Corona Mines (Vallejo Mines), Twin Peaks, Calistoga, Calistoga District (Silverado District), Mayacmas Mts (Mayacamas Mts), Napa Co., California, USA

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A former Hg mine complex located in secs. 32 & 33, T9N, R6W, MDM, 2.5 km (8,200 feet) NNW of Twin Peaks and about 6½ miles NNE of Calistoga. Discovered 1895. Production periods included: 1896-1905, 1911, 1916, and 1940-1944.

Mineralization is Hg deposits consisting of veins and veinlets of cinnabar with minor amounts of metacinnabar and native mercury occurring in Franciscan sandstone, shale of the Great Valley sequence, and serpentine deposits associated with fault structures and the borders of serpentine masses. The ore body strikes N65W, dips 45SW and is 22.86 meters wide. Pyrite is always a common accessory mineral.

Local structures include local thrusts and shearing of serpentine.

Workings include underground openings including a central adit and totaled 3,048 meters in length at 213.36 meters deep with a total length of 30.48 meters and an overall width of 15.24 meters.

Production data are found in: U.S. Bureau of Mines data. Production was more than 10 pounds Hg per ton (4,518 g/mt).

References

Becker, George F. (1888b), Geology of the quicksilver deposits of the Pacific slope: USGS Monograph 13, atlas: 354-358.

Bradley, W.W. (1918), Quicksilver resources of California, with a section on metallurgy and ore dressing: California Mining Bureau. Bulletin 78, 389 pp.

Ransome, Alfred Leslie & J.L. Kellogg (1939), Quicksilver resources of California: California Journal of Mines and Geology, California Division Mines (Report 35): 35: 353-558.

Ross, C.P. (1940b) Quicksilver deposits of the Mayacmas and Sulphur Bank districts, California. USGS Bulletin 922-L: 329-353.

Yates, Robert G. & Lowell S. Hilpert (1946), Quicksilver deposits of eastern Mayacmas district, Lake and Napa Counties, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology, California Division of Mines (Report 42): 42: 231-286 [254-268].

Davis, Fenelon Francis (1948), Mines and mineral resources of Napa County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology, California Division Mines (Report 44): 44: 176-183.

Johnson, Fremont T. & Spangler Ricker (1949), Investigation of Oat Hill mercury mine, Napa County, California: US Bureau Mines Report of Investigation 4542.

Dickson, F.W. & G. Tunell (1959), Stability relations of cinnabar and metacinnabar: American Mineralogist: 44: 482-483.

Holmes, Jr., G.W. (1965), Mercury in California: in: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 8252.

Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 323, 324.

White, D.E. (1967) Mercury and base-metal deposits with associated thermal and mineral waters. In: H.L. Barnes (Editor), Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. Holt Reinhart and Winston, New York: 594.

Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 118, 271, 275.

USGS MRDS database (2005), loc. file ID #10040790.

Bailey, E. H., USGS, personal files.

Mineral List

Cinnabar Coquimbite Dolomite Limonite

Marcasite Melanterite Mercury Metacinnabar

Opal Pyrite Quartz var: Chert Römerite

Rozenite

13 entries listed. 11 valid minerals.