Big Bear

The Big Bear is a chromium mine located in Josephine county, Oregon 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: Big Bear

Commodity

Primary: Chromium
Tertiary: Rhodium

Location

State: Oregon
County: Josephine

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.
Administrative Organization: Siskiyou National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Wallace, Melvin
Years: 1961 -

Owner Name: Stevens, Carl
Years: 1958 -

Production

Year: 1958
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^49% Cr2o3
Year: 1957
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^48% Cr2o3
Year: 1953
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^43% Cr2o3, 48% Cr2o3
Year: 1952
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^50% Cr2o3
Year: 1958
Time Period: 1952-1958
Material type: TOTAL
Description: Cp_Grade: ^48.50 % Cr2o3 (Weighted Average Grade)

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: 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

Model Name: Podiform chromite (minor)

Orebody

Form: LENS, STRINGERS, SOME MASSIVE ORE

Structure

Type: L
Description: Shearing

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Serpentinization

Rocks

Name: Serpentinite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Jurassic

Name: Serpentinite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: RH=17 PPB

Materials

Ore: Chromite
Gangue: Serpentine

Comments

Comment (Location): ON NORTH SIDE OF CEDAR LOG CREEK. LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR MINE SYMBOL SHOWN ON TOPO MAP.

Comment (Geology): DEPOSIT LIES CLOSE TO THE GALICE ROCKS

Comment (Workings): 190 FT TUNNEL, 20 FT STOPE, 75 FT RAISE, 60 FT RAISE, AND EXTENSIVE BULLDOZER CUTS

Comment (Production): RAMP (1961) ESTIMATES 900 TONS PRODUCTION AT 45-50% CR2O3 WITH CR:FE=3, THAYER RECORDS DO NOT AGREE

Comment (Development): WORKED DURING WWI

Comment (Deposit): LARGER LENSES HAD 200 TONS OF ORE. WAS DIAMOND DRILLED IN 1957

References

Reference (Deposit): PAGE, N.J, JOHNSON, M.G., HAFFTY, JOSEPH, AND RAMP, LEN, 1975, OCCURRENCE OF PLATINUM GROUP METALS IN ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS OF THE MEDFORD-COOS BAY 2 DEGREE QUADRANGLE, SOUTHWESTERN OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES MAP MF-694, SCALE 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, AND PETERSON, N.V., 1979, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 100, TABLE 1.

Reference (Deposit): THAYER, T.P., 1974, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, UNPUB. DATA.

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, 1961, CHROMITE IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 52, P. 133.

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.