Blue Moon

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

Name: Blue Moon  

State:  California

County:  Mariposa

Elevation:

Commodity: Zinc, Copper

Lat, Long: 37.56611, -120.25556

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 Blue Moon

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

"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.