Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA

StandardDetailedBy ChemistryMineral Photos (401)Site Photos (5)Search GoogleMineral Report for Region

A Hg-Cr-gemstone mining area 15 miles long by 9 miles wide, in the southern portion of the Diablo Range.

The deposits are within or along the border of the New Idria serpentine body (serpentinite). The principal ore mineral is cinnabar, with minor amounts of metacinnabar and native mercury. The minerals occur along cracks and veins in Franciscan and Panoche sedimentary rocks that have been hardened by hydrothermal action and in silia-carbonate rock, the hydrothermal alteration of serpentine.



References:
Becker, George F. (1888), Geology of the quicksilver deposits of the Pacific slope: USGS Monograph 13, atlas: 291-309.

Eckel, Edwin Butt & W.B. Myers (1946), Quicksilver deposits of the New Idria district, San Benito and Fresno Counties, California: California Division Mines Report 42: 81-124.

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

Linn, R.K. and Dietrich, W.F. (1961) Mining and furnacing mercury ore at the New Idria mine, San Benito County, California. US Bureau of Mines Information Circular 8033, 35 pp.

Tunell, G. (1964) Chemical processes in the formation of mercury ores and ores of mercury and antimony. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 28: 1023.

Mumpton, F.A. Jaffe, H.W., and Thompson, C.S. (1965) Coalingite, a new mineral from the New Idria serpentinite, Fresno and San Benito counties, California. American Mineralogist: 50: 1893-1913.

Davis, F.F. and E.H. Bailey (1966) Mercury. California Division Mines and Geol. Bulletin 191: 252.

Linn, R.K. (1968) New Idria mining district. In: Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933-1967. The Graton-Sales volume, New York, A.I.M.E.: 1633-1649.

Luce, R.W. (1971) Identification of serpentine varieties by infrared absorption. USGS Professional Paper 750-B: 199-201.

Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 120-121, 146.




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

Group 1 - Elements
  		• Copper1.AA.05
    Cu
  		• Mercury1.AD.05
    Hg
  		• Silver1.AA.05
    Ag
  		• Sulphur1.CC.05
    S
     
    8
    Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
  		• Anilite2.BA.10
    Cu
     
    7
    		S
     
    4
  		• Arsenopyrite2.EB.20
    FeAsS - (Fe
     
    0.90
    		Co
     
    0.10
    		)AsS
  		• Chalcocite2.BA.05
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
  		• Cinnabar2.CD.15a
    HgS
  		• Covellite2.CA.05a
    CuS
  		• Digenite2.BA.10
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
  		• Djurleite2.BA.05
    Cu
     
    31
    		S
     
    16
  		• Donharrisite2.BD.20
    Ni
     
    8
    		Hg
     
    3
    		S
     
    9
  		• Galena2.CD.10
    PbS
  		• Marcasite2.EB.10a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Metacinnabar2.CB.05a
    HgS
  		• Millerite2.CC.20
    NiS
  		• Pyrite2.EB.05a
    FeS
     
    2
  		• Pyrrhotite2.CC.10
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
  		• Stibnite2.DB.05
    Sb
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
  		• Tiemannite2.CB.05a
    HgSe
    Group 3 - Halides
  		• Aurivilliusite (TL)3.DD.50
    (Hg-Hg)
    2+
     
    		Hg
    2+
    2
    		[O|(I,Br,Cl)]
     
    2
  		• Calomel3.AA.30
    Hg
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    2
  		• Eglestonite3.DD.05
    [Hg
    1+
    2
    		]
     
    3
    		[O|OH|Cl
     
    3
    		]
  		• Gianellaite3.DD.30
    [Hg
     
    2
    		N]
    +
    2
    		SO
     
    4
  		• Hanawaltite (TL)3.DD.15
    Hg
     
    6
    		Hg[Cl,(OH)]
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Mosesite3.DD.30
    [Hg
     
    2
    		N]
    +
     
    		(Cl,SO
     
    4
    		,MoO
     
    4
    		) · H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Tedhadleyite (TL)3.DD.40
    Hg
    2+
     
    		Hg
    1+
    10
    		O
     
    4
    		I
     
    2
    		(Cl,Br)
     
    2
  		• Terlinguaite3.DD.20
    Hg
     
    2
    		ClO
  		• Vasilyevite (TL)3.DD.45
    [Hg
    1+
    2
    		]
     
    10
    		[O
     
    6
    		|I
     
    3
    		|Br
     
    2
    		|Cl|CO
     
    3
    		]
    Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
  		• Baddeleyite4.DE.35
    ZrO
     
    2
  		• Barioperovskite (TL)4.CC.30
    BaTiO
     
    3
  		• Brucite4.FE.05
    Mg(OH)
     
