New Idria

The New Idria is a mercury mine located in San Benito county, California at an elevation of 2,720 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: New Idria

Commodity

Primary: Mercury

Location

State: California
County: San Benito
District: New Idria

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: New Idria Quicksilver Mining Co.
Years: 1950 -

Production

Year: 1962
Time Period: Thru 1962
Material type: HG
Description: Cp_Grade: ^3-20 Lb/Ton

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1854
Discovery Year: 1853
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Coast Ranges

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR, IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: N 70 W Coalinga Anticline New Idria Thrust.

Type: L
Description: New Idria Thrust Fault And Other Localized Faults

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Induration Of Sandstone And Shale

Rocks

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Metacinnabar
Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Mercury
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Dolomite

Comments

Comment (Workings): LOWER LEVELS OF ORE ZONE CRESCENT SHAPED WITH THE CONVEX SIDE TO THE SOUTH. ORE BODIES VARY FROM 3 TO 50 FT IN WIDTH AND CINNABAR OCCURS IN IRREGULAR CONCENTRATIONS ALONG THE VEINS.

Comment (Geology): AREA IS LARGE OVAL BODY OF STRONGLY SHEARED SERPENTINE RIMMED BY FRANCISCAN SANDSTONE AND PANOCHE FORMATION (SANDSTONE AND SHALE). STRUCTURE IS AN ASSYMMETRIC ANTICLINE DOME WITH OVERTURNED BEDS AND NEW IDRIA THRUST ON NE FLANK.

References

Reference (Deposit): AVERILL, C. V., 1947, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: CALIF. JOUR. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 43, P. 41 - 60

Reference (Deposit): HOLMES, G. W., JR., 1965, MERCURY IN CALIFORNIA: IN USBM IC 8252

Reference (Deposit): 5) BRADLEY, W.W., 1918, QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA: CJMG BULL. 78, 389 P.

Reference (Deposit): 6) FORSTNER, W., 1908, QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA: CDMG BULL. 27, 270 P.

Reference (Deposit): 7) RANSOME, A.L. AND KELLOGG, J.L., 1939, QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA: CJMG, V. 35, P. 353-486

Reference (Deposit): 1941 DIREXPL WITH HELP FROM USBM, GOT GOOD INFORMATION ON ORE STRUCTURES

Reference (Deposit): 1952 DIREXPL DMEA EXPLORED WEST IDRIA AREA

Reference (Deposit): 1955 DIREXPL DMEA EXPLORED MOLINO ZONE

Reference (Deposit): 1957 DIREXPL DMEA EXPLORED SULFUR SPRINGS AREA

Reference (Production): USBM DATA

Reference (Deposit): ECKEL, E. B. AND MYERS W. B., 1946, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE NEW IDRIA DISTRICT SAN BENITO AND FRESNO COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA: CALIF. JOUR. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 42, P. 81 - 124

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E. H., U.S.G.S., PERSONAL FILES

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.