Golinsky Mine (Little Backbone Mine; Backbone Mine; Golinski Mine), Mammoth Butte, Backbone District, West Shasta Copper - Zinc District, Klamath Mts, Shasta Co., California, USA

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A former Cu-Zn-Au-Ag mine located in sec. 28, T34N, R5W, MDM, 2.6 km (8,600 feet) ENE of Mammoth Butte (coordinates of record), along Backbone Creek, on private land (patented). Discovered in 1900. First year of production was 1906. Production years were 1906-1907 and 1935-1937. Lessee/operator was the Nickery Brothers, California (1978, 1931, 1935); owned by B. Golinsky, California (1978, 1904). Operated by Backbone Gold Mining Co. (1935-1937);
operated by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Co.), California (1978, 1906, 1907). Unknown/no known owner-operator on Forest Service land, California (1978). MRDS database accuracy for this location is not stated.

Mineralization is a deposit in a shear zone. The ore body is lenticular, strikes N60E and dips 55-60SE at a width of 9.14 meters and a length of 19.81 meters. The primary mode of origin was hydrothermal and the secondary mode was contact metasomatism. Primary ore control was folding and secondary was faulting. Alteration was local with moderate wallrock alteration of pyritization, interim argillic and sericitic. Local rocks include Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks, unit 1 (Eastern Klamath Mountains).

Local structures include faults or shear zones broad warp or arch structure that might localize mineralization. Ore control was a shear zone not seen on surface.

The ore body lies above a gently dipping contact between siliceous white, foliated, non-porphyritic rhyolite below, and massive, tan, soft, porphyritic rhyolite above. Much of the rhyolite below the mine has a steeply-dipping foliation. Locally the rock is pyritized. Several types of pyroclastic rocks are present, none show bedding. One bed of volcanic breccia in Little Backbone Creek below the mine is composed of a felsitic, green, chloritic matrix containing 3 inch oval bombs of white rhyolite with closely packed chlorite and quartz amygdules.

Workings include underground openings with a total length of 365.76 meters. There was no agreement on the extent of stoping. There are 2 adits. No exploratory work was done along strike of ore lens except on the 84 foot level.

Production data are found in: Kinkel, Hall and Albers (1956): 114.

Analytical data results: For 1907: ^Cu 3.57%, Zn 8.9%, S 30.7%, Fe 23.6%, silica 27.5%, Au 0.134 oz/ton, and Ag 4.61 oz/ton. For 1937: ^Avg. 1.5% Cu.

Mineral List

Chalcocite Muscovite var: Sericite

Pyrite Quartz

Tennantite ?

5 entries listed. 4 valid minerals.

References