Cryo-Genie Mine (Cindy B-Cryogenie; Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect), Warner Springs, Warner Springs District, San Diego Co., California, USA

Location:

The Cryo-Genie mine is located in the N½ Sec. 14, T10S, R3E (SB), approximately 2 miles NNW of Warner Springs, and several hundred feet E of Lost Valley road.

Geology:

The deposit consists of a granite pegmatite dike, enclosed in hybrid rocks, which is exposed just southwest of the crest of a small hill. The dike strikes northward, dips about 30 degrees west, is about 10 feet thick, and can be traced laterally for at least 200 feet. The dike can be divided into 3 zones: (1) a lower zone, about 4 to 5 feet thick, which is chiefly graphic granite; (2) a core, about 1 ft. thick, which is composed of quartz, albite (including variety cleavelandite), muscovite, lepidolite, tourmaline, garnet, and allanite; and (3) an upper zone, 4 to 5 feet thick, which is medium- to coarse-grained graphic granite with muscovite, and black tourmaline crystals as long as 9 inches. The tourmaline crystals of the core commonly range in color from solid black to crystals with black cores and grass green exteriors. Weber also noted in 1958 that core zone produced tourmalines which were pale blue, pale pink, and colorless crystals. These pale crystals were described as thin and averaged less than 1/2 inch to 1 inch in length, with the smallest crystals being gemmy. The discovery in 2001 proved that these smaller crystals in the core zone were exposed along the outer margins of much larger mineralization further down dip. The remarkable 1.8 x 1.5 x 0.9-meter pocket yielded bright pink tourmaline crystals to 25 cm long and 10 cm across.

History:

A miarolitic tourmaline-bearing granitic pegmatite located near the town of Warner Springs in northeastern San Diego County. First referenced to as the Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect in 1958, the deposit was probably worked during the 1910s or 1920s when it was explored by shallow cuts and trenches along the outcrop. Periodic hand work was performed by hobbyists and amateur collectors during the 1960s. The current name was bestowed by Bart Cannon, who held the claim during the 1970s and 1980s. The mine was acquired in the late 1980s by current owner Dana Gochenhour, who, along with the assistance of mine engineer Jim Clanin embarked on a major development of the site in 2001. A major discovery of pink elbaite was made in spring, 2001 and again in September, 2002. In 2003 a major beryl pocket was found.

References:
Weber, F. H. (1963a), Geology and mineral resources of San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology, County Report 3: 102, 106; illus., maps.

Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California: 364, 431, 486, 504.

Fisher, J. (2002), Gem and rare-element pegmatites of southern California. Mineralogical Record 33(5): 363-407.

Kampf, A. R., et al (2003), Tourmaline Discovery at the Cryo-Genie Mine, San Diego County, California, Rocks & Minerals 78(3), 156-168.

Bureau of Land Management (2007), Cindy B-Cryogenie Lode Claim, San Diego County, California: Serial Number Index of Claims, United States Department of Interior; Sept.