    2
  		• Chromite4.BB.05
    FeCr
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Eskolaite4.CB.05
    Cr
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Goethite4.FD.10
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
  		• Hematite4.CB.05
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
  		• Ilmenite4.CB.05
    Fe
    2+
     
    		TiO
     
    3
  		• Magnesiochromite4.BB.05
    MgCr
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Magnetite4.BB.05
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
  		• Melanophlogite4.DA.25
    46SiO
     
    2
    		·6(N
     
    2
    		,CO
     
    2
    		)·2(CH
     
    4
    		,N
     
    2
    		)
  		• Montroydite4.AC.15
    HgO
  		• Opal4.DA.10
    SiO
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Perovskite4.CC.30
    CaTiO
     
    3
  		• Quartz4.DA.05
    SiO
     
    2
  		• Rutile4.DB.05
    TiO
     
    2
  		• Todorokite4.DK.10
    (Ca,K,Na,Mg,Ba,Mn)(Mn,Mg,Al)
     
    6
    		O
     
    12
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Valentinite4.CB.55
    Sb
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
  		• Aragonite5.AB.15
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Artinite5.DA.10
    Mg
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Calcite5.AB.05
    CaCO
     
    3
  		• Clearcreekite (TL)5.DC.30
    (Hg-Hg)
     
    1.5
    		[OH|CO
     
    3
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Coalingite (TL)5.DA.55
    Mg
     
    10
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    24
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Desautelsite5.DA.50
    Mg
     
    6
    		Mn
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Dolomite5.AB.10
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
  		• Dypingite5.DA.05
    Mg
     
    5
    		[OH|(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Huntite5.AB.25
    CaMg
     
    3
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
  		• Hydromagnesite5.DA.05
    Mg
     
    5
    		[(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Hydrotalcite5.DA.50
    Mg
     
    6
    		Al
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Magnesite5.AB.05
    MgCO
     
    3
      var: Ferroan Magnesite5.AB.05
    (Mg,Fe)CO
     
    3
  		• Peterbaylissite (TL)5.DC.25
    (Hg-Hg)
     
    1.5
    		[OH|CO
     
    3
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Pyroaurite5.DA.50
    Mg
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Reevesite5.DA.50
    Ni
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Szymańskiite (TL)5.DB.30
    Hg
     
    16
    		(Ni,Mg)
     
    6
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    12
    		(OH)
     
    12
    		(H
     
    3
    		O)
     
    8
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Witherite5.AB.15
    BaCO
     
    3
    Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  		• Baryte7.AD.35
    BaSO
     
    4
  		• Brochantite7.BB.25
    Cu
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Deanesmithite (TL)7.FB.20
    (Hg-Hg)
    2+
     
    		Hg
    2+
    3
    		[O|S
     
    2
    		|CrO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Edoylerite (TL)7.FB.25
    Hg
    2+
    3
    		[S
     
    2
    		|CrO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Epsomite7.CB.40
    MgSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Gypsum7.CD.40
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Jarosite7.BC.10
    KFe
    3+
     
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
  		• Rozenite7.CB.15
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Schuetteite7.BB.40
    Hg
    2+
    3
    		[O
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Voltaite7.CC.25
    K
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
    5
    		Fe
    3+
    3
    		Al[SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    12
    		 · 18H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Wattersite (TL)7.FB.15
    (Hg-Hg)
    2+
    2
    		Hg
    2+
     
    		[O
     
    2
    		|CrO
     
    4
    		]
    Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
  		• Agardite-(La)8.DL.15
    (La,Ce)Cu
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Apatite-(CaF)8.BN.05
    Ca
     
    5
    		[F|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
  		• Apatite-(SrOH)8.BN.05
    (Sr,Ca)
     
    5
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		(OH,F)
  		• Diadochite8.DB.05
    Fe
    3+
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)(SO
     
    4
    		)(OH)·5H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Koninckite8.CE.55
    Fe
    3+
     
    		[PO
     
    4
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Pseudomalachite8.BD.05
    Cu
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    Group 9 - Silicates
  		• Actinolite9.DE.10
    ☐Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		(Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		)(OH)
     
    2
  		• 'Adularia'9.FA.30
    KAlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
  		• Aegirine9.DA.25
    NaFe
    3+
     
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Albite9.FA.35
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
  		• Analcime9.GB.05
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Andradite9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
      var: Demantoid9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
      var: Melanite9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
      var: Topazolite9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Anthophyllite9.DE.05
    ☐[Mg
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Antigorite9.ED.15
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		]
  		• Baotite9.CE.15
    Ba
     
