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Beebe Hole Mine, Mt. Tule, Jacumba District, San Diego Co., California, USA

Summary:

A 12- to 15-ft-thick pegmatite dike strikes north 22 degrees west, and is exposed intermittently for about 1/2 mile in schist and quartzite. Faulting of the dike has caused the dip to range from 5 degrees to 60 degrees southwest. Pockets within the dike have gem minerals of quartz, goshenite, aquamarine, and kunzite. In addition to gem minerals, minor concentrations of lithiophilite, cassiterite, cleavelandite, columbite/tantalite, black tourmaline (schorl), and mica were observed. Most pockets are filled with montmorillonite clay. Pockets range in size from a few inches to several feet; with three to five pockets commonly occurring within these zones of enrichment.

Workings & Production:

Three adits, each less than 20 feet long, and one open cut. According to Loren Beebe's co-partner Fred Stevens, $500.000 in gem quality kunzite was produced from pockets found between 1974 and 1986. He further stated that several thousand dollars of aquamarine was produced during the early 1980's.

Sample Data:

According to the USGS, it is highly probable that additional gem-bearing pockets will be found in this deposit. No samples were taken in 1986 for analysis. Four zones with multiple pockets within the pegmatite were observed to contain small quantities of gem-quality aquamarine, kunzite, and quartz.



References:
CALIF. STATE MINING BUR. BULLETIN 37, 1905, P. 26-27.

CALIF. STATE MINING BUR. REPORT 14, 1914, P. 703-705.

CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOL., V. 35, 1939, P. 37-38.

CALIF. DIV. MINES AND GEOL. COUNTY REPORT 3, 1963, NO. 6, P. 11.

Todd, V. R. et al. 1987. Mineral Resources of the Sawtooth Mountains and Carrizo Gorge/ Eastern McCain Valley Wilderness Study Areas, San Diego County, California. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1711-B, 26 p., maps.

U.S. BUR. MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 23-85, 1985, TABLE 1, NO. 6, P. 11.





Map Reference: 32°43'3"N , 116°13'52"W

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Mineral List:
Albite
var: Cleavelandite
'Apatite'
Apatite-(CaF)
Beryl
var: Aquamarine
var: Goshenite
var: Morganite
Cassiterite
Columbite
Herderite
Lithiophilite
'Mica Group'
Microcline
Montmorillonite
Muscovite
Purpurite
Quartz
Schorl
Spessartine
Spodumene
var: Kunzite
Tantalite
'Tourmaline'


24 entries listed. 14 valid minerals.

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Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Jobs in California, USA Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 22nd Nov 2009 08:27:48