Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo (Mt Diablo), Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Mount Diablo Mine | Mine |
Mount Diablo (Mt Diablo) | Mountain |
Clayton | City |
Contra Costa County | County |
California | State |
USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° 52' 54'' North , 121° 54' 46'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Deposit first discovered:
1863
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
Diablo | 1,158 (2011) | 6.5km |
Blackhawk | 9,354 (2011) | 6.8km |
Clayton | 11,867 (2017) | 6.9km |
North Gate | 679 (2017) | 8.0km |
Danville | 44,400 (2017) | 10.2km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Club | Location | Distance |
---|---|---|
Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society | Concord, California | 15km |
Antioch Lapidary Club | Antioch, California | 17km |
Northern California Geological Society | Orinda, California | 23km |
Livermore Valley Lithophiles | Livermore, California | 26km |
Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley | Hayward, California | 28km |
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 ElementsCommodity 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 DiagramDetailed 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. References: |
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 References: |
β Muscovite var. Illite Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 References: |
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. |
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 | Metacinnabar | 2.CB.05a | HgS |
β | Millerite | 2.CC.20 | NiS |
β | Cinnabar | 2.CD.15a | HgS |
β | Hypercinnabar (TL) | 2.CD.15b | HgS |
β | Stibnite | 2.DB.05 | Sb2S3 |
β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
β | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Valentinite | 4.CB.55 | Sb2O3 |
β | Cristobalite | 4.DA.15 | SiO2 |
β | 'Stibiconite' | 4.DH.20 | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Schuetteite | 7.BB.40 | Hg2+3(SO4)O2 |
β | Siderotil | 7.CB.20 | FeSO4 Β· 5H2O |
β | Melanterite | 7.CB.35 | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 Β· H2O |
β | Epsomite | 7.CB.40 | MgSO4 Β· 7H2O |
β | Morenosite | 7.CB.40 | NiSO4 Β· 7H2O |
β | Alunogen | 7.CB.45 | Al2(SO4)3 Β· 17H2O |
β | Coquimbite | 7.CB.55 | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 Β· 6H2O |
β | Kornelite | 7.CB.60 | Fe2(SO4)3 Β· 7H2O |
β | RΓΆmerite | 7.CB.75 | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 Β· 14H2O |
β | Halotrichite | 7.CB.85 | FeAl2(SO4)4 Β· 22H2O |
β | Voltaite | 7.CC.25 | K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 Β· 18H2O |
β | Copiapite | 7.DB.35 | Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 Β· 20H2O |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
β | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
β | var. Illite | 9.EC.15 | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
Unclassified | |||
β | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | β Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
H | β Copiapite | Fe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
H | β Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
H | β Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
H | β Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
H | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
H | β Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
H | β Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
H | β Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
H | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | β RΓΆmerite | Fe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
H | β Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
H | β Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb25+O6(OH) |
H | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
H | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
C | Carbon | |
C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | β Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | β Copiapite | Fe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
O | β Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
O | β Cristobalite | SiO2 |
O | β Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
O | β Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
O | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
O | β Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
O | β Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
O | β Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
O | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | β RΓΆmerite | Fe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
O | β Schuetteite | Hg32+(SO4)O2 |
O | β Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
O | β Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb25+O6(OH) |
O | β Valentinite | Sb2O3 |
O | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
O | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | β Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | β Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
Al | β Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
Al | β Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
Al | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
Al | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | β Cristobalite | SiO2 |
Si | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
Si | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | β Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
S | β Cinnabar | HgS |
S | β Copiapite | Fe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
S | β Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
S | β Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
S | β Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
S | β Hypercinnabar | HgS |
S | β Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
S | β Marcasite | FeS2 |
S | β Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
S | β Metacinnabar | HgS |
S | β Millerite | NiS |
S | β Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
S | β RΓΆmerite | Fe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
S | β Schuetteite | Hg32+(SO4)O2 |
S | β Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
S | β Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
S | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
K | Potassium | |
K | β Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
K | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
K | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | β Copiapite | Fe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O |
Fe | β Coquimbite | AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O |
Fe | β Halotrichite | FeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
Fe | β Kornelite | Fe2(SO4)3 · 7H2O |
Fe | β Marcasite | FeS2 |
Fe | β Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
Fe | β RΓΆmerite | Fe2+Fe23+(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
Fe | β Siderotil | FeSO4 · 5H2O |
Fe | β Voltaite | K2Fe52+Fe33+Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O |
Ni | Nickel | |
Ni | β Millerite | NiS |
Ni | β Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O |
Sb | Antimony | |
Sb | β Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb25+O6(OH) |
Sb | β Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
Sb | β Valentinite | Sb2O3 |
Hg | Mercury | |
Hg | β Cinnabar | HgS |
Hg | β Hypercinnabar | HgS |
Hg | β Metacinnabar | HgS |
Hg | β Schuetteite | Hg32+(SO4)O2 |
Other Databases
Link to USGS MRDS: | 10040642 |
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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America
- Coast MountainsMountain Range
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Franciscan DomainDomain
- Sonoma-Livermore BasinBasin
USA
- California
- Diablo RangeMountain Range
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