A Ag-Pb-Cu-Sb-Zn-Cd mining area located in secs. 12, 13, 23 & 24, T16S, R38E, MDM.
This mining district lies near the summit of the Inyo Range, 5½ miles by air and 8 miles by a steep mountain road from Keeler, on the shore of Owens Lake. Discovered by Mexican prospectors in the early 1860's. Substantive production commenced in 1869 after Americans took over the area. Production was between $6.5 to $20 million (period values). Ores mined were initially lead-silver (argentiferous galena, and a little dark sphalerite). Rich ores mined in the early days consisted of lenticular masses of massive cerussite, 5 or 6 feet diameter, in the limestone. These masses were concentrically banded, and usually had a small core of unaltered galena. Tetrahedrite and Pyrite were prominent in the one primary vein. About 1911, zinc carbonate ores were discovered. The region consists of a series of westward dipping Carboniferous rocks (mainly limestone) with intrusive dikes of diorite and monzonite, nearly parallel to the bedding. An underlying mass of monzonite porphyry outcrops to the North of the mines.
Mineral List
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References
Raymond, Rossiter Worthington (1871), Statistics of mines and mining in the states and territories west of the Rocky Mountains: 42nd. Cong., 2nd. sess., H. Ex. Doc. 211, 566 pp.: 30.
Raymond, Rossiter Worthington (1875a), Statistics of the Mines and mining in the states and territories west of the Rocky Mountains: 43rd Cong., 2nd. sess., H. Ex. Doc. 177, (1874): 29,31.
Silliman, Benjamin, Jr. (1873b), Mineralogical notes on Utah, California, and Nevada, with a description of priceite a new borate of lime: American Journal of Science, 3rd. series: 6: 126-133; […Engineering & Mining Journal: 16: 82, 98-99]: 131.
Raymond, Rossiter Worthington (1875b), Mines and mining in the states and territories west of the Rocky Mountains: 44th. Cong., 1st. sess., H. Ex. Doc. 159, 519 pp.: 29.
Loew, Oscar (1876), Report on the geological and mineralogical character of southeastern California and adjacent regions: US Geog. Surveys W. 100th Meridian Report 1876, ap. H2: 186.
Wheeler, G.M. (1876), Annual report upon the geographical surveys west of the 100th meridian in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana: 44th. Cong., 2nd. sess., H. Ex. Doc. 1, pt. 2, vol. 2, pt. 3 app J.J.: 62.
Hanks, Henry Garber (1884), Fourth report of the State Mineralogist: California Mining Bureau. Report 4, 410 pp. (includes catalog of minerals of California pp. 63-410), and miscellaneous observations on mineral products): 71, 178.
Irelan, William, Jr. (1890a), Ninth annual report of the State Mineralogist: California Mining Bureau. Report 9, 352 pp.: 47.
Reid, John A. (1907), Some ore deposits in the Inyo Range, California: Mining and Scientific Press: 5: 80-82.
Eakle, Arthur Starr (1908), Notes on some California minerals: University of California, Department of Geological Science Bulletin: 5: 225.
Rogers, Austin Flint (1912b), Notes on rare minerals from California: Columbia University, School of Mines Quarterly: 33: 374-375.
Knopf, Adolf (1914a), The Darwin silver-lead mining district, California: USGS Bulletin 580: 1-18; […(abstract): Geol. Zentralbl., Band 21: 597]: 7.
Knopf, Adolf (1914b), Mineral resources of the Inyo and White Mountains, California: USGS Bulletin 540: 96-107.
Knopf, Adolf (1918a), A geologic reconnaissance of the Inyo Range and the eastern slope of the southern Sierra Nevada, California; with a section on the stratigraphy of the Inyo Range, y Edwin Kirk; USGS PP 110, 130 pp.; […(abstract): Washington Academy of Science Journal: 9: 414 (1919)]: 114-117.
Waring, Clarence A. & E. Huguenin (1919), Inyo County: California Mining Bureau. Report 15: 95, 108.
Webb, R.W. (1935), Tetradymite from Inyo Mountains, California: American Mineralogist: 20: 399-400.
Kelley, Vincent Cooper (1938), Geology and ore deposits of the Darwin silver-lead mining district, Inyo County, California: California Division Mines Report 34: 543.
Tucker, W. Burling & Reid J. Sampson (1938), Mineral resources of Inyo County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology: 34(4): 432.
Merriam, Charles Warren (1963), Geology of the Cerro Gordo Mining District, Inyo County, California: USGS PP 408, 83 pp.: 43, 60, 69, 76-78.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1964a), Minerals new to California: The Mineralogist: 32 (August 1964): 16.
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 49-50, 75, 93, 107, 112, 172, 187, 190, 207, 244, 257, 266, 305, 314, 324, 338, 342, 354, 362, 363, 544.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 46, 86, 101, 125, 133, 184, 188, 231, 234, 300, 324, 513, 515.
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