Bonanza Claim

The Bonanza Claim is a chromium mine located in Del Norte county, California at an elevation of 2,900 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: Bonanza Claim

Commodity

Primary: Chromium
Tertiary: Iridium
Tertiary: Ruthenium
Tertiary: Rhodium
Tertiary: Platinum
Tertiary: Palladium

Location

State: California
County: Del Norte
District: High Plateau 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: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: C. Strong, D. O'Brien, C. Johnson
Years: 1942 -

Production

Year: 1942
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^50.5% Cr2o3

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1942
Year Last Production: 1942
Discovery Year: 1941
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
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: PODS, LUMPS, BUNCHES, STRINGERS, DISSEMINATED

Structure

Type: L
Description: Major Shear Zone 6 Ft Wide Strikes N30w, Dips 30 Nw. Intense Shearing Throughout

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Talc And Serpentine In Shear, Also Partial To Complete Serpentinization Of Peridotite And Dunite

Rocks

Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Jurassic

Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic

Name: Peridotite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 1 PGE ANALYSIS: PT=15 PPB
Analytical Data: RH=18 PPB. ORE SAID TO AVG. 50.5% CR2O3. CR:FE=2.82 (1942)
Analytical Data: RU=330 PPB
Analytical Data: IR=140 PPB
Analytical Data: PD=<4 PPB

Materials

Ore: Chromite
Gangue: Uvarovite
Gangue: Olivine

Comments

Comment (Workings): INCLINED SHAFT AND SEVERAL PITS

Comment (Deposit): RECORD M007518 HAS BEEN MERGED AND DELETED.

Comment (Location): UNSURVEYED. IN SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST. CLAIM LOCATED ON EAST END OF LOW PLATEAU, 1,800 FT NORTHEAST OF HIGH PLATEAU MINE. LOCATION GIVEN IS WITHIN OPEN PIT SHOWN ON TOPO MAP INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1975)

Comment (Production): DIFFERENT REFERENCES GIVE FROM 137-149 TONS PRODUCED IN 1942. THERE MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN SOME PRODUCTION DURING WWI

Comment (Deposit): MOST INDIVIDUAL ORE BODIES ARE <100 LB BUT A FEW ARE AS LARGE AS SEVERAL TONS. ORE IS IRREGULARLY DISTRIBUTED

References

Reference (Deposit): STINSON, M.C., 1975, CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, UNPUB.

Reference (Deposit): O'BRIEN, J.C., 1952, MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF DEL NORTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY V. 48, NO. 4, P. 269.

Reference (Deposit): CATER, F.W., JR., AND WELLS, F.G., 1953, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE GASQUET QUADRANGLE, CALIFORNIA-OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 995-C, PL. 11.

Reference (Deposit): CARLSON, C.A., AND OTHERS, 1985, ANALYSES FOR PLATINUM-GROUP ELEMENTS IN SAMPLES FROM PODIFORM CHROMITE DEPOSITS, CALIFORNIA AND OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 85-442, 14 P.

Reference (Deposit): WELLS, F.G., CATER, F.W., JR., AND RYNEARSON, G.A., 1946, GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CHROMITE IN CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES BULLETIN 134, PT. 1, CH. 1, P. 37.

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.