Independence Placer

The Independence Placer is a gold mine located in Josephine county, Oregon at an elevation of 1,250 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: Independence Placer
Secondary: Goshen Placer
Secondary: Foster Placer

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Iridium
Tertiary: Platinum

Location

State: Oregon
County: Josephine
District: Illinois River 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.
Administrative Organization: Siskiyou National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Henry E. Reeves (1980'S?)

Owner Name: Geo. C. Foster
Years: 1940 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Stream Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1850
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: Placer Au-PGE

Orebody

Form: STREAM SEDIMENT DEPOSITS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: GOLD IS 960-980 FINE IN UPPER BENCH

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Platinum

Comments

Comment (Geology): PERIDOTITE BEDROCK WITH SERPENTINE ALONG JOINTS

Comment (Workings): HYDRAULIC AND DRIFT. SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET OF DRIFTS

Comment (Deposit): SEE ALSO: MRDS M013266.

Comment (Development): FIRST PROSPECT LOCATED 1929

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT SIZE GIVEN IS UPPER BENCH; LOWER BENCH IS 5000 X 400 X 9 FT. UPPER BENCH IS CEMENTED GRAVELS

Comment (Location): IN SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST AND ILLINOIS NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVER. NEAR MOUTH OF JOSEPHINE CREEK. LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR PROSPECT SYMBOL NEAR CENTER S/2 SEC. 19

Comment (Production): NO RECORD OF PRODUCTION, ESTIMATED 500-5,000 OZ PRODUCED

Comment (Commodity): BLACK SAND CONTAINS PT, IR, CHROMITE, HEMATITE, MAGNETITE BASED ON VISUAL IDENTIFICATION. PT NUGGET REPORTED AT 5 PENNYWEIGHT, 3 GRAINS SEEN IN 1940. GOLD IS FINE IN LOWER BENCH AND COARSE IN UPPER BENCH

References

Reference (Production): RAMP (1979)

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): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, 1952, OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, SOUTHWESTERN OREGON--JOSEPHINE COUNTY (2D ED.): OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 14-C, V. 2, SEC. 1, P. 134-135.

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.