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Walker Mine

Past Producer in Plumas county in California, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver
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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. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10286027
MRDS ID W024539
MAS/MILS ID 0060630556
Record type Site
Current site name Walker Mine
Alternate or previous names Walkermine, Walker Extension - 2 Miles North, Native Son
Related records 10077104

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -120.66914, 39.96158 (WGS84)
Elevation 1884
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Plumas(county)

California(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Mount Ingalls(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Portola(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Chico(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

East Branch North Fork Feather(hydrologic unit)

Lower Sacramento(hydrologic accounting unit)

Sacramento(hydrologic subregion)

California(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Plumas National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States California Plumas

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 024 N 012 E 07 C E2NE California

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Primary
Silver Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Actinolite Unknown
Biotite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Chlorite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Galena Unknown
Garnet Unknown
Gold Unknown
Jamesonite Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Pyroxene Unknown
Pyrrhotite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Stibnite Unknown
Tetrahedrite Unknown
Tourmaline Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -120.66914, 39.96158
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N20W
    Dip 32E
    Thickness 15M
    Width 200M
    Depth to top 10M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 OTHER
    Shape of Orebody #3 MASSIVE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin METAMORPHISM
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FOLDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Strike And Dip N20W:32E
    Minimum Depth to Top 3
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 150
    Date of Last Modification 810710
  • Area 65HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 65
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • SPHALERITE, GARNET, STIBNITE, CUBANITE, TETRAHEDRITE, GOLD AND JAMESONITE TOGETHER COMPRISE 0.59 WT-PCT OF THE TOTAL MINERALS PRESENT. FELDSPAR, BIOTITE, PYROXENE, ACTINOLITE, AND TOURMALENE TOGETHER COMPRISE 5.0 WT-PCT OF THE TOTAL MINERALS PRESENT THE TOTAL MINERAL BREAKDOWN IS AS FOLLOWS: 3.02 WT-PCT CHALCOPYRITE 0.20 WT-PCT CHALCOCITE 75.00 WT-PCT QUARTZ TOURMALENE 2.50 WT-PCT CHLORITE 7.47 WT-PCT MAGNETITE 0.98 WT-PCT PYRITE 0.24 WT-PCT PYRRHOTITE 0.59 WT-PCT SPHALERITE+GALENA+STIBNITE+CUBANITE+GOLD+ TETRAHEDRITE+JAMESONITE 5.00 WT-PCT FELDSPAR+BIOTITE+PYROXENE+ACTINOLITE+ TOURMELENE ------ 100.00 WT-PCT TOTAL MATRIX 1 RECORD 12 THE MINERAL IS CUBANITE
  • G-TOB OTHER IS MASSIVE SULFIDE STRIKE AND DIP THE MINERALIZED ZONE VARIES FROM N20 TO 33W AND DIPS FROM 32 TO 70 NE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1844
Mining method Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Tailings
Year of first production 1916
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Genessee District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Other

Land status

Ownership category Mixed

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Calicopia Corp.,Robt Barry Pres. Beverly Hills Cal
    Interest 100
    Home office California
    Year 1978
  • Type Operator
    Owner Continental Oil Co. (Connoco)
    Interest 50
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1978
  • Type Operator
    Owner Amax Inc.
    Interest 50
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1978

Production statistics

  • Year 1931
    Description 25.187 Wt % Cu Concentrate 23000 Metric Tons Conc Produced
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 23000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1931
    Description 90.49 % Recovery 0.1648 Cu In Tailings 392000 Ore Milled Dry Metric Ton
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 392000mt 90wt-pct
  • Year 1931
    Description 1.63 Wt% Cu Grade Of Heads 392000 Ore Milled Dry Metric Ton
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 392000mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1932
    Period 1916-1932
    Description Continuous Production From 1916-1932 2876000 Metric Tons Mined
  • Year 1941
    Period 1935-1941
    Description Continuous Production 1935-1941 1955000 Metric Tons Mined

Comments on the production information

  • BEDROCK SAMPLING CONDUCTED BY THE BUMINES IN 1978 THERE HAS BEEN NO MINING ACTIVITY AT THE WALKER SINCE 1978, IN 1983, HOWEVER, AN UNSPECIFIED COMPANY DID SOME LIMITED GEOL. MAPPING. JOHN BURNETT, CAL. DIV. OF MINES & GEOL., PERS. COMM WITH U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, WFOC APRIL 4, 1984.

