Elizabeth R. Mine, Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA

The Elizabeth R. mine is located in the N2SE4SE4 Sec. 14, T9S R2W SBM, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Pala, on the northwest slope of Chief Mountain. The mine is adjacent to and north of the Pala Chief mine, and west of the Oceanview mine. A number of complex pegmatites occur on the property, some of which have produced gem quality crystals of beryl and tourmaline.

A claim to the deposit was first made in 1907 by Frank A. Salmons, and was named Hazel W. in honor of Salmons' wife. The Hazel W. was part of the group of lode mining claims controlled by The Pala Chief Gem Mining Company for several decades, however, the original claim was considered abandoned by the early 1950's.

A later claim to the Hazel W. deposit was purchased by Roland Reed from M. Myers & Barker in April of 1974, and renamed the Elizabeth R. in honor of Reed's wife. For nearly three decades, underground development in this area by Reed and his crew produced outstanding morganite, aquamarine, some polychrome tourmaline, kunzite, and accessory minerals such lepidolite, apatite, lithium phosphates, columbite, tantalite, quartz and feldspar.

The most recent adit and underground workings located on the Elizabeth R. mine property are referred to as the "Oceanview mine". Work began in 2000 by Jeffrey Swanger and Stephen Koonce of Escondido, Philip Osborn of Hemet, and Otto Komarek of Pala. This new adit was constructed in order to intersect the pegmatite further down dip at a point west of the Oceanview lode property boundaries, and serves as the main underground haulageway for modern mechanized hardrock mining operations. These underground workings run east for approximately 60 feet, then follow the Oceanview pegmatite laterally along strike, heading south to southwestward for a distance of over 400 feet.

Also see the Francis and Hazel W. prospects, which are also located on the Elizabeth R. property.

References:
Bureau of Land Management, 2009. San Diego County, CA: Serial Number Index of Case Records, United States Department of Interior; Feb.

Fisher, J. 2002. Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record 33(5): 388-389.

Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14.

Mroch, W. 2008. The History of the Oceanview Gem Mine. Gem and Mineral Exploration Company. Cypress, Orange County, California. May. http://www.digforgems.com/hist.htm]

Osborn, P. 2007. Personal communication between Phil Osborn of Hemet and Scott L. Ritchie; Overview of work including adit development, petrology, lithology, bonanza pocket zone encountered, and gemstones recovered during the Oceanview mining operation. Feb.

Rocks & Minerals: 63:21.

Sinkankas, J. 1997. Gemstones of North America. Vol. 3. Beryl; Tucson, Arizona: Geoscience Press Inc.; pages 57-58, 526 pp.