Blue Bull

The Blue Bull is a mercury, copper, and arsenic mine located in Harney 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

Name: Blue Bull  

State:  Oregon

County:  Harney

Elevation:

Commodity: Mercury, Copper, Arsenic

Lat, Long: 42.17194, -118.66722

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.


Satelite image of the Blue Bull

Blue Bull MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Blue Bull


Commodity

Primary: Mercury
Primary: Copper
Primary: Arsenic


Location

State: Oregon
County: Harney
District: Steens - Pueblo


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Surface/Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Claude Wright And Vern Bossuot
Years: 1963 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1929
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

Not available


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Epithermal quartz-alunite Au


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: L
Description: Fracturing


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification


Rocks

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ACCORDING TO WILLIAMS AND COMPTON (1953) THE AVERAGE TENOR OF THE VEINS IS ABOUT 5 LBS/TON HG


Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Opal
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Limonite


Comments

Comment (Production): NO QUICKSILVER IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN RECOVERED DUE TO REDUCTION PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ARSENIC IN THE SCHWATZITE

Comment (Deposit): AVERAGE WIDTH OF THE VEINS IS ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES. THE MAIN VEIN PINCHES OUT 10 FEET FROM THE END OF THE DRIFT.

Comment (Geology): AN INTENSELY SILICIFIED PORPHYRITIC RHYOLITE INTRUSION CUTS THE PRE-TERTIARY GREENSTONES ABOUT 100 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE MAIN SHAFT


References

Reference (Deposit): 5) WILLIAMS, H. AND COMPTON, R.R., 1953, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF

Reference (Deposit): MERCURY IN OREGON, 1965, USBM IC 8252, TABLE 26, P. 329.

Reference (Deposit): FREDERICK, F., 1945, STATE OF OREGON MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS: OREGON DEPT. OF GEOL. AND MIN. INDUSTRIES, SCALE 1:1,000,000

Reference (Deposit): ROSS, C.P., 1942, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE STEENS AND PUEBLO MOUNTAINS, SOUTNERN OREGON: USGS BULL. 931-J, P. 227-258

Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H. C., 1963, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: OREGON DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, BULL. 55, 223 P.


Oregon Gold

Where to Find Gold in Oregon

"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.