Butler Estate Mine

The Butler Estate Mine is a chromium mine located in Fresno county, California at an elevation of 3,901 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: Butler Estate Mine
Secondary: Mistaken
Secondary: Holman
Secondary: James-Thickstun Mines

Commodity

Primary: Chromium

Location

State: California
County: Fresno

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: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Mareco Mining Division Of Marmac Resources Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1951
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: PIPE, LENSES

Structure

Type: L
Description: Serpentine In Fault Contact With Shale. Fault Dips Steeply To The South.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: LUMP ORE AVERAGED 46.6% CR2O3 WITH CR:FE RATIO OF 3:1 CONCENTRATES AVERAGED 46% CR2O3 WITH CR:FE RATIO OF 2.8:1.

Materials

Ore: Chromite
Ore: Uvarovite
Gangue: Talc
Gangue: Antigorite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Chrysotile
Gangue: Magnesite
Gangue: Magnetite

Comments

Comment (Workings): WHEN VISITED IN 1976, STRIPPING OF SOUTH SIDE WALL WITH EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT WAS OCCURING. ALSO, A CONCENTRATING MILL WAS BEING BUILT APPROX. 1 MILE SE OF PIT.

Comment (Production): HIGH GRADE FLOAT ORE SHIPPED DURING WWI AND IN 1930.

Comment (Geology): MINE ON SE BORDER OF NW TRENDING, ELLIPTICALLY SHAPED SERPENTINE MASS APPROX 12 MI LONG AND 4 MI WIDE, ALONG THE CREST OF THE SOUTHERN DIABLO RANGE. MUCH OF BEDROCK GEOLOGY OBSCURED BY OLD AND RECENT LANDSLIDES AND SLUMPED GROUND. EXTENSIVE LANDSLIDES OCCUR THROUGHOUT SERPENTINE AREA.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): USING DIMENSIONS OF ORE BODY, 8775 CU FT ORE EXPECTED FOR EACH FOOT OF DEPTH. 9 CU FT ORE WEIGHS APPROX 1 TON, SO 900 TONS ORE MAY BE PREDICTED FOR EACH FOOT. ORE AVERAGES 25% CR2O3, SO 900 TONS OF ORE PRODUCES 225 TONS CR2O3. IF MILL IS 85% EFFECTIVE, 191.23 LT CR2O3 CAN BE RECOVERED FOR EACH FOOT OF DEPTH OF ORE BODY, CHROMITE CONCENTRATES AVERAGE 46.6% CR2O3.

Comment (Deposit): ORE BODY CONSISTS OF SUBHEDRAL TO ANHEDRAL CRYSTALS OF CHROMITE WITH AVERAGE GRAIN SIZE OF 5 MM. MASSIVE ORE CONTAINS ONLY MINOR AMOUNTS OF GANGUE MINERALS. CONCENTRATION OF CHROMITE FAIRLY UNIFORM THROUGHOUT ORE BODY EXCEPT FOR LENSES OF MASSIVE ORE.

References

Reference (Deposit): CDMG SR 71, 19 P.

Reference (Deposit): STINSON, M. C., 1976, MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, CDMG UNPUBLISHED REPORT.

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.