    4
    		(Ti,Nb)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    28
    		Cl
  		• Bario-orthojoaquinite (TL)9.CE.25
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    4
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Beidellite9.EC.40
    (Na,Ca
     
    0.5
    		)
     
    0.3
    		Al
     
    2
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Benitoite (TL)9.CA.05
    BaTi[Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
  		• Chrysocolla9.ED.20
    (Cu,Al)
     
    2
    		H
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    4
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Chrysotile9.ED.15
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    4
  		• Clinochlore9.EC.55
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
      var: Chromian Clinochlore9.EC.55
    Mg
     
    5
    		(Al,Cr)
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    8
      var: Pennine9.EC.55
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
  		• Datolite9.AJ.20
    CaB[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Diopside9.DA.15
    CaMg[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Edgarbaileyite (TL)9.BC.25
    (Hg-Hg)
     
    3
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Epidote9.BG.05
    {Ca
     
    2
    		}{Al
     
    2
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		}[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Ferrohornblende9.DE.10
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Fe
    2+
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Fresnoite9.BE.15
    Ba
     
    2
    		Ti[O|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
  		• Glaucophane9.DE.25
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
  		• Jadeite9.DA.25
    Na(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Joaquinite-(Ce) (TL)9.CE.25
    Ba
     
    2
    		NaCe
     
    2
    		FeTi
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(OH,F) · H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Jonesite (TL)9.DJ.30
    Ba
     
    4
    		(K,Na)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    4
    		Al
     
    2
    		[O|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 6H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Lawsonite9.BE.05
    CaAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Lizardite9.ED.15
    Mg
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		]
  		• Montmorillonite9.EC.40
    (Na,Ca)
     
    0.33
    		(Al,Mg)
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Natrolite9.GA.05
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Neptunite9.EH.05
    Na
     
    2
    		KLi(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		]
  		• Nimite9.EC.55
    (Ni,Mg,Al)
     
    6
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    8
  		• Omphacite9.DA.20
    (Ca,Na)(Mg,Al)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
  		• Orthoclase9.FA.30
    K[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
  		• Orthojoaquinite-(Ce) (TL)9.CE.25
    Ba
     
    2
    		NaCe
     
    2
    		FeTi
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    26
    		(O,OH) · H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Pecoraite9.ED.15
    Ni
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		]
  		• Pectolite9.DG.05
    NaCa
     
    2
    		[HSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
  		• Schorlomite9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		[(Si,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)O
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Sepiolite9.EE.25
    Mg
     
    4
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Stevensite9.EC.45
    (Ca,Na)
     
    x
    		Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
  		• Stilpnomelane9.EG.40
    (K,Ca,Na)(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg,Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    8
    		(Si,Al)
     
    12
    		(O,OH)
     
    36
    		 · nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• Strontiojoaquinite9.CE.25
    Sr
     
    2
    		Ba
     
    2
    		(Na,Fe)
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    24
    		(O,OH)
     
    2
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
  		• Sérandite9.DG.05
    Na(Mn
    2+
     
    		,Ca)
     
    2
    		[HSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
  		• Talc9.EC.05
    Mg
     
    3
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
  		• Taramellite9.CE.20
    Ba
     
    4
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Ti,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    4
    		(B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    27
    		)O
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    x
  		• Titanite9.AG.15
    CaTi[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
  		• Titantaramellite9.CE.20
    Ba
     
    4
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    4
    		(B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    27
    		)O
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    x
  		• Uvarovite9.AD.25
    Ca
     
    3
    		Cr
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
  		• Vesuvianite9.BG.35
    Ca
     
    10
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    9
    		O
     
    34
    		(OH)
     
    4
  		• Wollastonite9.DG.05
    Ca[SiO
     
    3
    		]
    Group 10 - Organic Compounds
  		• Carpathite10.BA.30
    C
     
    24
    		H
     
    12
  		• Idrialite10.BA.20
    C
     
    22
    		H
     
    14
    Unclassified Minerals
  		• 'Almandine-Pyrope Series'-
  		• 'Apatite'-
  		• 'Chalcedony'-
  		• 'Chlorite Group'-
  		• 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
  		• Crossite-
  		• 'Feldspar Group'-
  		• 'Hornblende'-
  		• 'Marmolite'-
  		• 'Pumpellyite'-
  		• 'Serpentine Group'-
    D
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		](OH)4 + or - nH
     
    2
    		O
  		• 'Unnamed (Ba Titanate II)'-
    BaTi
     
    3
    		O
     
    7
  		• 'Unnamed (Ba Titanate)'-
    BaTi
     
    2
    		O
     
    5


    151 entries listed. 136 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Benito Co.
        • Diablo Range
          • New Idria District

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
    This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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 Oct 2009 22:54:02