Blue Ridge

The Blue Ridge is a mercury mine located in Crook county, Oregon at an elevation of 4,839 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: Blue Ridge
Secondary: Cinnabar Mines
Secondary: Inc.
Secondary: Including the Number Mine

Commodity

Primary: Mercury

Location

State: Oregon
County: Crook
District: Johnson Creek

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: Ochoco National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: C. T. Takahashi
Years: 1974 -

Owner Name: Cinnabar Mines, Inc.
Years: 1942 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1930
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Walla Walla Plateau

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: POCKETS

Structure

Type: L
Description: Prominent Fault Trending N50-65e, Dip 65-85 Se

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Clay Alteration Along Faults And Shear Zones. Also Argillic, Silicification, Carbonatization.

Rocks

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

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 9 TO 18 LB PER TON

Materials

Ore: Cinnabar

Comments

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: ANDESITE AND BASALT FLOWS OF THE EOCENE CLARNO FORMATION OVERLAIN BY LATER ANDESITE AND BASALT FLOWS AND TUFFS. PLUGS AND DIKES OF RHYOLITE AND ANDESITE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EXTRUSIVE ROCKS.

Comment (Location): N/2 SE/4 SEC 15

Comment (Production): POSSIBLY 301 FL PRODUCED, FIGURE INCLUDES PRODUCTION FROM NUMBER ONE MINE

Comment (Development): 100 TON ROTARY

Comment (Deposit): POCKETS OCCUR ON STEEPLY DIPPING FAULTS.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS AS OF ABOUT 1949. LAST ACTIVE 1955. SHAFT CAVED AT COLLAR. POSSIBLY 301 FL PRODUCED, FIGURES INCLUDES PRODUCTION FROM NUMBER 1 MINE.

References

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.

Reference (Production): BROOKS

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.