Surprise Mine, Panamint Valley, Inyo County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Surprise Mine | Mine |
| Panamint Valley | Valley |
| Inyo County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 16' 4'' North , 117° 21' 23'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
79491
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:79491:7
GUID (UUID V4):
5f01f0a3-8dcb-4a63-ade2-e3a6991bbc03
A former Ag-Pb-Cu-Au-Zn mine located in sec. 19 (and/or sec. 20), T19S, R42E, MDM, in the Panamint Valley, about 4ΒΌ miles ENE of Lookout City and about 11 miles E of Darwin. Operated during the period 1947-1951. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 10 meters.
NOTE: USGS MRDS database file #10236121 places this locality within the Argus Range Wilderness; however, it is located in the center of the Panamint Valley.
Mineralization is a replacement type deposit hosted in limestone. The ore body is irregular. Controls for ore emplacement included drag folds and faults. Limestone beds are contorted but locally trend E and dip 50S. The ore is partially oxidized to anglesite and cerussite. The largest ore body mined was along the hanging wall of a reverse fault. Faults along the ore acted as channel ways for dolomitizing solutions. Local rocks include Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 2 (SE California Carbonate Assemblage) and/or Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits.
Local geologic structures include a fault and folds.
Workings include underground openings comprised of 3 adits with winzes and raises. Exploration was underway during 1952-1953.
Production data are found in: Goodwin, J.G. (1957): 515 - 516.
Ore averaged 31.6% Pb, 25.2 ounces Ag and 0.084 ounces Au/ton, with minor Cu & Zn.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| β Anglesite Formula: PbSO4 |
| β Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
| β Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 References: |
| β Galena Formula: PbS |
| β Mimetite Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl References: |
| β Pyromorphite Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl Description: Occurs as euhedral crystals in oxidized Pb ore. References: |
| β Smithsonite Formula: ZnCO3 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| β | Smithsonite | 5.AB.05 | ZnCO3 |
| β | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| β | Anglesite | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| β | Mimetite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| β | Pyromorphite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 Β· nH2O, x < 1 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| O | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| O | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | β Galena | PbS |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Cl | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | β Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| Pb | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | β Galena | PbS |
| Pb | β Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Pb | β Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10033998 |
|---|
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 #0060270565
