La Primera

The La Primera is a chromium mine located in San Luis Obispo county, California at an elevation of 1,348 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

Name: La Primera  

State:  California

County:  San Luis Obispo

Elevation: 1,348 Feet (411 Meters)

Commodity: Chromium

Lat, Long: 35.35861, -120.68667

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 La Primera

La Primera MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: La Primera
Secondary: Hardface Group 1950's


Commodity

Primary: Chromium


Location

State: California
County: San Luis Obispo


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.


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Surface


Ownership

Owner Name: Mineral Rights Held By Arther E. Schwartz
Home Office: C/O K. Pierce, Trinidad Mining Co., Inc., 434 Monterey St, Morro Bay, Ca. 93442

Owner Name: Pierce Brothers, Morro Bay, Ca.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Year Last Production: 1958
Discovery Year: 1885
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: California Coast Ranges
Physiographic Detail: Santa Lucia Range


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: LENSE

Form: LENSE


Structure

Type: R
Description: Volc. And Sed. Rocks Folded Into Syncline


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Not available


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CONCENTRATES (1950'S) AVERAGED 45.8% CR2O3, 13.2% FE, CR TO FE RATIO 2.3.


Materials

Ore: Chromite


Comments

Comment (Commodity): LUMP ORE (1950'S) AVERAGED 44.6% CR2O3, 11% FE, CR TO FE RATIO 2.6

Comment (Location): MINE LOCATED ON SMALL SPUR HEADING SOUTH OFF THE SANTA LUCIA RANGE. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1975)

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS SEEN IN 1975 CONSISTED OF A LARGE PIT AND EXISTANCE DUMPS.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1880'S

Comment (Deposit): A 0.2 M THICK LAYER OF MASSIVE CHROMITE EXPOSED IN PIT FLOOR AND WALLS.

Comment (Geology): ULTRAMAFIC AND DIABASE INTRUSIVE BODIES USUALLY 4-5 KM LONG AND 1 KM THICK, ARE ELONGATE, AND NW-SE TRENDING. ULTRAMAFIC BODY CONTAINING MOST OF CHROMITE EXPOSED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 16 KM.


References

Reference (Deposit): STINSON, M.C., 1975, CDMG MINERAL PROPERTY REPORT, UNPUBLISHED

Reference (Production): CDMG MINERAL PROP. REPORT, UNPUBLISHED.


California Gold

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"Where to Find Gold in California" 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 California. Read more: Where to Find Gold in California.