Picacho Mining District, Chocolate Mountains, Imperial County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Picacho Mining District | Mining District |
| Chocolate Mountains | Mountain Range |
| Imperial County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 57' 44'' North , 114° 38' 37'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
185306
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:185306:6
GUID (UUID V4):
aa81e03d-f746-4e48-bf24-1c5e21c5eeac
Location: The Picacho district is in southeastern Imperial County 20 miles NW of Winterhaven and about 50 miles E of El Centro and 20 miles N of Yuma, Arizona, in the southeastern Chocolate Mountains. The Colorado River is on the north side of the district, and the Chocolate Mountains extend along the southwest margin. The district was named for Picacho Peak, a prominent landmark in the area.
History: Spaniards, developing the nearby Cargo Muchacho and Potholes districts, probably mined the Picacho district as early as 1780. For many years, Mexicans and Indians mined the area by small-scale dry washing methods. Small hand-operated bellows-type washers were employed, or winnowing was done with blankets. Virtually every dry wash in the region was
worked in this fashion, and many small tailings piles from these operations are still visible. Attempts were made to hydraulic the area during the 1890's. The Picacho or Picacho Basin Mine, the largest source of gold in the district, was worked on a large scale from 1904 to 1910. The reported output was $2 million. During this operation the ore was treated in a mill near the Colorado River. The mine was sampled in the 1930's, but there has been only minor prospecting in the district since, and the site of the old town of Picacho on the river was recently made into a state recreation area.
Geology: The central part of the district, which is in a shallow basin, is underlain by interbedded granitic rocks and mica and hornblende schists. A number of diorite dikes may be associated with the gold mineralization. The ridges surrounding the basin and Picacho Peak are composed of andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolite tuff.
Ore Deposits: The ore deposits consist of parallel, thin, gold-bearing stringers in schist. Although the ore bodies at the Picacho Mine contained only a few dollars of gold per ton, several were quite large. The last ore shoot worked at this mine was 250 feet long and 160 feet wide. The placer deposits in the various dry washes usually were shallow and discontinuous. The gold particles were very fine.
A few peridots of good quality have been reported from the gravels of the Picacho region.
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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities19 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
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Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
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Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Silver | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
| ⓘ | Gold var. Electrum | 1.AA.05 | (Au,Ag) |
| ⓘ | 1.AA.05 | Au | |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS with Ag |
| ⓘ | 2.CD.10 | PbS | |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Tenorite | 4.AB.10 | CuO |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Forsterite | 9.AC.05 | Mg2SiO4 |
| ⓘ | var. Peridot | 9.AC.05 | Mg2SiO4 |
| ⓘ | Dumortierite | 9.AJ.10 | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Microcline | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Dumortierite | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Dumortierite | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| O | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| O | ⓘ Forsterite var. Peridot | Mg2SiO4 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
| Mg | ⓘ Forsterite var. Peridot | Mg2SiO4 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Dumortierite | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| Al | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Dumortierite | Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3) |
| Si | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
| Si | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Forsterite var. Peridot | Mg2SiO4 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| K | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Gold var. Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| Ag | ⓘ Silver | Ag |
| Ag | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Gold var. Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| Au | ⓘ Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
Localities in this Region
- California
- Imperial County
- Chocolate Mountains
- Picacho Mining District
- Blue Jacket Mine
- Pebble Mountain
- Picacho
- Butler prospect
- Butterfly and Pinto deposit
- Central claim
- Crescent Placer Mine
- Georgia Placer Mine
- Golden Eagle Mine (Telluride Mine)
- Good Site
- Gulch Placer Mine (California Picacho; Picacho Basin placers)
- H. J. R. Research 51 Project prospect
- H. J. R. Research Project prospect
- Harp prospect
- Kohl Placer Mine
- Picacho Copper Mine (Picacho Mine; Picacho Glance; Copper Glance Mine; Copper King Mine)
- Red Fox Mine
- St. Anthony Mine
- Picacho Mining District
- Chocolate Mountains
- Imperial County
- California
- Imperial County
- Chocolate Mountains
- Picacho Mining District
- Picacho
- St. Joseph Mine (Gold Prince; Golden Dream Mine; Gold Princess; Gold Queen; Oriental; Oro Blanco; Ponce De Leon; Alfonso; Gold Crown; Alcyon; Gold Hill; White Gold Basin Mine; Jita)
- Unnamed Ag occurrence [3] (Quartz-Schist outcrop)
- Unnamed Ag occurrence [4] (Quartz-Schist outcrop)
- Unnamed Ag occurrence [5] (Quartz-Schist outcrop)
- Unnamed Ag prospect [2]
- Unnamed Cu-Ag prospect [2]
- Unspecified occurrences at or near Picacho
- Wallace-Spencer Mine
- Zimmer prospect
- Picacho Peak
- California Picacho Mine
- Gaviland Copper claims (Wallace prospect)
- Indian Rose Mine
- Iron Gold Bearer Mine
- Little Gold Reef Mine
- Little Tinner Mine
- Mendeville Mine (Meniville group of claims)
- Monte Carlo Mine
- Picacho Mine (Picacho Gold Mine; Goshen; Helen May; Tierra Rica; Mina Rica; St. George; California Gold King; Picacho Basin; Golden Rule; Venus; Jayne; Golden Casket; Dulciana; Mars)
- Quien Sabe prospect (Quion Sabe prospect)
- Roadside Mine (Picacho Peak project; Christie)
- Sagebrush Mine
- Sweet Potatoes Mine
- Unnamed Dumortierite occurrence [2]
- Wallace prospect
- Picacho
- Picacho Mining District
- Chocolate Mountains
- Imperial County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America
- Sonoran DesertDesert
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
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References
