Branch Mine

The Branch Mine is a gold mine located in San Bernardino county, California at an elevation of 3,901 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: Branch Mine

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Copper

Location

State: California
County: San Bernardino
District: Oro Grande

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

Not available

Production

Year: 1889
Material type: AU AG
Description: Ap_Grade: ^Assayed At 2.89 Oz. Au And 21.5 Oz. Ag/Ton

Deposit

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

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Sonoran Desert

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Metavolcanic Rock
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Triassic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Location): UTM ACC S 1/2 NW 1/4 AND N 1/2 SW 1/4

Comment (Deposit): VEIN 1 FT IN THICKNESS

Comment (Production): ACTIVE 1880'S, 1896, 1909. NO OTHER PRODUCTION RECORDS FOUND. TOTAL PRODUCTION MAY HAVE BEEN BETWEEN $19000 AND $20,000

Comment (Workings): 300 FT. ADIT W/2 130 FT. RAISES TO SURFACE AND SEVERAL WINZES BELOW 200 FT.

Comment (Geology): LOCALLY, THE WALL ROCKS CONTAIN PYRITE AND THE MINOR ORE MINERALS

References

Reference (Deposit): SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY, 1964, MINERALS FOR INDUSTRY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, V. 3, P. 49

Reference (Deposit): WRIGHT, L.A. AND OTHERS, 1953, MINES AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA TABULATED LIST: CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 49, NOS. 1 & 2, P. 27, PL. 7.

Reference (Deposit): BOWEN, O.E., 1954, GEOLOGY & MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE BARSTOW QUADRANGLE, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIF.: CALIF. DIV. MINES & GEOLOGY, BULL. 165, P. 130

Reference (Production): SOUTHERN PACIFIC CO. (1964) BOWEN (1954)

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.