Latitude: 33°21'34"N
Longitude: 116°32'21"W
A group of mines located 12.2 km (7.6 miles) NE of Warner Springs.
Summary:
In 1929, W.F. Wheeler, a San Bernardino prospector, filed five lode mining claims in the hills northeast of Lost Valley, and also reserved a mill site at Indian Kitchens, along the Tarabal Trail. Wheeler called his claims the Carlsbad group. Geologist R.J. Sampson of the California Division of Mines visited Wheeler’s mine on Oct. 24, 1930, to report on the deposit and development occurring at that time.
Sampson's report describes the country rock of the entire district as granitic in composition. In this granite there are numerous pegmatite dikes, out of which, in places, the mica, feldspar and quartz have crystallized into lenses which are more or less distinct from each other. On the Carlsbad claims, two principal dikes or zones had been partially prospected.
Workings & Production:
An open cut on the first one of these dikes measured 80 feet long across the formation by ten feet wide and ranged from five to 15 feet deep, exposing a width of some 30 feet. The average space between individual mica seams here was noted to not exceed four inches and the thickness varied from a fraction of an inch to about four inches. As of 1930, two books of mica had been found which measured approximately 6x4 inches thick, and smaller flakes were also said to occur in book form.
In a canyon approximately 1000 feet northwest of the first open cut and about 250 below it, Sampson describes a prominent outcrop of feldspar and quartz. On this dike a shaft 25 feet deep was sunk in the granite wall near the face of an open cut 30 feet long and about seven feet wide and up to nine feet deep. The occurrences of muscovite here was noted as similar to the southeastern site, being clear and apparently free from impurities. Some quartz crystals were said to be taken from these workings but no sales had been made by 1930.
Sampson noted that there were numerous outcrops on the property which had not been investigated. Wheeler estimated that by working in some six different places he could produce about one ton of mica per day.
Note:
The mine and surrounding area is within Sheep Canyon Natural Preserve (Sheep Canyon Wilderness Management Area), just inside the boundaries of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. All rocks and minerals are fully protected by law. Their disturbance or removal is prohibited.
References
Tucker, W. B., and Sampson, R. J., 1934. Current mining activity in southern California, San Diego County: California Division of Mines, State Mineralogist Report 30.
Weber, F. H. 1963. Geology and mineral resources of San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology, County Report 3: p. 79.
Mineral List
4 entries listed. 2 valid minerals.
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