Christmas Gift Mine, Ophir Mountain, Darwin Mining District, Darwin Hills, Inyo County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Christmas Gift Mine | Mine |
| Ophir Mountain | Mountain |
| Darwin Mining District | Mining District |
| Darwin Hills | Group of Hills |
| Inyo County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 18' 13'' North , 117° 35' 35'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
17525
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:17525:5
GUID (UUID V4):
9e71138d-2ed1-4108-8be1-8deb4a275992
A Christmas Gift to all - entered into MinDat, December 25, 2002.
A former Pb-Ag-Au-Cu mine located in sec. 11 & 12, T19S, R40E, MDM, 1.6 km (1.0 mile) NNE of Ophir Mountain (coordinates of record), and about 2.5 miles N of Darwin (at the end of a Jeep track with a loop like the eye of a needle (see Geologic Map in Special Report 51)). MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 10 meters. Updated description and position N36.303540 W117.5929999 by Richard Muster, coordinates taken at the remains of the Christmas Gift shaft in the year 2009 using an Ashtech MM6 device.
The New Coso Mining Co. obtained the Lucky Jim and Christmas Gift Mines in 1875, and they developed both properties rapidly. Up to 1877 the production amounted for both mines to approximately 227,000 ounces of Ag and 1,900,000 pounds of Pb. The Christmas Gift mine was worked extensively in 1875 and 1876
In 1894 the Skinner family took over the mine and it was operated with interruptions until 1948. From 1894 until 1926 it produced about 970,000 pounds of Pb, 82,000 pounds of Ag, 11,000 pounds of Cu and 68 ounces of Au.
Mineralization is a Pb-Ag-Cu-Au deposit hosted in calc-hornfels. The ore body strikes N40E and dips 80NW, at a length of 91.44 meters. Stratified tactite has been intruded by numerous dikes and irregular offshoots from the Darwin granodiorite stock. It is also cut by an intricate system of fissures and faults. he tactite strikes N30W, and dips S30-40W. Local rocks include Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 2 (SE California Carbonate Assemblage).
Local geologic structures include a fault located on 200 feet NE of the shaft. It strikes N70E and dips 75S.
Workings include underground openings with a length of 1,036.32 meters and an overall depth of 121.92 meters, and comprised of a 400 foot vertical shaft and 3,000 feet of drifts (per USGS MRDS database). The mine workings consisted of 5 deeper shafts and a number of shallower shafts, plus several adits with a total length of 600 feet, with many crosscuts.
The Christmas Gift shaft was sunk on the vein to a depth of 250 feet, and a wince extends 126 feet below the 250-foot level. There are approximately 3,000 feet of drifts from the shafts and the winze. The Johnny John shaft is reported by Norm and Stewart (1951, p. 59) to be 250 feet deep, but is now inaccessible. The other 3 shafts are 90 to 100 feet deep.
Production data are found in: Goodwin, Joseph Grant (1957).
Estimated production (as presented in the USGS MRDS database): $500,000 (period values); assaying 15-30% Pb, 20-30 ounces Ag/ton, plus a little Au.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Anglesite Formula: PbSO4 |
| ⓘ Aragonite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Colour: White Fluorescence: Bright orange (SW UV). Description: Very unusual banded, massive calcite (based on analysis) fluorescent bright orange and appearing identical to fluorescent wollastonite. |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| ⓘ Diopside Formula: CaMgSi2O6 |
| ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Hemimorphite Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O Habit: Radial groups Description: Occurs as radial groups of crystals. |
| ⓘ Hydrozincite Formula: Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ 'Jasper' |
| ⓘ Luzonite Formula: Cu3AsS4 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ 'Tennantite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ Wollastonite Formula: Ca3(Si3O9) Description: Abundant. Also occurs as large crystals in the contact limestones of this area. References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | 'Tennantite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ | Luzonite | 2.KA.10 | Cu3AsS4 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Aragonite | 5.AB.15 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Hydrozincite | 5.BA.15 | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anglesite | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Hemimorphite | 9.BD.10 | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Wollastonite | 9.DG.05 | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Jasper' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10211798 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Antler Foreland BasinBasin
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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References
