Pala Chief Mine (Chief mine; MS 6452; Salmons mine), Chief Mountain, Pala, Pala Mining District, San Diego County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Pala Chief Mine (Chief mine; MS 6452; Salmons mine) | Mine |
| Chief Mountain | Mountain |
| Pala | Town |
| Pala Mining District | Mining District |
| San Diego County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
33° 23' 15'' North , 117° 3' 5'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow | 1,832 (2011) | 9.3km |
| Temecula | 112,011 (2017) | 14.8km |
| Aguanga | 1,128 (2011) | 18.3km |
| Fallbrook | 30,534 (2011) | 18.6km |
| Valley Center | 9,277 (2011) | 18.9km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. | Fallbrook, California | 19km |
| Vista Gem & Mineral Society | Vista, California | 27km |
| Palomar Gem & Mineral Club | Escondido, California | 30km |
Mindat Locality ID:
3520
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:3520:3
GUID (UUID V4):
ed9172c8-472d-49ef-a16a-6fb05e736af2
Summary:
A gemstone and specimen mine in pegmatite located near the village of Pala, San Diego County, California. The Pala Chief mine has been the source of some of the finest kunzite crystals ever found in southern California. The deposit was first discovered in May of 1903, and developed by several open cuts and minor underground works until mining ceased sometime around 1914. Occasional finds of spodumene and elbaite were made again in the mid 1960's, and notable finds still occur as a result of ongoing surface and underground mining operations.
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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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bismuth | 1.CA.05 | Bi |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Bismuthinite | 2.DB.05 | Bi2S3 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Gahnite | 4.BB.05 | ZnAl2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 | |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Pucherite | 8.AD.40 | Bi(VO4) |
| ⓘ | Phosphosiderite | 8.CD.05 | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Almandine | 9.AD.25 | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Andalusite | 9.AF.10 | Al2(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Beryl var. Morganite | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| ⓘ | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) | |
| ⓘ | var. Aquamarine | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| ⓘ | Foitite ? | 9.CK.05 | ◻(Fe2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Elbaite | 9.CK.05 | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Schorl | 9.CK.05 | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Spodumene var. Kunzite | 9.DA.30 | LiAlSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | 9.DA.30 | LiAlSi2O6 | |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Montmorillonite | 9.EC.40 | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Cookeite | 9.EC.55 | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Microcline | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite var. Cleavelandite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) | |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Lepidolite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Zinnwaldite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Feldspar Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ | 'Garnet Group' | - | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Phosphosiderite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Li | Lithium | |
| Li | ⓘ Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| Li | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Li | ⓘ Spodumene var. Kunzite | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Li | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Be | Beryllium | |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl var. Morganite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| O | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Spodumene var. Kunzite | LiAlSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Beryl var. Morganite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Phosphosiderite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Albite var. Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| O | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Na | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Na | ⓘ Albite var. Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Al | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Al | ⓘ Spodumene var. Kunzite | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Al | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl var. Morganite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Al | ⓘ Albite var. Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Si | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Spodumene var. Kunzite | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl var. Morganite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Albite var. Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Phosphosiderite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| V | Vanadium | |
| V | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Foitite | ◻(Fe22+Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Phosphosiderite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismuth | Bi |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| Bi | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
Localities in this Region
- California
- San Diego County
- Pala Mining District
- Pala
- Chief Mountain
- Pala Chief Mine (Chief mine; MS 6452; Salmons mine)
- Chief Mountain
- Pala
- Pala Mining District
- San Diego County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America Plate
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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References
Pala Chief Mine, Chief Mountain, Pala, Pala Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA