The Ratcliff Mine is a gold mine located in Inyo county, California at an elevation of 6,001 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: 6,001 Feet (1,829 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 36.02472, -117.12778
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.
Ratcliff Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Ratcliff Mine
Secondary: Radcliff Mine
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Lead
Tertiary: Iron
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Tungsten
Location
State: California
County: Inyo
District: South Park
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1897
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M
Physiography
Not available
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: L
Description: Panamint Metamorphic Complex
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ASSAYED 0.02% SCHEELITE. SAMPLES CUT FROM 4-10 FT. THICK VEIN ASSAYED $14-$64/TON.
Materials
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Deposit): MAIN RATCLIFF VEIN IN NARROW BELT OF METAMORPHIC ROCK. ZONE CONSISTS OF QUARTZ LENSES AND MASSES IN WHICH GOLD ASSOC. WITH SULFIDES. PRINCIPAL VEIN 4-55 FT. IN THICKNESS. VEIN-FILLING OF COARSE, GLASSY QUARTZ, OFTEN SMOKY, GREASY ASPECT. ORE OCCURS BOTH OXIDIZED AND WITH SULFIDES. GOLD FILLS MINUTE FRACTURES IN PYRRHOTITE. ORE SHOOTS ON OR NEAR FOOTWALL. PRINCIPAL SHOOT 20-50 FT. THICK, 125 FT. LONG. 4-10 FT. VEIN CARRYING RICH SULFIDES WAS EXPOSED BELOW WORKINGS ON SECOND LEVEL. THIRD SHOOT OCCURS EAST OF LAYER OPEN CUT. 2 PARALLEL VEINS, JUST NORTH OF MILL, CONTAIN SCHEELITE. DETAILED PETROGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF ORE IN SAMPSON (1932).
Comment (Workings): 7 ADITS AND RELATED WORKINGS COVER APPROX. 800 FT. VERTICALLY ON S SIDE OF PLEASANT CANYON. NO. 1 LEVEL IS 1800 FT. ABOVE CAMP, WHICH WAS AT BOTTOM OF CANYON. 100 FT. ADIT AND 25 FT. WINZE ON 2 PARALLEL SCHEELITE-BEARING VEINS NORTH OF MILL. LARGE GLORY HOLE OR OPEN CUT, 90 FT. LONG, 55 FT. WIDE AND 45 FT. HIGH. SMALL STOPES WORKED FROM THIRD AND FOURTH LEVELS. SOME 4000 FT. NORTH OF WORKS IS 40-FT. SHAFT SUNK ON 18-IN. CROSS VEIN WHICH WAS REPORTED TO BE HIGH-GRADE. MILLSITE AND BUILDINGS. SKETCH MAP OF WORKINGS IN SAMPSON (1932)
Comment (Location): UTM ACC. LAND UNSURVEYED
Comment (Production): A SMALL AMOUNT OF AU ORE WAS PRODUCED IN 1893.
Comment (Geology): COUNTRY ROCK VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS QUARTZ-SERICITE GNEISS, METAQUARTZITE OR, CONGLOMERATE SCHIST, WITH INTERBEDDED LIMESTONE.
Comment (Deposit): 10 PATENTED CLAIMS AND MILSITE INCLUDES SUN RISE, GROVER CLEVELAND, JOHN C. CARLISLE, KENTUCKY, TEXAS, JOKER, JOKER EXT., NEVER GIVE UP, TREASURE VAULT. W.G. QUARTZ ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT
References
Reference (Deposit): GOODWIN, J.G., 1957, LEAD AND ZINC IN CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 53, NOS. 3 & 4, P. 503
Reference (Production): NORMAN AND STEWART (1951) SAMPSON (1932), GOODWIN (1957)
Reference (Deposit): NORMAN, L.A., JR. AND STEWART, RICHARD M., 1951, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF INYO COUNTY: CALIF. JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY V. 47, NO. 1, P.47-48, 160
Reference (Deposit): SAMPSON, R.J., 1932, MINERAL RESOURCES OF A PART OF THE PANIMENT RANGE: CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 28, P. 373-376
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.
