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Blue Moon

US / CA
•37.56603, -120.25655View on MapOpen in Google Maps
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About this location

Blue Moon is a historic mining site in Mariposa, California, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. USGS records describe a Replacement deposit hosted in Greenstone, Schist, within the Island Arc setting. Reported specimens include Barite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Copper, Galena; logged ore minerals are Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Malachite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite; gangue is recorded as Barite, Calcite, Hematite, Limonite, Quartz, Sericite. The site was discovered in 1935; production ran from 1935 to 1945; workings are surface/underground.

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Found Here

BariteCalciteChalcociteChalcopyriteCopperGalenaGoldHematiteLimoniteMalachitePyriteQuartzSericiteSilverSphaleriteTetrahedrite

Geology and deposit

Deposit type
Replacement
Host rock
Greenstone, Schist
Associated rock
Slate, Quartzite, Arkose
Orebody form
TABULAR
Tectonic setting
Island Arc
Deposit model
184: Massive sulfide, kuroko
Ore minerals
ChalcociteChalcopyriteGalenaMalachitePyriteSphaleriteTetrahedrite
Gangue minerals
BariteCalciteHematiteLimoniteQuartzSericite
Ore control

Shear Zones

Alteration

Silicification, Sericitization, Pyritization, Chloritization. 2500 Ft Long, 800 Ft Wide.

Mining history

Status
Past Producer
Workings
Surface/Underground
Production size
Small
Discovered
1935
Production years
1935, 1944 - 1945
First production
1935
Last production
1945

Records and references

Cited references

BOWEN, O. E. AND CLIFFTON, G. H., 1957 , MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA; CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, VOL. 53 , NO. 1 & 2 , P. 200 - 202 . ERIC, J. H. AND COX, M. W., 1948 , ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE - BLUE MOON AREA, MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA; COPPER IN CALIFORNIA BULL. 144 ; DIV. OF MINES, P. 144 - 150 . CALIF. JOUR. MINES & GEOLOGY, V. 53, NOS.3 & 4, P. 547; ADD. REF.: DMPA APPL'N 2162 - SIERRA ZINC INC. - REPORTED MAY, 1952 BY WEHELT - DMEA INDEX -CALIF. NEV. P. 9ERIC, J. H., AND COX, M. W., 1948 , P. 145 (SEE REF.)

Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System, record 10102860 — view the source record

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Location on Map

Coordinates: 37.56603, -120.25655

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