Commodities
PrimaryZinc, Lead, Silver
SecondaryCopper, Gold
Commodity typeM
Deposit
Deposit typeHydrothermal stock, massive; Hydrothermal vein and replacement
Model72: Polymetallic replacement
Orebody formPipe; Tabular, lens
Ore controlSilver-lead ores formed as 1) massive low silica pipe-like replacement and fissure filling bodies formed in marble at the intersection of northerly and northwesterly fracture sets and 2) replacement of marble and infiling of fractures. by both low silica and high silica ore solutions. Zinc ores deposited as supergene precipitates.
Materials
Ore mineralsGalena, Tetrahedrite, Cerussite, Anglesite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Smithsonite, Hydrozincite
GangueMarble, Shale, Limonite
Geology
Host rockMarble,Diabase · "Lost Burro Formation", "Jefferson Diabase Dike"
Associated rockMonzonite,Porphyry,Andesite,Dacite,Shale,Limestone · "Union Dike", "Green Porphyry Dike", "Chainman Shale", "Tin Mountain Limestone"
StructureSwansea-Coso Thrust System, Cerro Gordo Anticline, Cerro Gordo Anticline, Cerro Gordo Fault, Buena Vista Fault, La Despreciada Fault, Omega Fault
Tectonic settingPassive continental margin
AlterationNegligible
Economic & production
Development statusPast Producer
Discovery year1865
Identification
Deposit ID10310600
Alternate namesBousey Silver, Omega Group, Cerro Gordo Mine, Union Mine, Ignacio Mine, San Filipe Mine, Santa Maria Mine, Morningstar Mine, Hart Mine, Newtown Mine, Belmont Mine, Perseverance Mine, Ella Mine, Summit No. 2 Mine, Armagh Mine, Hebrew Mt. Claim, Crag Claim, Mormon Claim, San Filipe Claim, Jefferson Claim, Santa Maria claim, Native Son Claim, Enterprise claim, Gentile Claim, Union Lead, Union Placer claim, Ragged Edge claim, Pagan claim, Omega claim, November claim, Bluff claim, Northern Star Claim, Bluejay Claim, La Despreciada Claim, Consolidated Group
RegionNA
Data scoreA
Coordinates36.53774, -117.78758
References
De Decker, M, 1993, Mines of the Eastern Sierra, La Siesta Press, Glendale, California, pp 57-65.Merriam, C. W., 1963, Geology of the Cerro Gordo Mining District, Inyo County, California: U. S. Geological Survey Profession Paper 408, 83 p.Nadeau, R. A., 1965, City-makers, the story of southern California's first boom, 1868-76, Trans-Anglo Books, 168 p.Nadeau, R. A., 1965, Ghost towns and mining camps of California, Ward Ritchie Press, 278 p.Tucker, W. B. and Sampson, R. J., 1938, Mineral resources of Inyo County, in California Journal of Mines and Geology, vol 34, no. 4, pp. 431 -434.Miscellaneous information on the Cerro Gordo District is contained in File Number 322-7211 (CGS Mineral Resources Files, Sacramento)