Saddle Chrome

The Saddle Chrome is a chromium mine located in Josephine county, Oregon at an elevation of 2,979 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: Saddle Chrome
Secondary: Kerby #91

Commodity

Primary: Chromium
Tertiary: Rhodium
Tertiary: Platinum
Tertiary: Palladium

Location

State: Oregon
County: Josephine
District: Pearsoll Peak 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

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: W. W. Lyons
Years: 1957 -

Owner Name: Mrs. R. E. Mccaleb
Years: 1961 -

Production

Year: 1957
Time Period: 1956-1957
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^49% Cr2o3, 15% Fe

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past 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: LENSES, ANGULAR MASSES

Structure

Type: L
Description: Rock Is Highly Sheared Adjacent To Ore

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

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

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: IR, RU NOT ANALYZED. FLOAT SAMPLE ASSAYED 30.06% CR2O3, 9.83% FE.
Analytical Data: RH=N(4), 40 PPB
Analytical Data: PD=4, 20 PPB
Analytical Data: 2 PGE ANALYSES: PT=N(10), 100 PPB

Materials

Ore: Chromite
Gangue: Talc

Comments

Comment (Workings): SMALL CUTS AND TWO SHORT DRIFTS. DIMENSIONS ARE FOR LARGEST OPEN CUT AND FOR THE DRIFT THAT WAS STILL ACCESSIBLE AT TIME OF VISIT

Comment (Location): LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR PGE SAMPLE SITE LOCATION. TOPO MAP DOES NOT SHOW ANY PROSPECTS IN IMMEDIATE VICINITY. LOCATION IS ON TOP OF RIDGE BETWEEN DAILEY AND WEST FORK RANCHERIE CREEKS

Comment (Production): 240 TONS OF MILLING ORE CONCENTRATED TO 100 TONS

Comment (Deposit): DIMENSIONS ARE OF LARGEST LENS. THE ORE ZONE IS ABOUT 150 FT LONG WITH THE ORE IN 7-8 LENSES AND MASSES

Comment (Commodity): CHROMITE IS MEDIUM GRAINED

References

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, LEN, 1961, CHROMITE IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES BULLETIN 52, P. 44.

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.

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.