Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USA (original) (raw)

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

34° 57' North , 116° 49' West

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:26609:8

e6417dcb-b957-4df5-977c-41b51eebe180

A former borate-gypsum-Sr occurrence/mine located in secs. 18, 19 & 20, T10N, R2E, and in secs. 23, 24 & 25, T10N, R1E, SBM, 4.3 km (2.7 miles) E of Calico in the Calico Hills. Discovered in 1882. First production was in 1884. Owned by the Pacific Coast Borax Company (1907- ). Production years were 1884 to 1907. MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 500 meters.

Mineralization is hosted in the Fisset Brook Formation (lake sediments, shale, limestone). The ore body is 9.14 meters thick. Local rocks include Tertiary intrusive rocks (hypabyssal), unit 7 (Northern Mojave Desert) and/or Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 16 (Northern Mojave Desert). This mine was the first underground mining of colemanite in the USA.

Borates occur as podiform and stratiform deposits. The pods occur below the bedded deposits. Five borate beds are exposed at the surface and range from 0.6 to 4.6 meters in thickness. The stratiform and podiform borates are separated by 15.2 meters of B-rich shale. Near the surface, colemanite has commonly been replaced by calcite. Local geologic structures include numerous faults. Sediments are severely folded.

Workings include underground openings. Many of the near-surface stopes have collapsed. The dumps are 18 to 21 meters high and several hundred meters wide. At one point, mining extended to a depth of 500 to 600 feet. The belt of borate workings extends 2.4 km.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

13 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

AsbolaneFormula: (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2OReferences: Murdoch, J., Webb, R. (1966) Minerals of California. California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 189.
BassaniteFormula: Ca(SO4) · 0.5H2OReferences: Murdoch, J., Webb, R. (1966) Minerals of California. California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 189.
BoraciteFormula: Mg3(B7O13)ClDescription: very rare microcrystals, with celestiteReferences: Justin Zzyzx specimen
BoraxFormula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2OLocality: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USAReferences: Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 56 Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 109.
CalciteFormula: CaCO3References: (2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.
CelestineFormula: SrSO4Colour: Light blue, colourlessDescription: Occurs lining geodes in colemanite ore with strontianite. Crystals to 4 cm and as pseudomorphs after satin spar (gypsum).References: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 418.
ColemaniteFormula: Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2ODescription: Occurs as nodules and geodes of crystals; also occurs massive.References: Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 250. Eakle, Arthur Starr (1902), Colemanite from southern California: University of California, Department of Geological Science Bulletin: 3: 31-50 Erwin, H.D. & D.L. Gardner (1940), Notes on the geology of a portion of the Calico Mountains, San Bernardino County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology, California Division Mines (Report 36): 36: 264 Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 418. Wright, L.A., et al (1953), Mines and mineral resources of San Bernardino County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology, California Division of Mines (Report 49): 49(1-2): 223-225 Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
DatoliteFormula: CaB(SiO4)(OH)Localities: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USABorax Consolidated Company Mines, Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USA
Datolite var. BakeriteFormula: Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)Localities: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USABorax Consolidated Company Mines, Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USA
FibroferriteFormula: Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 5H2OLocality: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USAReferences: Forrest Cureton specimens
GypsumFormula: CaSO4 · 2H2OReferences: (2005) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), US Geological Survey.
HowliteFormula: Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5Localities: Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USABorax Consolidated Company Mines, Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USAHabit: Thin platyColour: WhiteDescription: Occurs as chalky white seams and nodules; occasionally as delicate thin platy crystals encrusting celestine.
StrontianiteFormula: SrCO3Localities: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USAUnnamed Sr deposit [1], Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USAColour: Yellow-brownDescription: Occurs lining geodes in colemanite ore and as drusy coatings in limestone.
UlexiteFormula: NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2ODescription: Occurs lining cracks in andesite tuff along the contact of the tuff with the borate workings on the S side of the draw. As small "cotton balls" and fragile crusts on minute crystals in loose material on dumps.References: Foshag, William Frederick (1922) Calico Hills, San Bernardino County, California. American Mineralogist: 7: 208-209. Murdoch, J., Webb, R. (1966) Minerals of California. California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 189. Pemberton, H. Earl (1983) Minerals of California. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.
'Wad'Locality: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USADescription: Occurs massive with gypsum in clay.References: Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 298.
'Wad var. Cobalt-bearing Wad'Locality: Borate (Borate Camp), Pacific Mine (Pacific Coast Borax Company properties; Borate; Borate Colemanite Mines; Calico; Old Borate; Pacific Coast Borax Co. workings), Calico, Calico District (Daggett District; Calico-Daggett area), Calico Mts (Calico Hills), San Bernardino County, California, USADescription: Occurs massive with gypsum in clay.References: Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 298.

List of minerals for each chemical element

H Hydrogen
H Asbolane (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O
H Datolite var. Bakerite Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)
H Bassanite Ca(SO4) · 0.5H2O
H Borax Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
H Colemanite Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
H Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
H Fibroferrite Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
H Gypsum CaSO4 · 2H2O
H Howlite Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
H Ulexite NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
B Boron
B Datolite var. Bakerite Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)
B Boracite Mg3(B7O13)Cl
B Borax Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
B Colemanite Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
B Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
B Howlite Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
B Ulexite NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
C Carbon
C Calcite CaCO3
C Strontianite SrCO3
O Oxygen
O Asbolane (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O
O Datolite var. Bakerite Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)
O Bassanite Ca(SO4) · 0.5H2O
O Boracite Mg3(B7O13)Cl
O Borax Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
O Calcite CaCO3
O Celestine SrSO4
O Colemanite Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
O Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
O Fibroferrite Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
O Gypsum CaSO4 · 2H2O
O Howlite Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
O Strontianite SrCO3
O Ulexite NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Na Sodium
Na Borax Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Na Ulexite NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Mg Magnesium
Mg Boracite Mg3(B7O13)Cl
Si Silicon
Si Datolite var. Bakerite Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)
Si Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Si Howlite Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
S Sulfur
S Bassanite Ca(SO4) · 0.5H2O
S Celestine SrSO4
S Fibroferrite Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
S Gypsum CaSO4 · 2H2O
Cl Chlorine
Cl Boracite Mg3(B7O13)Cl
Ca Calcium
Ca Datolite var. Bakerite Ca4(H5B5Si3O20)
Ca Bassanite Ca(SO4) · 0.5H2O
Ca Calcite CaCO3
Ca Colemanite Ca[B3O4(OH)3] · H2O
Ca Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Ca Gypsum CaSO4 · 2H2O
Ca Howlite Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
Ca Ulexite NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O
Mn Manganese
Mn Asbolane (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O
Fe Iron
Fe Fibroferrite Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
Co Cobalt
Co Asbolane (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O
Ni Nickel
Ni Asbolane (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O
Sr Strontium
Sr Celestine SrSO4
Sr Strontianite SrCO3

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Link to USGS MRDS: 10102220

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