The Oxford Mine is a chromium mine located in Sierra county, California at an elevation of 4,521 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
Elevation: 4,521 Feet (1,378 Meters)
Commodity: Chromium
Lat, Long: 39.58167, -120.84083
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.
Oxford Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Oxford Mine
Secondary: Oxford Lease and Mill
Secondary: Gold Bluff
Secondary: Becky
Secondary: Mt. Holly
Secondary: Case and Myers
Secondary: Good Hope
Secondary: Good Hope Extension No. 2
Commodity
Primary: Chromium
Location
State: California
County: Sierra
District: Downieville Area
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
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
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: C. L. Best
Years: 1944 -
Production
Year: 1943
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^1940'S Avg. Ore Grade 40.05% Cr2o3
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1917
Year Last Production: 1944
Discovery Year: 1915
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
Type: R
Description: Melones Fault Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Partial Serpentinization Of Host Rocks.
Rocks
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Permian
Name: Dunite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: LUMP ORE: 38.59% CR2O3, CR TO FE RATIO 2.30 TO 1.
Materials
Ore: Chromite
Comments
Comment (Development): IN 1943, SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET OF DIAMOND DRILLING WAS COMPLETED.
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1910'S
Comment (Commodity): AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF HIGH GRADE ORE CONTAINING 58% CR2O3 FOUND BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST ORE ZONES.
Comment (Location): MINE LOCATED ON SE FACING SLOPE.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): STINSON, 1975
Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSIT OCCURS IN NW TRENDING SILL LIKE PERIDOTITE BODY THAT IS A MINOR, SOUTHERN EXTENSION OF A LARGER MASS EXPOSED TO THE NORTH OF THE DEPOSIT.
Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSISTED OF SEVERAL OPEN PITS, SHALLOW CUTS, SHAFTS AND SHORT DRIFTS.
Comment (Deposit): CHROMITE DEPOSITS OCCUR IN THREE ZONES: EAST ORE ZONE STRIKES N 45-55 E AND DIPS 60-80N; WEST ORE ZONE STRIKES N20-30W AND DIPS 45 SW; THIRD ORE ZONE STRIKES E-W AND DIPS 60-70 N.
References
Reference (Deposit): STINSON, 1975, CDMG MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, UNPUBLISHED
Reference (Deposit): AVERILL, C. V., 1942, CDMG, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SIERRA CO., VOL. 38, NO. 1, PP. 16.
Reference (Deposit): RYNEARSON, G. A., 1953, CDMG, BULL 134, PART 3, CHAPT. 5, PP. 254-257.
Reference (Production): RYNEARSON, 1953, CDMG BULL 134, PART 3, CHAPT. 5, P. 257
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.
