Cape Blanco

The Cape Blanco is a osmium, platinum, and gold mine located in Curry county, Oregon at an elevation of 7 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: Cape Blanco
Secondary: Pacific Coast Mining and Refining Co.

Commodity

Primary: Osmium
Primary: Platinum
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Chromium

Location

State: Oregon
County: Curry
District: Beach Area

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: Unknown

Ownership

Owner Name: Ed Frances, And Thomas Hughes
Years: 1940 -

Owner Name: Pacific Coast Mining And Refining Co.
Years: 1940 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Placer Au-PGE

Orebody

Form: SHORELINE DEPOSITS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 215 FT CHANNEL SAMPLE ASSAYED 12.18% CR2O3 (GRIGGS, 1944). PT ESTIMATED AT 10-30% OF GOLD AS WASHED OUT. GOLD FINENESS 860

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Chromite
Ore: Platinum

Comments

Comment (Workings): 397 PATENTED ACRES

Comment (Geology): STRIP OF BEACH COVERED WITH A VENEER OF ALTERNATING LAYERS OF BLACK AND GRAY SAND. PT AND AU WITHIN THE BEACH SANDS AT AND NEAR POINT ORFORD.

Comment (Location): A SMALL PART OF BEACH NEAR PORT ORFORD IS STATE LAND. 8 MI STRIP OF BEACH. LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR MOUTH OF ELK RIVER

Comment (Commodity): PT AND GOLD FORM SMALL THIN SCALES

Comment (Production): REPORTEDLY WORKED SPORADICALLY FROM 1853-1938. REMAINDER OF PRODUCTION RECORDS WERE DESTROYED IN A FIRE. SMALL BYPRODUCT PGE PRODUCTION

Comment (Development): WORKED INTERMITTENTLY FROM 1853 TO 1938

Comment (Deposit): ORE ZONE AVERAGES 0.5 FT THICK

Comment (Deposit): RECORD M046995 HAS BEEN MERGED AND DELETED.

References

Reference (Deposit): GRIGGS, A.B., 1946, CHROMITE-BEARING SANDS OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COAST OF OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 945-E, P. 147.

Reference (Production): RAMP (1977)

Reference (Deposit): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, 1940, OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, SOUTHWESTERN OREGON--COOS, CURRY, AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 14-C, V. 1, P. 81.

Reference (Deposit): BLAKE, W.P., 1854, GOLD AND PLATINUM OF CAPE BLANCO: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, 2D SER., V. 18, P. 156.

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, SCHLICKER, H.G., AND GRAY, J.J., 1977, GEOLOGY, MINERAL RESOURCES, AND ROCK MATERIAL OF CURRY COUNTY, OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 93, P. 29.

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.