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Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo (Mt Diablo), Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types
Mount Diablo MineMine
Mount Diablo (Mt Diablo)Mountain
ClaytonCity
Contra Costa CountyCounty
CaliforniaState
USACountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° 52' 54'' North , 121° 54' 46'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
37.88167,-121.91278
GeoHash:
G#: 9q9r9b1ud
GRN:
N26W69
Type:
Mine
Deposit first discovered:
1863
KΓΆppen climate type:
Csb : Warm-summer Mediterranean climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Diablo1,158 (2011)6.5km
Blackhawk9,354 (2011)6.8km
Clayton11,867 (2017)6.9km
North Gate679 (2017)8.0km
Danville44,400 (2017)10.2km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Contra Costa Mineral & Gem SocietyConcord, California15km
Antioch Lapidary ClubAntioch, California17km
Northern California Geological SocietyOrinda, California23km
Livermore Valley LithophilesLivermore, California26km
Mineral & Gem Society of Castro ValleyHayward, California28km
Mindat Locality ID:
3511
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:3511:1
GUID (UUID V4):
645135d9-3113-44dd-a78c-e95e5b29aed5
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Mt. Diablo Mine; Diablo Mine; Ryne Mine


A former Hg occurrence/mine located in the SEΒΌ sec. 29, T1N, R1E, MDM, on the upper E side of Mount Diablo (just E of the summit). Discovered in 1863. Operated by the Nevada Scheelite Company (1956). Owned by the Guadelupe Mining Company. The Mount Diablo Mine and the Ryne Mine were consolidated in 1930. Worked 1875-1877 and again briefly in 1930. Last produced in 1953. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters. Native Americans used the cinnabar in tribal ceremonies. Later the deposit was mined as a placer.

Mineralization is along the contact of a diapir (upthrust plug) of Franciscan sediments and serpentine intruded into sedimentary rocks of the Great Valley sequence. The orebody is irregular and tabular and dips N50E at a thickness of 1.83 meters, a width of 60.96 meters and a length of 39.62 meters. Rhyolite plugs occur nearby. Bituminous clays (Black Alta) also occurs. Local alteration included serpentine converted to silica-carbonate rock. Associated rocks include Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous rhyolite. Local rocks include Franciscan Complex, unit 1 (Coast Ranges).

Workings include surface and underground openings with a length of 1,219.2 meters and an overall depth of 152.4 meters.

Production statistics: Year: 1962 (period = to 1962): Hg (estimated): ^6 pounds/ton (2,711 grams/metric ton).

Low-grade reserves still exist, with 17,000 tons of indicated and inferred reserves.

Note: Wang et al. (2023) has a chapter on cinnabar-metacinnabar with the notation that metacinnabar is not stable at ambient temperature without impurities. A table of Mount Diablo metacinnabar analyses (n=9) indicates a persistent Fe impurity (average 1.07 wt %) with Zn and Se present in some analyses.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


23 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

β“˜ Alunogen
Formula: Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O
Habit: Fibrous
Colour: White
β“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
β“˜ Cinnabar
Formula: HgS
β“˜ Copiapite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
β“˜ Coquimbite
Formula: AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
β“˜ Cristobalite
Formula: SiO2
Description: Occurs as a gangue mineral.
β“˜ Epsomite
Formula: MgSO4 · 7H2O
β“˜ Halotrichite
Formula: FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
β“˜ Hypercinnabar (TL)
Formula: HgS
Type Locality:
β“˜ Kornelite
Formula: Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O
β“˜ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
β“˜ Melanterite
Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
β“˜ Metacinnabar
Formula: HgS
Description: Principal ore mineral. Replaced by cinnabar, which retains the crystal shapes (pseudomorphs).
β“˜ Millerite
Formula: NiS
Description: Occurs as micro-crystals.
β“˜ Morenosite
Formula: NiSO4 · 7H2O
Colour: Blue-green
β“˜ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
β“˜ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
β“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
β“˜ RΓΆmerite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O
β“˜ Schuetteite
Formula: Hg2+3(SO4)O2
Description: Occurs in small amounts.
β“˜ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
β“˜ Siderotil
Formula: FeSO4 · 5H2O
Description: A dehydration product of melanterite.
References:
Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 270
Ross, C.P. (1940a) Quicksilver deposits of the Mount Diablo region, Contra Costa County, California. USGS Bulletin 922-B, 54 pp.: 41, 42, 44
Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Pampeyan, Earl Haig (1963) Geology and mineral deposits of Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California. Special Report 80. California Division of Mines & Geology p.24
Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 337
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
β“˜ 'Stibiconite'
Formula: Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH)
β“˜ Stibnite
Formula: Sb2S3
β“˜ Valentinite
Formula: Sb2O3
Habit: Slender prismatic
Colour: Colorless
Description: Occurs as clusters of needle-like crystals.
β“˜ Voltaite
Formula: K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
Description: Occurs associated with metallic sulphates.

