Earl Smith Mine

The Earl Smith Mine is a chromium mine located in Tulare county, California 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

Name: Earl Smith Mine  

State:  California

County:  Tulare

Elevation: 899 Feet (274 Meters)

Commodity: Chromium

Lat, Long: 36.2575, -119.05417

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Earl Smith Mine

Earl Smith Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Earl Smith Mine


Commodity

Primary: Chromium


Location

State: California
County: Tulare
District: Yokohl Valley Area


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

Not available


Ownership

Owner Name: Gill, Fred And Will
Years: 1918 -

Owner Name: Smith, Earl


Production

Year: 1918
Time Period: 1916-1918
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^30-40% Cr2o3


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1916
Year Last Production: 1918
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Trough
Physiographic Detail: Sierra Nevada Foothills


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: LENSE


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

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


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE CONTAINED 30-40% CR2O3


Materials

Ore: Chromite


Comments

Comment (Location): MINE LOCATED ON A NE RUNNING HOGBACK NEAR LIN DSAY PEAK.

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT CONSISTED OF 3 LENSES, APPROX. 100 FT APART WITH ABOVE STRIKE AND DIP.

Comment (Geology): THE DEPOSIT IS LOCATED IN A NW TRENDING, IRREGULARLY EXPOSED BELT OF HIGHLY SHEARED SERPENTINE WHICH IS 5-6 KM WIDE AND APPROX. 40 KM LONG. THE BELT IS BORDERED BY PRE-CRET. METAVOLC: AND META SED. ROCKS, PLEISTOCENE ALLUVIUM AND MESO. GRANODIORITE INTRUSIVES.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF SEVERAL SMALL OPEN CUTS, A 50 FT LONG TUNNEL AND A 30 FT DEEP SHAFT.


References

Reference (Production): CDMG BULL 134, PART 3, CHAPT. 3, P. 97.

Reference (Deposit): RYNEARSON, G. A., 1948, CDMG BULL 134, PART 3, CHAPT. 3, P. 97, 103


California Gold

Where to Find Gold in California

"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.