondary: Percupine
Commodity
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Gold
Location
State: California
County: Mariposa
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Hecla Mining Co.
Years: 1945 -
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1935
Year Last Production: 1945
Discovery Year: 1935
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Trough
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Massive sulfide, kuroko
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification, Sericitization, Pyritization, Chloritization. 2500 Ft Long, 800 Ft Wide.
Rocks
Name: Slate
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE IN MAIN OR NO. 1
Analytical Data: 13.1 % ZN, .36 % CU, .47 % PB, .061 OZ/TON AU, 3.75 OZ/TON AG.
Materials
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1930S
Comment (Workings): PRINCIPAL WORKINGS; 500 FT. SHAFT, NO. 2 INCLINED 80 DEG. W, LEVELS AT 125 , 165 , 275 , 385 , 450 FT. 200 FT. OF DRIFTS AND SUBSIDIARY WORKINGS ON 125 - LEVEL, 600 FT. OF WORKINGS ON 165 - LEVEL, 250 FT. WORKINGS ON 275 - LEVEL, 225 FT. WORKINGS ON 385 - LEVEL AND 150 FT. WORKINGS ON 450 - LEVEL. 250 FT. SOUTH IS NO. 1 SHAFT 35 FT. DEEP CONNECTED TO MAIN WORKINGS BY RAISE. SEVERAL OPEN CUTS, 2 OVER 100 FT. LONG. MAIN SHAFT, ADJOING WORKINGS CAVED.
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: MINERALIZED ZONE IN METAVOLCANICS OF PENON BLANCO FORMATION OF UPPER JURASSIC AMADOR GROUP. TRENDS N 10 - 20 W, DIPPING STEEPLY EAST. FELSITIC GREENSTONE AND GREENSTONE TUFF - BRECCIA ARE PRINCIPAL ROCK TYPES.
Comment (Production): 1945 MINE ABANDONED BECAUSE OF CAVING. COPPER PRODUCED IN 1935 AND 1942 ALSO.
Comment (Deposit): THREE OUTCROPPING MINERALIZED ZONES. NO. 1 IS LENTICULAR, STRIKES N 15 E, DIPS 48 - 87 W, IT IS IRREGULAR WITH MAXIMUM WIDTH 38 FT., STRIKE LENGTH 180 FT., WORKED TO DEPTH OF 450 FT. NO. 2 , 10 FT. FROM NO. 1 AND PARALLELS IT, AVG. WIDTH 5 FT., STRIKE LENGTH 80 FT. AT 165 FT. LEVEL, PINCHES OUT ABOVE AND BELOW 165 FT. LEVEL. NO. 3 , 40 FT. FROM NO. 1 , STOPE LENGTH 50 - 80 FT., WIDTH 4 - 9 FT., STRIKES N 5 E, DIPS 80 W, IT EXTENDS BELOW 165 FT. LEVEL.
References
Reference (Deposit): BOWEN, O. E. AND CLIFFTON, G. H., 1957 , MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA; CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, VOL. 53 , NO. 1 & 2 , P. 200 - 202 .
Reference (Deposit): ERIC, J. H. AND COX, M. W., 1948 , ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE - BLUE MOON AREA, MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA; COPPER IN CALIFORNIA BULL. 144 ; DIV. OF MINES, P. 144 - 150 .
Reference (Deposit): CALIF. JOUR. MINES & GEOLOGY, V. 53, NOS.3 & 4, P. 547; ADD. REF.: DMPA APPL'N 2162 - SIERRA ZINC INC. - REPORTED MAY, 1952 BY WEHELT - DMEA INDEX -CALIF. NEV. P. 9
Reference (Production): ERIC, J. H., AND COX, M. W., 1948 , P. 145 (SEE REF.)
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.
