Gibraltar Mine

The Gibraltar Mine is a mercury mine located in Santa Barbara county, California at an elevation of 1,499 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: Gibraltar Mine
Secondary: Falcon
Secondary: Santa Ynez Group

Commodity

Primary: Mercury

Location

State: California
County: Santa Barbara

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

Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Gibralter Mining Co.
Home Office: California
Info Year: 1982

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Unknown
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1874
Discovery Year: 1860
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Los Angeles Ranges

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Unknown: Cinnabar

Comments

Comment (Deposit): A 15 PERCENT CONTINGENCY IS ADDED TO MINE CAP AND OP COSTS BECAUSE ADDITIONAL PUMPING COST MAY BE REQUIRED WHEN WORKINGS DEEPEN BELOW WATER LEVEL OF GIBRALTER RESERVOIR RETORT RECOVERY FOR MCDERMITT USED REPORTED TO VARY FROM 99.95 TO 99.97 PERCENT OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY NOW DISPUTED

Comment (Reserve-Resource): OTHER NAMES:FALCON, SANTA YNEZ GROUP. REMAINING OP LIFE: 5.9 YR. @ 78.4 MT HG/YR. PAST PRODUCTION: 1956-61 1452 FL; 1962-65 NO PROD; 1966-73 5957 FL; 1973-89 NO PROD. DATE OF RESERVES: 1981 (SITE VISIT, WFOC).

References

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY & OTHERS FRANCISCAN ROCKS CAL DIV MIN BULL 183

Reference (Deposit): 21 REPT;STATE MINERALOGIST,P 343- OJJ

Reference (Deposit): ALBERS JOHN P ECON GEOL V76 N4 P765-790

Reference (Deposit): ELLIOTT ROY H FALCON MINE WAR MINERALS REPORT 121 BUMINES

Reference (Deposit): HOLMES GEORGE H GIBRALTER(FALCON)MINE SUPP RPT BUMINES

Reference (Deposit): BRADLEY W QUICKSILVER RESOURCES OF CA CAL ST MIN BU BULL 78

Reference (Deposit): DIBBLEE TW GEOL OF CNTRL SANTA YNEZ MTS CAL DIV MIN BULL 186

Reference (Deposit): LANGER & OTHERS SCIENCE VOL 215 NO 4531

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.