Overview:
Located on the southeast flank of Cahuilla Mountain, is the Lithia Dike mine (Lithia Dyke: NE/4 Section 16, T7S, R2E, SBM). A long forgotten pegmatite locality rediscovered by Phil Osborn of nearby Hemet in early 1970’s which was claimed as the Lithia Dyke lode, and has been worked intermittently thereafter by various parties as recently as 1997. Several pounds of fine gem-quality Elbaite (vars: Rubellite, Verdelite, and multi-colored) were produced as a result of minor underground development and later mechanized surface exploration activities. Several large and lustrous Schorl crystals, minor amounts of garnet group minerals (specs: Spessartine, Almandine), Spodumene (vars: Kunzite, Triphane), and Beryl (var: Morganite) were encountered while mining two parallel NW striking, NE dipping complex pegmatites ranging from 1 to 10 feet in thickness. An early report specifically mentions the discovery of Columbite occurring with Albite (var: Cleavelandite). (Fisher 1944; Geffner and Fisher 1997)
References:
Fisher, D. J., (1944) Some of southern California pegmatites: unpublished manuscript, U.S. Geological Survey.
Geffner, P. and Fisher, J. (1997) Recent Work at the Lithia Dyke Claim, Cahuilla Mountain, Riverside County, California. Rocks & Minerals, 72 (3): pp. 156-161.
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Map Reference: 33°34'6"N , 116°46'21"W
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Mineral List:17 entries listed. 10 valid minerals.
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