Custer Mine, Darwin, Darwin Mining District, Darwin Hills, Inyo County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Custer Mine | Mine |
| Darwin | - not defined - |
| Darwin Mining District | Mining District |
| Darwin Hills | Group of Hills |
| Inyo County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 16' 23'' North , 117° 34' 28'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
26598
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:26598:3
GUID (UUID V4):
01835a20-dad8-4516-a4d7-995dfb5584af
A former Pb-Ag-Cu-Zn-Au mine located in sec. 19, T19S, R41E, MDM, 1.6 km (1.0 mile) ENE of Darwin, in a narrow canyon, locally called Custer Canyon. The road is washed out and one has to hike down the canyon. It was in operation from the 1870βs until the 1950βs, but with long idle periods. It was re-timbered in the early 1950βs, but operation was closed down a few years later. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is . Corrected description and position N36.27317 W117.57432 by Richard Muster, courtesy Gail Dunning, Walt Margerum and Robert Hously.
Mineralization is hosted in tactite. The ore body is pod-shaped and lies on the contact between a dark brown calc-hornfels and a body of blue-gray limestone and is hosted in an irregular body of crystalline calcite. Local rocks include Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 2 (SE California Carbonate Assemblage) and/or Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits.
Workings include underground openings comprised of 2 separate workings. The main working consists of an inclined shaft on the N side of Custer canyon with a depth of 400 feet and with levels at 50, 200, 250 and 300 feet. A wince extends another 240 feet. The minor part consists of an adit, approx. 125 feet long, which was driven in the 1950βs into a mineralized copper-lead-zinc contact zone that occurs on the south side of the canyon. No viable ore reserves were found and this operation was ended.
Most of the minerals interesting for collectors come from this adit with the approx position of N36.27259, W117.57362. Entry was possible without restriction and dumps were accessible in 2003.
Production data are also found in: Goodwin, J.C. (1957): 465.
It produced until 1949 approximately 141 ounces of Au, 17,000 ounces of Ag, 6,600 pounds of Cu, 97,000 pounds of Pb and 72 pounds of Zn. 50 tons of ore were shipped in 1940-1941.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| β Andradite Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| β Aurichalcite Formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 Description: Occurs as crystallized masses. References: |
| β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Habit: Rhombohedra 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) long; some as long as 24 inchs (60 cm). Description: Abundant - makes up most of the vein. References: |
| β Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 References: |
| β Fluorite Formula: CaF2 References: |
| β Galena Formula: PbS References: |
| β Goethite Formula: Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
| β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
| β Hemimorphite Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| β Hydrozincite Formula: Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| β Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| β 'Limonite' |
| β Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| β Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O Fluorescence: Green (brilliant) Description: Occurs coating a calcite seam. |
| β Opal var. Opal-AN Formula: SiO2 · nH2O Fluorescence: Green (brilliant) Description: Occurs coating a calcite seam. |
| β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: |
| β Scheelite Formula: Ca(WO4) |
| β Siderite Formula: FeCO3 Description: Occurs as masses. |
| β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| β Titanite Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O |
| β Wollastonite Formula: Ca3(Si3O9) |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| β | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| β | Goethite | 4.00. | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
| β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| β | Opal var. Opal-AN | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O | |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| β | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| β | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| β | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| β | Hydrozincite | 5.BA.15 | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| β | Aurichalcite | 5.BA.15 | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| β | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| β | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Andradite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| β | Titanite | 9.AG.15 | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| β | Hemimorphite | 9.BD.10 | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 Β· H2O |
| β | Wollastonite | 9.DG.05 | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Unclassified | |||
| β | 'Limonite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| H | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| H | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | β Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| H | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | β Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| C | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| O | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| O | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| O | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| O | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | β Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| O | β Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Si | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Si | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Si | β Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Galena | PbS |
| S | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Ca | β Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Ca | β Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | β Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | β Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| Cu | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| Zn | β Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| Zn | β Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | β Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | β Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10102971 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Antler Foreland BasinBasin
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
USA
- Sierra NevadaMountain Range
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References
(n.d.) Minerals Availability System (MAS), U.S. Bureau of Mines.file ID #0060270300