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • 90 PERCENT PROBABLITY REPRESENTS ORE BLOCKED OUT AS OF 1941 WHEN PRODUCTION CEASED.ANACONDA COMPANY DATA. 75 PERCENT PROBABLITY REPRESENTS COMB- INED PROBABLE AND POSSIBLE ORE AS PROPOSED BY ANACONDA IN 1941 50 PERCENT PROBABILITY IS ASSUMED ON THE BASIS OF FAVORABLE GEOLOGIC CONDIT- IONS. ADDITIONAL TONNAGES MAY BE PRESENT-EXPLORATION BY CONOCO (CONTINENTAL OIL COMPANY) AND AMERICAN METALS CLIMAX IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. WORK IS ONGOING SINCE 1975.
  • OTHER NAME:NATIVE SON. OWNER: AMERICAN METALS

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 118150M
    Overall depth 300M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method HORIZ CUT & FILL W/TAILINGS 10-60
    Percent Waste Rock 5
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. CHEMICAL COATING
    Number of Shafts 4
    Length of Inclines (m) 250
    Slope of Inclines 60
    Number of Inclines 13
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 1800
    Number of Adits 1
    1st Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    2nd Condition of Workings OPEN
    3rd Condition of Workings FLOODED
    Capacity 1270
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 17.07
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1978

Comments on the workings information

  • SINCE CUT AND FILL WOULD BE USED, DUMPS AND TAILING SHOULD BE MINIMAL

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. MINING WASTE STUDY,

  • Deposit

    FINAL REPORT, JULY 1988, 416 PP. (P. 231-235).

  • Deposit

    AVERILL,C.V.,1973,MINERAL RESOURCES OF PLUMAS COUNTY,CALIF

  • Deposit

    CALIF.JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGY V.33 P.95-103.

  • Deposit

    COOPER,J.H.,1930,COMPRESSED AIR AN ESSENTIAL AID TO SUCESS-

  • Deposit

    FUL MINING;COMPRESSED AIR MAGAZINE, NOV.1930 P.3308-

  • Deposit

    3313

  • Deposit

    COPPER IN CALIFORNIA, 1948,DNR DIV. OF MINES BULL 144,1948

  • Deposit

    P. 290.

  • Deposit

    COPPER MINING IN NORTH AMERICA;US BUMINES BULL 405, 1938

  • Deposit

    P.61

  • Deposit

    DILLER,J.S.,1908, GEOLOGY OF THE TAYLORSVILLE REGION:USGS

  • Deposit

    BULL 353, 128 P.

  • Deposit

    DRAVO CORPORATION, ANALYSIS OF LARGE SCALE NON-COAL UNDER-

  • Deposit

    GROUND MINING METHODS, USBM CONTRACT REPORT S0122059

  • Deposit

    JAN. 1974, P.402-408

  • Deposit

    EARLL,F.N,STOUT,K.S.,GRISWALD,G.S.,SMITH,R.I,KELLY,F.H.,

  • Deposit

    EMBLEN,D.J.,VINE,W.A.,AND DAHLEN,D.A,1976, HANDBOOK

  • Deposit

    FOR SMALL MINING ENTERPRISES. MONTANA BUMINES AND

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGY BULL.99 P.78-80.

  • Deposit

    MINERAL PROCESSING FLOWSHEETS. DENVER EQUIPMENT COMPANY

  • Deposit

    DENVER COLORADO, 1962, P.28-30

  • Deposit

    NATIONAL ATLAS OF THE USA US DEPT OF THE INTERIOR,GEOL

  • Deposit

    SURVEY, WASHINGTON D.C. 1970

  • Deposit

    SMITH,A.R.,1970, TRACE ELEMENTS IN THE PLUMAS COPPER BELT

  • Deposit

    PLUMAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. CALIF.DIV.OF MINES AND GEOL

  • Deposit

    SPECIAL REPORT 103, 26 P

  • Deposit

    WETZEL,N,1978,THE WALKER COPPER MINE,PLUMAS COUNTY, CALIF

  • Deposit

    US BUMINES MAS REPORT, JULY 1978, 34P.

  • Deposit

    YOUNG,G.J.,1924,ANACONDAS WALKER MINE AND MILL,ENGINERING

  • Deposit

    AND MINING JOURNAL PRESS, VOL 117, NO.18 P.725.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Environmental Factors ACID MINE DRAINAGE FROM THE WALKER MINE HAS HAD ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT SINCE THE MINE CLOSE IN 1941. FAIRLY HIGH LEVELS OF COPPER AND ZINC ARE DISCHARGING FROM A SMALL SEDIMENTATION POND CONSTRUCTED IN 1978 WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ACCUMULATED COPPER AND ZINC. ACIDIC DRAINAGE CONTAINING HEAVY METALS (COPPER, ZINC, ALUMINUM, AND IRON) DISCHARGES FROM THE MAIN ACCESS ADIT AND FROM A MINE WASTE DUMP INTO DOLLY CREEK. SUBSIDENCE AREAS ABOVE THE CENTRAL AND PIUTE OREBODIES HAVE CREATED SINKHOLES WHICH CONNECT THE MINE TO THE SOUTH AND MIDDLE FORKS OF WARD CREEK, AND THERE IS ALSO A LOW INFLOW OF GROUNDWATER. THERE IS THOUGHT TO BE SOME DISCHARGE OF MINE WATER TO THE DEEP GROUNDWATER SYSTEM (20-200 GPM), AND THE REMAINDER DISCHARGES FROM THE 700 LEVEL PORTAL.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-1995 Unknown U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • Amax Inc. — now part of Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Merged with Cyprus Minerals to form Cyprus Amax in 1993; Cyprus Amax → Phelps Dodge (1999) → Freeport-McMoRan (2007).

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

External references

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative California resources

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