Elkhead Mine

The Elkhead Mine is a mercury mine located in Douglas county, Oregon at an elevation of 899 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: Elkhead Mine

Commodity

Primary: Mercury

Location

State: Oregon
County: Douglas
District: Elkhead-Black Butte

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: Alcona Mining Co.

Owner Name: Holly, William J. (Alcona Mining Co.)

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1882
Year Last Production: 1971
Discovery Year: 1870
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Oregon Coast Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: East Limb Of Ne Trending Red Hill Anticline

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Host Rocks Are Bleached And Softened, Cut By Chalcedony-Sederite-Limonite Veinlets And Locally Silicified

Rocks

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE GENERALLY LOW GRADE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 5 POUNDS MERCURY PER TON

Materials

Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Metacinnabar
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Limonite

Comments

Comment (Production): MINE YIELDED $30,000 WORTH OF ORE BEFORE 1903; 50 FLASKS PRODUCED IN 1887. SOME UNRECORDED PRODUCTION IN 1919; 16 FLASKS PRODUCED IN 1934-1935; 5 FLASKS IN 1957 AND 464 IN 1965-1971. TOTAL RECORDED PRODUCTION IS 551 FLASKS

Comment (Geology): ASSOCIATED TERTIARY GABBRO-NORITE DIKES AND SILLS.

Comment (Deposit): RECORD ( M055180 ) MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED FROM OREGON FILE.

Comment (Deposit): SPARINGLY AND IRREGULAR DISSEMINATED CINNABAR

Comment (Workings): MOST OF THE OUTPUT WAS FROM LOW GRADE ORE MINED BY OPEN PIT. YIELDED $30,000 WORTH OF ORE BEFORE 1903; 50 FL IN 1887. SOME OUTPUT IN 1919; 16 FL IN 1934-1935; 5 FL IN 1957; AND 464 FL IN 1965-1971. TOTAL OUTPUT RECORDED WAS 551 FL.

References

Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C., 1963, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: OREGON DEPT. GEOL AND MIN. IND. BULL. 55, P. 41-43.

Reference (Deposit): WELLS, F.G., AND WATERS, A.C., 1934, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF SOUTHWESTERN OREGON: USGS BULL. 850, P. 34-35

Reference (Deposit): SCHUETTE, C. N., 1938, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: ODGMI BULL. 4, P. 145

Reference (Deposit): ERICKSON, E. G. AND SAMPLE, R. D., 1959, FINAL REPORT, CONTRACT IDM-E1216, MONETA PORCUPINE MINES, LIMITED, ELKHEAD MINE: OFFICE OF MINERALS EXPLORATION UNPUBLISHED REPORT

Reference (Deposit): 5) BAILEY, E. H

Reference (Deposit): 1930 GEOLMAP WELLS, F.G. AND WATERS, A.C., USGS BULL. 85

Reference (Production): BROOKS

Reference (Reserve-Resource): ERICKSON AND SAMPLE

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.