Greenback

The Greenback is a gold and silver mine located in Josephine 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

Name: Greenback  

State:  Oregon

County:  Josephine

Elevation:

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 42.65361, -123.30639

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Greenback

Greenback MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Greenback


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Arsenic


Location

State: Oregon
County: Josephine
District: Greenback


Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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: Unknown


Ownership

Owner Name: Wes Pieren, Grants Pass Oregon
Years: 1979 -


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Klamath Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: L
Description: Vein Cut Off By Fault On West & Serpentine On East


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

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


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Unknown: Pyrite


Comments

Comment (Commodity): 75 % FREE MILLING GOLD

Comment (Location): S 1/2

Comment (Production): MOST OF THE PRODUCTION IS FROM THE GREENBACK VEIN

Comment (Deposit): TWO PARALLEL VEINS, THE GREENBACK AND IRISH GIRL

Comment (Geology): COMPLEX GEOLOGY NEAR THE THRUST CONTACT BETWEEN THE APPLEGATE GROUP AND UNDERLYING JURASSIC SEDIMENTS ; GEOL.DESC: GREENSTONE IS ALTERED ANDESITE; SERPENTINE POSSIBLY LATER THAN GREENSTONE

Comment (Deposit): RECORD NUMBERS (M013454), (M015211), AND (W017028) HAVE BEEN MERGED WITH THIS RECORD AND DELETED FROM THE OREGON FILE.

Comment (Workings): 7000 FEET OF WORKINGS ON TWELVE LEVELS MOST OF THE PRODUCTION IS FROM THE GREENBACK VEIN


References

Reference (Deposit): RAMP, L. AND PETERSON, N.V., 1979, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 100, 45P

Reference (Deposit): BROOKS, H.C. AND RAMP, L., 1968, GOLD AND SILVER IN OREGON; ODGMI BULL. 61, P.220

Reference (Deposit): OREGON METAL MINES HANDBOOK, 1942, ODGMI BULL. 14-C, VOL. 2, SEC. 1, P.104

Reference (Deposit): HOTZ, P.E., 1971, GEOLOGY OF LODE GOLD DISTRICTS IN THE KLAMATH MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA AND OREGON; USGS BULL. 1290, P.84

Reference (Production): USBM


Oregon Gold

Where to Find Gold in Oregon

"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.