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Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA

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A gemstone and specimen mine in pegmatite located near the village of Pala, north-central San Diego County. The Pala Chief mine has been the source of some of the finest gem kunzite found in the Southern California pegmatites. The mine was most productive between 1902-1912, but occasional finds of spodumene and elbaite occur to this day.



References:
Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37: p. 81-93; 126-127.

Mineralogical Record: 33(5): 363-407.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 1051.

Rocks & Minerals (1988): 63: 21.





 Map Reference: 33°23'15"N , 117°3'5"W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.


Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities


Mineral List:
  		•  Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Almandine
    Fe
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Beryl
    var: Aquamarine
    Be
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Beryl
    var: Morganite
    Reference: [No reference listed]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2004 SLR
  		•  Bismuth
    Bi
    Reference: [Seaman, 1976. Pegmatite Minerals of the World, p.386]
  		•  Bismuthinite
    Bi
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    Reference: []
  		•  Elbaite
    [Na][(Li,Al)
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [No reference listed]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © 2005, Jesse Fisher
  		•  'Feldspar Group'
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  'Garnet Group'
    X
     
    3
    		Z
     
    2
    		(TO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		 (X = Ca, Fe, etc·, Z = Al, Cr, etc·, T = Si, As, V)
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Lepidolite
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  'Mica Group'
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Microcline
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Muscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Orthoclase
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Pucherite
    BiVO
     
    4
    Reference: [Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 1051; Seaman, 1976. Pegmatite Minerals of the World, p.386.]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
  		•  Schorl
    [Na][Fe
    2+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		• Spodumene
    LiAl[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37: p. 81-93; 126-127.]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Spodumene
    var: Kunzite
    Reference: [Kunz, G. F. 1905. Gems, jeweler's materials, and ornamental stones of California. California State Mining Bureau bulletin 37: p. 81-93; 126-127.]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  'Tourmaline'
    AD
     
    3
    		G
     
    6
    		(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		[T
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]Y
     
    3
    		Z
    Reference: [Jahns, R. H. and Wright, L. A. 1951. Gem and Lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Pala District, San Diego County, California. California Division of Mines special report 7A: p. 14, 72 pp.]
    Site Photo
    Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452), Chief Mountain, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA
    © Rob Lavinsky


    20 entries listed. 12 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Diego Co.
        • Pala District
          • Chief Mountain
            • Pala Chief Mine (MS 6452)

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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: 28th Nov 2009 10:43:20