Sierra Buttes

The Sierra Buttes is a gold mine located in Sierra county, California at an elevation of 6,401 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: Sierra Buttes
Secondary: Sierra City
Secondary: Ariel Independence
Secondary: Bigelow
Secondary: Buttes Union

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Lead

Location

State: California
County: Sierra

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Sierra Nevada

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Low-sulfide Au-quartz vein

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Marcasite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): SHAFT & 9 ADITS: NO. 6 350 FT., NO. 8 900 FT. 12000 FT. ON THE NO. 9 LEVEL, NOW W NO ORE. STOPING BETW 7 & 8. ORIGINAL CLAIM 11000 BY 600 FT. IN AREA.

Comment (Commodity): 5TH & 6TH LEVELS PROMISING ORE OCCURS IN A SERIES OF STAGGERED LENSES. 4 PAY SHOOTS; MAMMOTH SHOOT 300 FT WIDE & 15 - 20 FT THICK.

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION IN 1914 WAS FROM 6TH LEVEL. TOTAL PRODUCTION ESTIMATED BY LOGAN, 1929 WAS $16-17 MILLION. MAKING SIERRA BUTTES THE LARGEST SINGLE PRODUCER IN SIERRA CO.

Comment (Deposit): VEINS, ORE SHOOTS

Comment (Geology): VEINS 6 - 20 FT THICK. ARIEL IS MAIN VEIN & STRIKES N 51 W TO N 80 E, DIPS 45 - 54 N, & BRANCHES INTO A NUMBER OF STRINGERS ON THE 9TH LEVEL. WHISKEY VEIN APPROACHES BUT DOESNT INTERSECT ARIEL. GREENSTONE & SERPENTINE FOOTWALL, QTZ-PORPHYRY HANGING WALL. THIRD VEIN, SMITH, ALSO PROSPECTED.

References

Reference (Deposit): MCCULLOCH, W. C., OESTERLING, W. A., SPURCK, W. H., & TISCHLER, M. S., 1964 , MINERALS FOR INDUSTRY, N CALIF: SO PACIFIC COMPANY, VOL 2 , P 54 .

Reference (Deposit): AVERILL, C. V., 1942 , MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SIERRA CO.: CDM CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOL, VOL 38, NO 1, P 44, 64 .

Reference (Deposit): LOGAN, C. A., 1929 , SIERRA CO.: CDMM 25TH REPORT STATE MINERALOGIST, APRIL, P 182 .

Reference (Deposit): MACBOYLE, E. 1920 , MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES SIERRA CO.: CSMB 16TH REPORT STATE MINERALOGIST, DEC 1918 , P 119 .

Reference (Deposit): 5) GOLDSTONE, E. M., 1890 , SIERRA COUNTY: CSMB 10TH REPORT STATE MINERALOGIST, P 643 , LOCATION MAP.

Reference (Deposit): 6) IRELAN, W. JR., 1888 , SIERRA CO.: CSMB 8TH REPORT STATE MINERALOGIST, P. 573 - 577 .

Reference (Production): MCCULLOCH ETAL, 1964 ; MACBOYLE, 1920

California Gold

"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.