Blue Moon

Past Producer in Mariposa county in California, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Lead, Silver, Zinc
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10212289
MRDS ID M009395
MAS/MILS ID 0060430146
Record type Site
Current site name Blue Moon
Alternate or previous names American Eagle, Red Cloud, Blue Cloud, Porcupine, Bullion Hill
Related records 10102860

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -120.274, 37.547 (WGS84)
Elevation 415
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Mariposa(county)

California(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Merced Falls(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Oakdale(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

San Jose(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Merced(hydrologic unit)

San Joaquin(hydrologic accounting unit)

San Joaquin(hydrologic subregion)

California(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States California Mariposa

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 004 S 016 E 19 SWS2C California

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Secondary
Gold Secondary
Lead Secondary
Silver Secondary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Anhydrite Unknown
Barite Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Gypsum Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sericite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Tetrahedrite Unknown

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N20W
    Dip 80S
    Thickness 6.8M
    Length 600M
    Width 800M
    Depth to top 400M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 MASS SULFIDE
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATIFORM
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #3 MANTLELIKE
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control BEDDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PYRITIZATION
    Strike And Dip N20W:80S
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 861103
  • Area 400HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 400
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Mining method Combined Methods
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Quartzburg District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Private Lease
Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Mixed

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Westmin Resources Ltd.
    Interest 50
    Home office Canada
    Year 1986
  • Type Owner
    Owner Quail Hill Mining Corp.
    Interest 50
    Home office Canada
    Year 1986
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Colony Pacific Explorations Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office Canada
    Year 1996

Comments on the ownership information

  • AS OF 1996, WESTMIN RESOURCES, LTD. HAD 10% NPI. COLONY PACIFIC EXPLORATIONS LTD. HAS AGREED TO SELL THE BLUE MOON PROPERY TO WESTMIN RESOURCES LIMITED.

Production statistics

  • Year 1948
    Description 12.30 % Zn, 0.36 % Cu, & 0.48 % Pb 50490 Mt-Ore. Total Production.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Lead Lead 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 12wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Indicated 2677000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2677000mt ore
    Total resources 2677000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Zinc Zn 8.55 wt-pct Zinc Major 1986
    Copper Cu 1.3699 wt-pct Copper Minor 1986
    Lead Pb 0.32 wt-pct Lead Minor 1986
    Gold Au 1.47 g/mt Gold Minor 1986
    Silver Ag 80.23 g/mt Silver Minor 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 3455000mt ore
    Total resources 3455000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Zinc Zn 7.96 wt-pct Zinc Major 1996
    Copper Cu 1.03 wt-pct Copper Minor 1996
    Lead Pb 0.48 wt-pct Lead Minor 1996
    Gold Au 0.067 g/mt Gold Minor 1996
    Silver Ag 2.61 g/mt Silver Minor 1996

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • DATA FROM PAH REPORT 1988
  • MATRIX ONE IS A CUMULATIVE MATRIX OF THE RECOVERABLE RESOURCES.
  • DEPOSIT WORKED FOR AU & AG AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. WESTMIN HOLDS MINERAL RIGHTS THRU AN AGREEMENT WITH QUAIL HILL MNG, A SUB OF COLONY PACIFIC EXPL.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 4942M
    Overall depth 675M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL CAVING 10-75
    Swell Factor .65
    Percent Waste Rock 37
    Percent Recovery 82
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 1
    Length of Inclines (m) 4267
    Slope of Inclines 15
    Number of Inclines 1
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 0
    1st Condition of Workings CAVED AT PORTAL
    2nd Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    3rd Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 1270
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 19.99
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Ownership

    NEWS RELEASE. COLONY SELLS BLUE MOON PROPERTY TO WESTMIN.

  • Ownership

    MAY 16, 1996. 1P.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BOWEN, O. E. AND C. H. GRAY, JR. MINES AND MINERAL DEPOSITS

  • Reserve-Resource

    OF MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. CALIF. JOUR. OF MINES AND

  • Reserve-Resource

    GEOL., VOL. 53, NO. 1, 1957, PP. 35-223.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ERIC, J. H. AND M. W. COX. ZINC DEPOSITS OF THE AMERICAN

  • Reserve-Resource

    EAGLE-BLUE MOON AREA, MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. IN

  • Reserve-Resource

    COPPER IN CALIFORNIA. CALIF. DIV. OF MINES, BULL. 144,

  • Reserve-Resource

    1948, PP. 133-150.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HEYL, G. R. REPORT ON THE BRIEF EXAMINATION OF COPPER-ZINC

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINES IN THE VICINITY OF HORNITOS, MARIPOSA COUNTY,

  • Reserve-Resource

    CALIFORNIA. U. S. BUREAU MINES FILE REPORT, OCT. 16,

  • Reserve-Resource

    1943, 3 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    JULIHN, C. E. AND F. W. HORTON. MINES OF THE SOUTHERN

  • Reserve-Resource

    MOTHER LODE REGION, PART II - TUOLUMNE AND MARIPOSA

  • Reserve-Resource

    COUNTIES. IN MINERAL INDUSTRIES SURVEY OF THE UNITED

  • Reserve-Resource

    STATES, CALIFORNIA. BUMINES, BULL. 424, 1940,

  • Reserve-Resource

    PP. 164-168.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST. EXPLORATION BRIEFS. E. & M. J.

