Cryo-Genie Mine (Cryogenie Mine; Cindy B-Cryogenie claim; Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect), Warner Springs, Warner Springs Mining District, San Diego County, California, USAi

Regional Level Types
Cryo-Genie Mine (Cryogenie Mine; Cindy B-Cryogenie claim; Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect)	Mine
Warner Springs	Group of Springs
Warner Springs Mining District	Mining District
San Diego County	County
California	State
USA	Country

Setting:
The Cryo-Genie mine is located in the N½ Sec. 14, T10S, R3E, SBM, approximately 2 miles north-northwest of Warner Springs, and several hundred feet east of Lost Valley road.

Geology:
The deposit consists of a granite pegmatite dike, enclosed in hybrid rocks, which is exposed just southwest of the crest of a small hill. The dike strikes northward, dips about 30 degrees west, is about 10 feet thick, and can be traced laterally for at least 200 feet. The dike can be divided into 3 zones: (1) a lower zone, about 4 to 5 feet thick, which is chiefly graphic granite; (2) a core, about 1 ft. thick, which is composed of quartz, albite (including variety cleavelandite), muscovite, lepidolite, tourmaline, garnet, and allanite; and (3) an upper zone, 4 to 5 feet thick, which is medium- to coarse-grained graphic granite with muscovite, and black tourmaline crystals as long as 9 inches. The tourmaline crystals of the core commonly range in color from solid black to crystals with black cores and grass green exteriors. Weber also noted in 1958 that core zone produced tourmalines which were pale blue, pale pink, and colorless crystals. These pale crystals were described as thin and averaged less than 1/2 inch to 1 inch in length, with the smallest crystals being gemmy. The discovery in 2001 proved that these smaller crystals in the core zone were exposed along the outer margins of much larger mineralization further down dip. The remarkable 1.8 x 1.5 x 0.9-meter pocket yielded bright pink tourmaline crystals to 25 cm long and 10 cm across.

History:
A miarolitic tourmaline-bearing granitic pegmatite located near the town of Warner Springs in northeastern San Diego County. First referenced to as the Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect in 1958, the deposit was probably worked during the 1910s or 1920s when it was explored by shallow cuts and trenches along the outcrop. Periodic hand work was performed by hobbyists and amateur collectors during the 1960s. The current name was bestowed by Bart Cannon, who held the claim during the 1970s and 1980s. The mine was acquired in the late 1980s by Dana Gochenour, who along with the assistance of mine engineer Jim Clanin, began underground development of the site in 2001. A major discovery of pink elbaite was made in the spring of 2001, dubbed the B.A.T. or BAT pocket, which is an abbreviation or acronym meaning 'Big Ass Tourmaline' pocket. Another large tourmaline discovery was made in September of 2002, and a major beryl pocket was discovered in 2003. On August 30, 2022, Gochenour transferred his interest in the Cryogenie Mine to Marcus Origlieri. Complications involving incurable defects with mandatory annual assessment filing dates and maintenance fee payment deadlines ultimately caused Origlieri's newly acquired lode mining claim to be declared null and void under operation of the general mining laws of the United States. Subsequently, several competing parties including Origlieri, and Christopher Wentzell, have both located new lode mining claims to the mineral deposit, with each claimant contesting the other claimant's discovery validity. The mining claim dispute has yet to be resolved under the laws of the State of California, leaving the status of ownership legally undecided, and the future of the mine uncertain.

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10262337

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References