Argonaut

The Argonaut is a gold mine located in Amador county, California at an elevation of 1,549 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Argonaut
Secondary: Pioneer
Secondary: Sunset

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

State: California
County: Amador

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: B. Monte Verda And E. C. Taylor

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Sierra Nevada

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Type: L
Description: Branching And Orientation Of Vein Probably Due To Fault Complications.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): 3 COMPARTMENT SHAFT SUNK AT A 60 DEGREE INCLINE TO 4250 FT.; FROM SURFACE TO 290 FT LEVEL SHAFT COMPLETELY IN GREENSTONE; FROM 290 FT. TO 1570 FT. LEVEL SHAFT IS IN SLATE; FROM 1570 TO 2520 FT LEVEL SHAFT IN SCHIST; BELOW 2520 FT SHAFT IN SLATE; LEVELS AT 290 , 470 , 110 , 1240 , 1350 , 1570 , 1800 , 1920 , 2040 , 2280 , 2520 , 2760 , 2880 , 3000 , 3150 , 3300 , 3450 , 3500 , 3750 , 3900 , 4050 FT.

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: QUARTZ VEIN DIPS 40 NE IN UPPER WORKINGS, CUTTING ACROSS GREENSTONE AND SLATE; ABOUT 500 FT. FROM SURFACE THE VEIN IS CONCORDANT WITH SLATE BEDDING AND LIES ALONG CONTACT WITH SLATE AND SHIST; THE CONTACT DIPS 64 NE. THE VEIN IS FAIRLY REGULAR AND CONTINUOUS VARYING IN THICKNESS FROM 8 TO 12 FT.

Comment (Production): FIRST WORKED ON SMALL SCALE AS THE PIONEER, 1850-1893 WHEN ARGONAUT MNG. CO. INC. ARGONAUT WORKED THE MINE CONTINUOUSLY, EXCEPT FOR 2 DIFFERENT YEARS ON ACCOUNT OF FIRES IN THE MINE, FROM 1893 TO 1942. TO DECEMBER 31, 1942, TOTAL MINE PRODUCTION WAS 2,750,000 TONS OF ORE FROM WHICH $25,179,160.43 WAS RECOVERED. THE COMPANY WAS DISSOLVED IN 1948 AND PROPERTY PASSED TO ABOVE-NOTED OWNERS. THE MACHINERY WAS BEING REMOVED. ALTHOUGH THE ORE IN THE MINE WAS NOT EXHAUSTED IN 1942, THE HIGH COST OF LABOR AND MATERIALS PREVENTED FURTHER OPERATION, LEADING TO THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MINING COMPANY

References

Reference (Deposit): CARLSON, D.W. AND CLARK, W.B., 1954 , MINES AND MIN. RES. OF AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.: CJMG, VOL. 50 , P

Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C.A., 1927 , AMADOR COUNTY: CMB REPT. 23 , P. 153 - 156

Reference (Deposit): TUCKER, W.B., 1914 , AMADOR COUNTY: CMB REPT 14 , P. 17 - 19

Reference (Deposit): STORM, W.H., 1900 , MOTHER LODE REGION OF CAL.: CMB BULL. 18 , P. 156 - 160

Reference (Production): LOGAN, C.A., 1927

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.