Little Three Mine (Little 3 mine), Ramona, Ramona District, San Diego Co., California, USA
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| Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): | 33° 3' 26'' North , 116° 47' 35'' West |
|---|---|
| Latitude & Longitude (decimal): | 33.0572222222, -116.793055556 |
Setting:
A gemstone and mineral specimen mine developed in pegmatite which is located 7.1 km (4.4 miles) ENE of Ramona. One of the prime locations in North America for natural blue topaz. Major finds were made in 1976 and 1991. It is important to note that spessartite labeled as from the Little Three Mine is found on the adjacent Hercules pegmatite dike, a distinctly separate deposit which is also exposed on the property.
History:
A very fine topaz-elbaite matrix specimen weighing about 150 pounds was mined in 1905 from the Little Three Mine main dike. The specimen was placed on display for many years at the San Diego Chamber of Commerce until it was moved to the newly opened Natural History Museum. During World War II, the Navy took over the museum, and the displays were crated and stored away. The specimen hasn't been seen again, and it is said to have likely been put onto a junk barge, and dumped into the ocean.
Mineral List
39 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
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 locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
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for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
References
Snyder, Doris (1962), Wonderful world of pegmatite minerals: Part I: Gems & Minerals, No. 293, Feb.: 24-26.
Switzer, G., Clarke Jr., R. S, Sinkankas, J. and Worthing, H. W. (1965), Fluorine in hambergite. American Mineralogist 50: 85-95 [with analysis on hambergite from Little Three mine].
Rocks & Minerals (1984), 59: 80.
Sinkankas, J. (1988), Beryl: A Summary. Rocks & Minerals 63(01): p. 21.
Jacobson, Mark I. (1988), Collections and Displays: The Proctor Collection, Colorado Springs; Colorado. Rocks & Minerals 63(1): p. 49, 55.
Stern, L. A., Brown, G. E., Jr., Bird, D. K., Jahns, R. H., Foord, E. E., Shigley, J. E., and Spaulding, L. B., Jr. (1986), Mineralogy and geochemical evolution of the Little Three pegmatite-aplite layered intrusive; Ramona, CA. American Mineralogist, 62: 966-978.
Foord, Eugene E., Spaulding, Louis B. Jr., Martin, Robert F. & Mason, Roger A. (1989), Mineralogy and Paragenesis of the Little Three Mine Pegmatites, Ramona District, San Diego County, California. Mineralogical Record, 20(2): 101-127.
American Mineralogist (1991), 76: 1998-2002.
Foord, E. E. (?), "Gem-Bearing Pegmatites of San Diego County, California;" Geological Excursions in Southern California and Mexico; M. J. Walawender and B. B. Hanan, Editors.
Fisher, Jesse (2011), Mines and Minerals of the Southern California Pegmatite Province. Rocks & Minerals: 86: 14-34.
Switzer, G., Clarke Jr., R. S, Sinkankas, J. and Worthing, H. W. (1965), Fluorine in hambergite. American Mineralogist 50: 85-95 [with analysis on hambergite from Little Three mine].
Rocks & Minerals (1984), 59: 80.
Sinkankas, J. (1988), Beryl: A Summary. Rocks & Minerals 63(01): p. 21.
Jacobson, Mark I. (1988), Collections and Displays: The Proctor Collection, Colorado Springs; Colorado. Rocks & Minerals 63(1): p. 49, 55.
Stern, L. A., Brown, G. E., Jr., Bird, D. K., Jahns, R. H., Foord, E. E., Shigley, J. E., and Spaulding, L. B., Jr. (1986), Mineralogy and geochemical evolution of the Little Three pegmatite-aplite layered intrusive; Ramona, CA. American Mineralogist, 62: 966-978.
Foord, Eugene E., Spaulding, Louis B. Jr., Martin, Robert F. & Mason, Roger A. (1989), Mineralogy and Paragenesis of the Little Three Mine Pegmatites, Ramona District, San Diego County, California. Mineralogical Record, 20(2): 101-127.
American Mineralogist (1991), 76: 1998-2002.
Foord, E. E. (?), "Gem-Bearing Pegmatites of San Diego County, California;" Geological Excursions in Southern California and Mexico; M. J. Walawender and B. B. Hanan, Editors.
Fisher, Jesse (2011), Mines and Minerals of the Southern California Pegmatite Province. Rocks & Minerals: 86: 14-34.
Little Three Mine, Ramona, Ramona District, San Diego Co., California, USA