  • Reserve-Resource

    INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY, VOL. 12, NO. 11, APRIL 18, 1986.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL. INDUSTRY IN ACTION: WESTMINS GOOD GRADES.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL, VOL. 306, NO. 7859, APRIL 4, 1986,

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING WORLD. HECLA'S CALIFORNIA PROJECT, RED CLOUD MINES

  • Reserve-Resource

    INC. MINING WORLD, APRIL 1944, PP. 11-13.

  • Reserve-Resource

    NORTH AMERICAN GOLD MINING INDUSTRY NEWS. COLONY PACIFIC'S

  • Reserve-Resource

    BLUE MOON GRADE AND TONNAGE ESTIMATES UP. NOVEMBER 9,

  • Reserve-Resource

    1984, PG. 8.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TURNER, H. W. AND F. L. RANSOME. SONORA FOLIO, NO. 41.

  • Reserve-Resource

    U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, GEOL. ATLAS, 1897.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WAR MINERALS. REPORT. AMERICAN EAGLE MINE, MARIPOSA COUNTY,

  • Reserve-Resource

    CALIF. WAR MINERALS REPORT - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT

  • Reserve-Resource

    OF THE INTERIOR - BUREAU OF MINES, W. M. R. 407 - ZINC,

  • Reserve-Resource

    JUNE 1945, 8 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WAR MINERALS REPORT. BLUE MOON MINE AND AMERICAN EAGLE

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINE, MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. WAR MINERALS REPORT -

  • Reserve-Resource

    U. S. DEPT OF THE INTERIOR - BUREAU OF MINES, AUGUST

  • Reserve-Resource

    1943, 7 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WESTMIN EXPLORATION LTD. PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS, FEBRUARY

  • Reserve-Resource

    25, 1986, 46 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WETZEL, N. MAS FILE REPORT ON THE BLUE MOON - AMERICAN

  • Reserve-Resource

    EAGLE MINES, MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. BUMINES FILE

  • Reserve-Resource

    REPORT, JUNE 1978, 5 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WIEBELT, F. J. OFFICE MEMORANDUM - SIERRA ZINC PRODUCERS,

  • Reserve-Resource

    INC. U. S. BUMINES, MAY 5, 1952, 3 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WIEBELT, F. J., W. C. SANBORNE, R. R. TRENGOVE, AND

  • Reserve-Resource

    S. RICKER. INVESTIGATION OF THE WEST BELT COPPER - ZINC

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINES, EL DORADO, AMADOR, CALAVERAS, AND MARIPOSA

  • Reserve-Resource

    COUNTIES. BUMINES, RI 4760, 1951, 17 PP. ILLUSTRATIONS

  • Reserve-Resource

    AND APPENDIX.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WRIGHT ENGINEERS LIMITED. WESTMIN RESOURCES LTD. - BLUE

  • Reserve-Resource

    MOON PROJECT, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A. WRIGHT ENGINEERS

  • Reserve-Resource

    PROPERTY EVALUATION REPORT, VOL'S 1 & II, PROJECT 1422,

  • Reserve-Resource

    JANUARY 1986.

  • Reserve-Resource

    COLONY PACIFIC 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P.1,7.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY 1996/97, P.150.

  • Deposit

    COLONY REPORTS YEAR END RESULTS, 3-20-90.

  • Deposit

    COLONY PACIFIC NEWS RELEASE, 2-11-91.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit WATER WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM WELLS. POWER WOULD BE TRANSMITTED FROM POWER LINES LOCATED 1.8 KM WEST OF THE DEPOSIT. SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED METERS OF ACCESS ROAD WOULD HAVE TO BE IMPROVED. LABOR IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SITE AND WOULD HAVE TO COMMUTE FROM HORNITOS OR MERCED, CALIFORNIA. THE PROPOSED MINE PRODUCTION RATE, IS ORE PRODUCTION ONLY; DILUTION MATERIAL IS NOT INCLUDED.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 08-JAN-1997 Lindsey, David S. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Authoritative California resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.