Rainbow Mine

The Rainbow Mine is a gold mine located in Josephine county, Oregon at an elevation of 2,402 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: Rainbow Mine
Secondary: Siskron
Secondary: January First

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Arsenic

Location

State: Oregon
County: Josephine
District: Waldo Area

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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: Roscoe And Ruth Polk

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1917
Discovery Year: 1915
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: Klamath Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Serpentinite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Triassic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: AVERAGE OF 18 SAMPLES IN MAIN WORKINGS IS ABOUT 0.5 OZ AU/TON

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Workings): THERE ARE MANY SHALLOW CUTS AND SHAFTS RESULTING FROM WORK DONE BEFORE 1929. 1931-1937 FIGURES USBM; 1917-1950 FROM RAMP (1979)

Comment (Deposit): RECORD M013354) HAS BEEN MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED FROM THE OREGON FILE.

Comment (Production): 1931-1937 FIGURES USBM; 1917-1950 FROM RAMP (1979)

References

Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C. AND RAMP, LEN, 1968, GOLD AND SILVER IN OREGON: OREGON DEPT. GEOL. AND MIN. IND. BULL. 61, P. 245 AND 262

Reference (Deposit): WELLS, F.G. AND OTHERS, 1940, PRELIMINARY GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE GRANTS PASS QUADRANGLE, OREGON: OREGON DEPT. OF GEOL. AND MIN. INDUSTRIES

Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1942, ODGMI BULL. 14-C, VOL. 2, SEC. 1, P. 216

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, L. AND PETERSON, N.V., 1979, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 100, 45P

Reference (Production): TREASHER, OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK 14-C, VOL. 11, SEC. I

Reference (Reserve-Resource): OME FILES

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.