Ione Pit and Mill

The Ione Pit and Mill is a zirconium and titanium mine located in Amador county, California at an elevation of 371 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: Ione Pit and Mill

Commodity

Primary: Zirconium
Primary: Titanium
Tertiary: Kaolin

Location

State: California
County: Amador

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

Type: Private Lease

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: North American Refractories Co., Div. Of Eltra Corp.
Company ID: 401878
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: California
Info Year: 1983

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Surface
Mining Method: Dredging
Milling Method: Magnetic
Year First Production: 1954
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Unknown: Ilmenite
Unknown: Zircon

Comments

Comment (Geology): GEOMETRY DATA SET DESCRIBES THE IONE FORMATION. THIS FORMATION HOSTS THE OREBODY FOR THE CLAY OPERATION WHICH IS THE SOURCE FOR THE TAILINGS IN THIS EVALUATION. IONE FORMATION ALSO CONTAINS CLAYSTONE AND LENSES OF BROWN CARBONACEOUS CLAYSTONE AND LIGNITE.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): PRESENTLY PRODUCES SAND; PROPOSED TO ADD A HEAVY MINERAL CIRCUT

Comment (Deposit): FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVALUATION, A COST STUDY WAS DONE ONLY FOR EXTRACTING ZIRCON AND TITANIUM FROM THE MILL TAILINGS OF THE EXISTING CLAY OPERATION.

Comment (Economic Factors): THESE COSTS ARE ONLY FOR EXTRACTION OF ZIRCON AND TITANIUM FROM THE MILL TAILINGS.

References

Reference (Deposit): COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES SPECIAL

Reference (Deposit): PROPERTIES OF THE IONE FORMATION, BUENA VISTA AREA, AMADOR

Reference (Deposit): SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, 248 PP.

Reference (Deposit): PASK, J. A. AND M. D. TURNER, 1952, GEOLOGY AND CERAMIC

Reference (Deposit): NORTHWEST MINING ASSOCIATION, 1981, MINERAL INDUSTRY COSTS:

Reference (Deposit): 13.

Reference (Deposit): CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA ANNUAL SUMMARY, CALIFORNIA, V. 82, NO.

Reference (Deposit): REPORT 19, 39 PP.

Reference (Deposit): 6 PP.

Reference (Deposit): NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, 1978,

Reference (Deposit): AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: U. S. BUREAU OF MINES RI 4213,

Reference (Deposit): JOHNSON, F. T., AND S. RICKER, 1948, IONE-CARBONDALE CLAYS,

Reference (Deposit): PAMPHLET, 8 PP.

Reference (Deposit): INTERPACE CORPORATION, IONE CALCINE: UNDATED COMPANY

Reference (Deposit): BUREAU OF MINES, RI 8366, 15 PP.

Reference (Deposit): RECOVERING BYPRODUCT HEAVY MINERALS FROM SAND AND GRAVEL,

Reference (Deposit): GOMEZ, J. M., G. M. MARTINEZ, AND M. M. WONG, 1979,

Reference (Deposit): -----, MARKETS, DECEMBER 1982, P. 17.

Reference (Deposit): MINING, 1976, P. 141; 1977, P. 168.

Reference (Deposit): ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

Reference (Deposit): CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES BULL. 176, PP. 131-136.

Reference (Deposit): CLEVELAND, G. B., 1957, MINERAL COMMODITIES OF CALIFORNIA:

Reference (Deposit): MINES AND GEOLOGY, SPECIAL REPORT 117, 27 PP.

Reference (Deposit): CALAVERAS COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF

Reference (Deposit): GATIONS IN THE IONE AREA, AMADOR, SACRAMENTO, AND

Reference (Deposit): CHAPMAN, R. H. AND C. C. BISHOP, 1975, GEOPHYSICAL INVESTI-

Reference (Deposit): 215-225.

Reference (Deposit): JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, V. 50, NO. 1, PP. 150-151,

Reference (Deposit): RESOURCES OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: IN CALIFORNIA

Reference (Deposit): CARLSON, D. W., AND W. B. CLARK, 1954, MINES AND MINERAL

Reference (Deposit): PLACER GOLD, AND INDUSTRIAL MINERAL OPERATIONS. U. S.

Reference (Deposit): ILMENITE, P. 70-71; ZIRCON, P. 176-177.

Reference (Deposit): CONTRACT NO. JO255026.

Reference (Deposit): U. S. BUREAU OF MINES, 1983, MINERAL COMMODITY SUMMARIES:

Reference (Deposit): ESTIMATING SYSTEM HANDBOOK: U. S. BUREAU OF MINES,

Reference (Deposit): STRAAM ENGINEERS, INC. 1979, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COST

Reference (Deposit): MEETING, OCTOBER 29, 1964, 9 PP.

Reference (Deposit): AT AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY 17TH PACIFIC COAST REGIONAL

Reference (Deposit): RIKY, R. AND H. HEYSTEK, IONE AREA CLAYS: PAPER PRESENTED

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.