Blue Lady Mine (Blue Tourmaline claim; San Diego group; Blue Bell deposit), Chihuahua Valley, Warner Springs District, San Diego Co., California, USA

Whoe'er she be,
That not impossible She,
That shall command my heart and me.
-Crashaw, Wishes to His (Supposed) Mistress

Setting:

Chihuahua Valley is located in the extreme northern portion of San Diego County just south of the Riverside County border. Elevations range from approximately 3,900 to 6,000 ft (1,190 m to 1,830 m). Dense chaparral covers most of the Chihuahua Valley area, combined with sparse live oak woodlands occurring along drainages. The Blue Lady mine is located in the eastern portion of the peninsular ranges batholith province. Typical of the province, plutonic rock types in the area consist of tonalite, granodiorite-granite. These rocks are usually associated with outlying components of schist and gneiss. Numerous gem and rare metal bearing pegmatites outcrop which range in thickness between 3 and 20 feet, and generally strike north to northwest along the surface.

History:

Discovered in 1905 by Bert Simmons of nearby Oak Grove who staked a lode mining claim along 1500 feet of the layered pegmatite vein series named "Blue Tourmaline". In 1906, Simmons explored the deposit extensively by developing open cuts and several short tunnels in search of gem-quality blue tourmaline (indicolite). These workings were reported to have been abandoned around 1907.

The next discovery made at the mine was described in Waldemar T. Schaller's 1916 report on U.S. mineral resources for the United States Geological Survey. Schaller's report detailed the circumstances behind the Roy Carson tourmaline discovery which was described as a "rich pocket". Carson and his associates E. L. Haney, and D. H. A. Fiske, located three lode mining claims known as the "San Diego, Panama, and Exposition" which covered the area of Simmons' abandoned workings. Carson's group of claims were thoroughly examined by Schaller as a potential source for high-grade tin, due to irregular masses and imperfect crystals of cassiterite which had been discovered. At this time Schaller described "about a hatful of small blue tourmalines" obtained from the cassiterite-bearing pocket.

In 1983, several lode mining claims were once again staked over the old workings by Mark Carter of Long Beach, and Bill Magee of Pala. Working with several partners including Magee's son Lance, Dave Morrow of Pala and Bill Carmona of Chino, work proceeded to extend existing underground development headings. Drilling, blasting and mucking, the group closely followed the enriched sections of the gem-bearing pegmatite. Several hundred feet of interconnected irregular drifts and rooms were constructed which effectively honeycombed the area of historic production. The group encountered many large pockets which produced considerably outstanding specimens. Witnesses account the discovery of several hundred pounds of quartz crystals, as well as several kilos of blue tourmaline pencils. One remarkable specimen recovered during this period was an intensely colored and well formed orangey pink beryl crystal (morganite), which measures 20 cm across, with a bright grayish white quartz point attached to its side. This aesthetically pleasing large beryl with quartz was acquired in 1986 by the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, where it is currently on display to the public within the California Minerals exhibit.

Between 1990 and 1999, Carter worked weekends at the mine with several local prospectors including Otto Komarek, Byron Wegee and Jim Clanin of Pala, often assisted by Arthur McCollum of Sun City. Mechanized excavation along the edge of the existing roadway adjacent and north of the underground development encountered pockets of significance which produced many specimens of blue tourmaline, aquamarine, garnet and quartz.

Note: The mine is currently located on property managed by San Diego State University for the public purpose of botanical study, and federal law forbids the disposal or sale of the mineral estate by the University during such studies. University regulations warn all visitors to not collect, remove, or disturb any natural elements or organisms on the Field Station without first obtaining state and federal permits and the permission of the Field Station Director. Please notify the Field Station Director of any violations you observe at the Field Station.

References:

Gastil, R. C. 1975. Plutonic zones in the peninsular ranges of southern California and northern Baja California. Geology 3(7):361-363.

Gochenour, K. 2002. Personal communication with S. L. Ritchie, SDMC, 2002. Tustin, Orange County, CA; March.

Ritchie, S. L. 2006. Blue Lady Mine Centennial: 1905-2005. SDMC, Temecula, Riverside County, CA; February.

Schaller, W. T. 1916. Cassiterite in San Diego County California. Contributions to economic geology, 1915, Part 1. USGS Bulletin: (p. 351-354) 620-p.

Schaller, W. T. 1919. Gems and precious stones. Mineral Resources U.S., 1916, pt. 2: p. 887-889.

Weber, F. H. 1963. Geology and mineral resources of San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology, County Report 3: 309 p., illus., maps.

Abstract:

A series of relatively shallow tunnels into the mountain in a pegmatite deposit. This mine (and rock on the dump) shows a superb display of the "line rock" above and below the pegmatite vein. According to D. Peeler, this is where a cavity allowed fluid and gases to collect and interaction over time with the surrounding country rock. One can visualize them as "bath tub rings" showing the effects of local contact metamorphism. They are alternating bands where muscovite, then garnet, and then possibly a few other minerals have concentrated based on distance out from the pocket and chemical interaction between the penetrating vein fluid/gases and the country rock over time. The bands may be seen to repeat from the inside out as the vein cools and crystallization depletes the fluid/gas phases.

REF: Deposit: U.S. GEOL. SURVEY BULLETIN 620, 1915, P. 352.
CALIF. DIV. MINES AND GEOL. COUNTY REPORT 3, 1963, P. 89.
Commodities (Major) - Tin; (Trace) - Gemstone
Development Status: Past Producer