Darwin Mines

Inyo County, California, United States

TungstenZincLeadSilverCopperGold

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Commodities

PrimaryTungsten, Zinc, Lead, Silver

SecondaryCopper, Gold

Commodity typeM

Deposit

Deposit typeHydrothermal stock, massive; Hydrothermal vein and replacement

Model72: Polymetallic replacement

Orebody formPipe; Tabular, lens

Ore controlLead-silver-zinc ores formed as 1) bedded and replacement bodies at the intersection of fracture trends in proximity to igneous intrusives and 2) fissure filing deposits.

Materials

Ore mineralsSilver, Galena, Tetrahedrite, Enargite, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite, Andorite, Franckeite, Stannite, Sphalerite, Scheelite

Geology

Host rockCalc-Silicate Schist · Keeler Canyon Formation

Associated rockMonzonite · Darwin stock

StructureSwansea-Coso Thrust System, Darwin Wash Syncline, Darwin Tear Fault, Darwin Hills Anticline, Davis Thrust Fault, Standard Fault, Darwin Tear Fault

Tectonic settingPassive continental margin

AlterationExtensive upper Jurassic silicification of Keeler Canyon Formation limestones surrounding the Darwin stock intrusion. Limestones silicified into calc silicate rock, calc hornfels and tactites

Economic & production

Development statusPast Producer

Discovery year1874

Identification

Deposit ID10310607

Alternate namesBernon, Defiance, Essex, Independence, Fairbanks, Dividend, Acme, Santa Anna, Bruce, Lane, Durham, Chipmunk, Toga, Alameda, Kingman, Giroux, Ophir Mountain, Intermediate, Rip Van Winkle, Thompson, Promontory, Fernando, Custer, Hayward, St. Charles, Jackass, Wonder, Christmas Gift, Lucky Jim, Belle Union, Standard

RegionNA

Data scoreA

Coordinates36.29025, -117.59979

References

Czamanske, G. K. and Hall, W. E., 1975, The Ag-Bi-Pb-Sb-S-Se-Te mineralogy of the Darwin lead-silver-zinc deposit, southern California: Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 1092-1110.Davis, D. L., and Peterson, E. C., 1948, Anaconda's operation at Darwin mines, Inyo County, California, American Institute of Mining and metallurgical Engineers technical Publication 2407, 11 p.Eastman, H. S., 1980, Skarn genesis and sphalerite-pyrrhotite-pyrite relationships at the Darwin mine, Inyo County, California, unpublished doctorate thesis, Stanford University,Hall, W. E. and Mackevett, E. M., 1958, Economic geology of the Darwin quadrangle, Inyo County, California: California Division of Mines Special Report 51, 73 p.Hall, W. E. and Mackevett, E. M., 1962, Geology and ore deposits of the Darwin quadrangle, Inyo County, California: U. S. Geological Survey Profession Paper 368, 87 p.Hall, W. E., Rose, H. J., and Simon, F., 1971, Fractionation of minor elements between galena and sphalerite, Darwin lead-silver-zinc mine, Inyo County, California and its significance in geochemistry: Economic Geology, v. 66, p. 602-606.Kelley, V. C., 1937, Origin of the Darwin silver-lead deposits: Economic Geology, v. 32, p. 987-1008.Mc Allister, J. F., 1952 Rocks and structure of the Quartz Spring area, northern Panamint Range, California: California Division of Mines Special Report 25, 38 p.Nelson, C. A., 1981, Basin and range province, in Ernst, W. G., ed., Geotectonic development of California (Rubey Volume I): Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, p. 202-216.Norman, L. A., and Stewart, R. M., 1951, Mines and mineral resources of Inyo County: California Journal of Mines and geology, v. 47, n. 1, p. 17-223.Rye, R. O., Hall, W.E., and Ohmoto, H., 1974, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur isotope study of the Darwin lead-silver-zinc deposit, Southern California: Economic Geology, v. 69, p. 468-481.Stewart, R. M., 1966, Lead: in Mineral resources of California, California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 191, p. 216-220.Miscellaneous information on the Darwin District is contained in File Number 322-7210 (CDMG Mineral Resources Files, Sacramento) and in files of the Anaconda Geological Documents Collection at the University of Wyoming.