Mormon Basin Placer

The Mormon Basin Placer is a gold 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

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: Mormon Basin Placer
Secondary: Colt Placers

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

State: Oregon
County: Malheur
District: Mormon Basin

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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Lloyd Dinger

Owner Name: Max Lattig

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1870
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Payette Section

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Placer Au-PGE

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Not available

Comments

Comment (Production): LATEST OPERATION BEGAN IN FALL 1979. EQUIPMENT INCLUDES DRAGLINE, TROMMEL SCREEN, PAN AMERICAN JIGS, AND SLUICE. CAPACITY, 200 YARDS PER HOUR.

Comment (Deposit): THE GRAVEL DEPOSITS COVER ABOUT 160 ACRES

Comment (Geology): MOST OF THE GOLD IS ABOVE A FALSE BEDROCK OF CLAY AND HIGHLY MICACEOUS GRANITIC DEBRIS. WORKABLE DEPTH IS GENERALLY ABOUT 8 FEET. VALUES ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY CONCENTRATED ON THE FALSE BEDROCK

References

Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1939, ODGMI BULL. 14-A P. 76.

Reference (Deposit): WOLFF, E.N., 1965, GEOLOGY OF THE NORTH 1/2 OF THE CAVINESS QUADRANGLE, OREGON; UNIV. OF OREGON PHD THESIS.

Reference (Deposit): 1939 COMPIL ODGMI, REFERENCE 1.

Reference (Deposit): 1979 COMPIL ODGMI, FILE

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.