A former gemstone and specimen mine located in the NE¼ sec. 25, T18S, R12E, MDM, near Santa Rita Peak at the headwaters of the San Benito River and New Idria, W side of the Diablo Range, about 25 miles N of Coalinga.
Mineralization is natrolite veins cutting a glaucophane schist inclusion in a serpentinite body.
Note: The majority of specimens from this locality have been prepared by dissolving away the enclosing natrolite with hydrochloric acid.
References:
Louderback, George Davis & Walter C. Blasdale (1907), Benitoite, a new California gem mineral, with chemical analysis by Walter C. Blasdale: University of California, Department of Geological Sciences Bulletin: 5: 149-153.
Arnold, Ralph (1908), Notes on the occurrence of the recently described gem material, benitoite: Science, new series: 27: 312-314.
Ford, William Ebenezer (1909), Neptunite crystals from San Benito, California: American Journal of Science, 4th. Series: 27: 235-240; […Zeitschr. Kristallographie, Band 46: 321-325 (1909)].
Louderback, George Davis & Walter C. Blasdale (1909), Benitoite, its mineralogy, paragenesis and mode of occurrence: University of California, Department of Geological Sciences Bulletin: 5: 331-380; 331, 354, 357, 359, 360, 361, 363, 376, 380.
Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1911d), Notes on neptunite: USGS Bulletin 490: 55-57.
Palache, Charles & William Frederick Foshag (1932), The chemical nature of joaquinite: American Mineralogist: 17: 308-312.
Buttgenbach, H. (1937-38), Sur un crystal de neptunite: Soc. Geol.. de Belgique Liege Annales: 61: 324-325.
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 64, 70, 72, 82, 102, 130, 169, 182, 234, 277, 279, 298, 309.
Potter, R.W. and Evans, H.T. (1976) Definitive X-ray powder data for covellite, anilite, djurleite and chalcocite. USGS Jour. Res.: 4: 205-212.
Wise, W.S & Gill, R.H. (1977): Minerals of the Benitoite Gem mine. The Mineralogical Record 8, 442-452.
Wise, W.S. & Pabst, A. (1977): Jonesite a new mineral from the Benitoite Gem mine, San Benito County, California. The Mineralogical Record 8, 453-456.
American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 809-816.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 98, 100, 216, 362, 372, 392, 399, 403, 410, 466, 467, 470, 472.
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Map Reference: 36°20'10"N , 120°36'19"W
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36 entries listed. 30 valid minerals.
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