Bretz Mine

The Bretz Mine is a mercury mine located in Malheur county, Oregon.

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: Bretz Mine

Commodity

Primary: Mercury

Location

State: Oregon
County: Malheur
District: Opalite District (Mc Dermitt)

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Ownership

Owner Name: John Ruiz
Home Office: NV
Info Year: 1978

Owner Name: Amzco

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1917
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Great Basin

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Hot-spring Hg

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: The Mine Is Near The North Margin Of The Mcdermitt Caldera

Type: L
Description: Normal Faults

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: The Host Rocks Are Argillized To Varying Degrees. Large And Small Masses Of Chalcedony Occur In Parts Of The Ore Zones

Rocks

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE RAN 5 TO 18 LB PER TON

Materials

Ore: Cinnabar
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Unknown: Limonite

Comments

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: FLAT LYING MIOCENE LAVAS DISPLACED BY STEEP NORMAL FAULTS, FORMING BASINS IN WHICH LATE MIOCENE LAKE BEDS ACCUMULATED. MAJOR FAULTING AFTER DEPOSITION OF LAKE BEDS.

Comment (Workings): TWO MAIN OPEN PIT AREAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE APART PRODUCTION YEARS WERE 1931-1936, 1940-1944, 1956-1961 AND 1964-1968

Comment (Deposit): IRREGULAR LENSES AND PODS AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS ALONG A NW TRENDING FAULT AND ITS BRANCHES

Comment (Development): EXPLORATION DRILLING UNDER DMEA CONTRACT IN 1955

Comment (Reserve-Resource): ALL KNOWN RESERVES, INCLUDING OLD DUMPS, WERE EXHAUSTED WHEN THE MINE CLOSED IN 1968

Comment (Reserve-Resource): H1 AS OF MID 1940'S.

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION YEARS WERE 1931-1936, 1940-1944, 1956-1961 AND 1964-1968

Comment (Deposit): From deleted record 10298222: Orebody: Length: 1200 M Width: 200 M Depth to Top: 3 M Thickness: 20 M Strike: N55W Dip: 90N MAS Matrix # : 1 MAS Column # : 1 Type of Orebody #1 : SHEAR ZONE Shape of Orebody #1 : OTHER Type of Orebody #2 : BRECCIA FILL Type of Orebody #3 : REPLACEMENT Primary mode of Origin : HYDROTHERMAL Primary Ore Control : FAULTING Degree of Wallrock Alter. : MODERATE Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 : ADV ARGILLIC Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 : SILICIFICATION Strike And Dip : N55W:90N Minimum Depth to Top : 0 Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. : 3 Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. : 0 Date of Last Modification : 830316 MAS Matrix: Total Surface Area (HA) : 75 Date of Last Modification : 910418

References

Reference (Production): USBM RECORDS

Reference (Deposit): SCHUETTE, C. N., 1938, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: ODGMI BULL. 4, P. 159-168.

Reference (Deposit): RYTUBA, J. J., 1976, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE MCDERMITT CALDERA, OREGON-NEVADA: USGS OPEN FILE REPORT NO.

Reference (Deposit): YATES, R. G., 1942, QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE OPALITE DISTRICT, MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON AND HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NEVADA: USGS BULL. 931-N
Pages: p. 344-346.

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E.H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES

Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C., 1963, QUICKSILVER IN OREGON: OREGON DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES, BULL. 55, 223 P.
Pages: p. 189-191.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): BROOKS, H. C., ODGMI, PERSONAL FILES

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.