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
β“˜Metacinnabar2.CB.05aHgS
β“˜Millerite2.CC.20NiS
β“˜Cinnabar2.CD.15aHgS
β“˜Hypercinnabar (TL)2.CD.15bHgS
β“˜Stibnite2.DB.05Sb2S3
β“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
β“˜Marcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
β“˜Valentinite4.CB.55Sb2O3
β“˜Cristobalite4.DA.15SiO2
β“˜'Stibiconite'4.DH.20Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
β“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
β“˜Schuetteite7.BB.40Hg2+3(SO4)O2
β“˜Siderotil7.CB.20FeSO4 Β· 5H2O
β“˜Melanterite7.CB.35Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 Β· H2O
β“˜Epsomite7.CB.40MgSO4 Β· 7H2O
β“˜Morenosite7.CB.40NiSO4 Β· 7H2O
β“˜Alunogen7.CB.45Al2(SO4)3 Β· 17H2O
β“˜Coquimbite7.CB.55AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 Β· 6H2O
β“˜Kornelite7.CB.60Fe2(SO4)3 Β· 7H2O
β“˜RΓΆmerite7.CB.75Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 Β· 14H2O
β“˜Halotrichite7.CB.85FeAl2(SO4)4 Β· 22H2O
β“˜Voltaite7.CC.25K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 Β· 18H2O
β“˜Copiapite7.DB.35Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 Β· 20H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
β“˜Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
β“˜var. Illite9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Unclassified
β“˜'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hβ“˜ AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2O
Hβ“˜ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Hβ“˜ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Hβ“˜ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Hβ“˜ HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Hβ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hβ“˜ KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O
Hβ“˜ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Hβ“˜ MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2O
Hβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hβ“˜ RΓΆmeriteFe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O
Hβ“˜ SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2O
Hβ“˜ StibiconiteSb3+Sb25+O6(OH)
Hβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
Hβ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oβ“˜ AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2O
Oβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oβ“˜ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Oβ“˜ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Oβ“˜ CristobaliteSiO2
Oβ“˜ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Oβ“˜ HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Oβ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oβ“˜ KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O
Oβ“˜ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Oβ“˜ MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2O
Oβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oβ“˜ RΓΆmeriteFe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O
Oβ“˜ SchuetteiteHg32+(SO4)O2
Oβ“˜ SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2O
Oβ“˜ StibiconiteSb3+Sb25+O6(OH)
Oβ“˜ ValentiniteSb2O3
Oβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
Oβ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
MgMagnesium
Mgβ“˜ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
AlAluminium
Alβ“˜ AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2O
Alβ“˜ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Alβ“˜ HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Alβ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
SiSilicon
Siβ“˜ CristobaliteSiO2
Siβ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siβ“˜ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
SSulfur
Sβ“˜ AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2O
Sβ“˜ CinnabarHgS
Sβ“˜ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Sβ“˜ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Sβ“˜ EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2O
Sβ“˜ HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Sβ“˜ HypercinnabarHgS
Sβ“˜ KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O
Sβ“˜ MarcasiteFeS2
Sβ“˜ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Sβ“˜ MetacinnabarHgS
Sβ“˜ MilleriteNiS
Sβ“˜ MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2O
Sβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sβ“˜ RΓΆmeriteFe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O
Sβ“˜ SchuetteiteHg32+(SO4)O2
Sβ“˜ SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2O
Sβ“˜ StibniteSb2S3
Sβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
KPotassium
Kβ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
CaCalcium
Caβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
FeIron
Feβ“˜ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Feβ“˜ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Feβ“˜ HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Feβ“˜ KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O
Feβ“˜ MarcasiteFeS2
Feβ“˜ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Feβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Feβ“˜ RΓΆmeriteFe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O
Feβ“˜ SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2O
Feβ“˜ VoltaiteK2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O
NiNickel
Niβ“˜ MilleriteNiS
Niβ“˜ MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2O
SbAntimony
Sbβ“˜ StibiconiteSb3+Sb25+O6(OH)
Sbβ“˜ StibniteSb2S3
Sbβ“˜ ValentiniteSb2O3
HgMercury
Hgβ“˜ CinnabarHgS
Hgβ“˜ HypercinnabarHgS
Hgβ“˜ MetacinnabarHgS
Hgβ“˜ SchuetteiteHg32+(SO4)O2

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10040642

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North America
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

This page 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 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.

References

U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Availability System/Mineral Industry Location System (MAS/MILS): file #0060130026.
Bailey, E.H. (xxxx) United States Geological Survey, personal files data.
Ransome, Alfred Leslie, Kellogg, J.L. (1939) Quicksilver resources of California. California Division of Mines Report 35: 377.
Ross, C.P. (1940) Quicksilver deposits of the Mount Diablo region, Contra Costa County, California. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 922-B, 54 pages: 41-42, 44.
Davis, Fenelon Francis, Vernon, J.W. (1951) Mines and mineral resources of Contra Costa County, California. California Journal of Mines and Geology: 47(4): 575-576.
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: 492.
California Division of Mines (1952) Mineral Information Service: 5(1) (January 1952): 2.
Davis, Fenelon Francis, Goldman, H.B. (1958) Mines and mineral resources of Contra Costa County. California Journal of Mines and Geology: 54(4): 530-535.
Pampeyan, Earl Haig (1963) Geology and mineral deposits of Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California. Special Report 80. California Division of Mines & Geology p.24
Holmes, Jr., G.W. (1965) Mercury in California. United States Bureau of Mines Information Circular 8252.
Murdoch, Joseph, Webb, Robert W. (1966) Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966). California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 148, 156, 178, 213, 254, 258, 261, 323, 332, 337, 349, 379, 382.
White, D.E. (1967) Mercury and base-metal deposits with associated thermal and mineral waters. In: Barnes, H.L. (Editor) Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. Holt, Reinhart and Winston, New York: 585, 591.
Potter, R.W., Barnes, H.L. (1978) Phase relations in the binary Hg-S. American Mineralogist: 63: 1143–1152.
Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
(2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.
Wang, X., Liu, J., Carranza, E.J.M., Zhai, D., Zhao, Q., Wong, G., Zhang, B. (2023) Characteristics and Formation Conditions of Se-bearing Metacinnabar in the Wanshan Mercury Ore Fields, Eastern Guizhou: Minerals: 13: 173. http://doi.org/10.390/min13020173
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