The Bretz Mine is a mercury mine located in Malheur county, Oregon.
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
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Bretz Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Bretz Mine
Commodity
Primary: Mercury
Location
State: Oregon
County: Malheur
District: Opalite District (Mc Dermitt)
Land Status
Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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: Surface
Ownership
Owner Name: John Ruiz
Home Office: NV
Info Year: 1978
Owner Name: Amzco
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1917
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Great Basin
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Hot-spring Hg
Orebody
Form: IRREGULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: The Mine Is Near The North Margin Of The Mcdermitt Caldera
Type: L
Description: Normal Faults
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: The Host Rocks Are Argillized To Varying Degrees. Large And Small Masses Of Chalcedony Occur In Parts Of The Ore Zones
Rocks
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene
Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE RAN 5 TO 18 LB PER TON
Materials
Ore: Cinnabar
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Unknown: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: FLAT LYING MIOCENE LAVAS DISPLACED BY STEEP NORMAL FAULTS, FORMING BASINS IN WHICH LATE MIOCENE LAKE BEDS ACCUMULATED. MAJOR FAULTING AFTER DEPOSITION OF LAKE BEDS.
Comment (Workings): TWO MAIN OPEN PIT AREAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE APART PRODUCTION YEARS WERE 1931-1936, 1940-1944, 1956-1961 AND 1964-1968
Comment (Deposit): IRREGULAR LENSES AND PODS AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS ALONG A NW TRENDING FAULT AND ITS BRANCHES
Comment (Development): EXPLORATION DRILLING UNDER DMEA CONTRACT IN 1955
Comment (Reserve-Resource): ALL KNOWN RESERVES, INCLUDING OLD DUMPS, WERE EXHAUSTED WHEN THE MINE CLOSED IN 1968
Comment (Reserve-Resource): H1 AS OF MID 1940'S.
Comment (Production): PRODUCTION YEARS WERE 1931-1936, 1940-1944, 1956-1961 AND 1964-1968
Comment (Deposit): From deleted record 10298222: Orebody: Length: 1200 M Width: 200 M Depth to Top: 3 M Thickness: 20 M Strike: N55W Dip: 90N MAS Matrix # : 1 MAS Column # : 1 Type of Orebody #1 : SHEAR ZONE Shape of Orebody #1 : OTHER Type of Orebody #2 : BRECCIA FILL Type of Orebody #3 : REPLACEMENT Primary mode of Origin : HYDROTHERMAL Primary Ore Control : FAULTING Degree of Wallrock Alter. : MODERATE Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 : ADV ARGILLIC Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 : SILICIFICATION Strike And Dip : N55W:90N Minimum Depth to Top : 0 Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. : 3 Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. : 0 Date of Last Modification : 830316 MAS Matrix: Total Surface Area (HA) : 75 Date of Last Modification : 910418
References
Reference (Production): USBM RECORDS
Reference (Deposit): SCHUETTE, C. N., 1938, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: ODGMI BULL. 4, P. 159-168.
Reference (Deposit): RYTUBA, J. J., 1976, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE MCDERMITT CALDERA, OREGON-NEVADA: USGS OPEN FILE REPORT NO.
Reference (Deposit): YATES, R. G., 1942, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE OPALITE DISTRICT, MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON AND HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NEVADA: USGS BULL. 931-N
Pages: p. 344-346.
Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E.H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES
Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C., 1963, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: OREGON DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, BULL. 55, 223 P.
Pages: p. 189-191.
Reference (Reserve-Resource): BROOKS, H. C., ODGMI, PERSONAL FILES
Oregon Gold
"Where to Find Gold in Oregon" 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 Oregon. Read more: Where to Find Gold in Oregon.
