The Many Lost Treasures of Mariposa, CA (Photos Added)

[EagleDown]

Jeez, with the water (drought) situation going on, you must be out by the North Fork of the Merced! I was out and about yesterday, near the Bondurant Mine, ended up going back down the hill to Moccasin Creek near Jackass, and got a few pickers in the sluice. Water running out, no more sluicing in the smaller creeks soon, gotta' get a Highbanker....... wah wah wah..... This year might the only year in a long time that a Dry-Washer might do the trick, unless you want to pan..... Oh, the pain

Rick

According to GoogleEarth, I'm about a mile and a half to the East of Bondurant. I've been wanting to check the tailings around the Bondurant, but I didn't want to spend the time driving in, just to find that there's someone living there. (lol) Since GoogleEarth is 2 years old there, you can't always be sure of current conditions.

This old mine/mill is pretty close to Jackass Mountain. At least to the icon for the mountain.

 

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[Oakview2]

Looks like the real treasure is all that iron scrap on the property

 

[EagleDown]

Looks like the real treasure is all that iron scrap on the property

You're not wrong there. Tons of cast iron, and more tons of steel. I was thinking about cutting the mine rails into 8ft lengths and using them to put ore carts on. But, sad to say, we couldn't find any ore carts anywhere. Probably already salvaged.

I'll have to try to post the rest of the pictures in the morning. I've been trying to upload one for a half hour, and it just isn't happening. I don't know what the problem is. I use to be able to upload 4 or 5 at a time.

 

[Oakview2]

You probably need to resize them.


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[EagleDown]

Diesel engines with generators. You can see that thieves ripped the copper out of the armatures.

 

[EagleDown]

This one is the "one lung" air compressor. The vertical part is the piston and compression chamber.

 

[EagleDown]

Next two are the engines and compressor at different angles.

 

[EagleDown]

These rails use to cross the gulch on a bridge. They were used to transport the tailings across the gulch to where they were being dumped.

 

[EagleDown]

Another 'drum' for the ball mill.

 

[EagleDown]

And, the final picture before I go to bed. This is one big mother. Sitting off of the road, about a quarter mile from the mine/mill.

 

[EagleDown]

You probably need to resize them.


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Thanks, but after having so much trouble with the first couple, I did resize them. It didn't do any good. I think the site was just being obnoxious. This time, other than being slow, I had no problem with them. (lol)

 

[EagleDown]

I've been meaning to post these coords in case anyone who has GoogleEarth wants to check the area out. As I said, the only gold we could find was "ultra-fine" dust. Maybe they were hitting an occasional pocket, but I've been unable to find anything other than it was a "Past Producer".

37°43'22.49"N 120° 1'25.40"W

 

[Rowdy Yates]

As I said, the only gold we could find was "ultra-fine" dust. Maybe they were hitting an occasional pocket, but I've been unable to find anything other than it was a "Past Producer"

According to the USGS Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) Marble Springs (MRDS #10031064) AU that mine actually did pretty well.

"SUBSTANTIAL HIGH GRADE ORE REMOVED 1866 - 1869 . DURING LAST PERIOD OF PRODUCTION (1950 - 1952) ORE AVERAGED $10.70 AU/TON WITH CONSIDERABLE LEAD AND A LITTLE COPPER & SILVER. MUCH ORE MINED EARLIER RAN MORE THAN $25 AT THE OLD PRICE OF GOLD. INCOMPLETE RECORDS INDICATE TOTAL PRODUCTION OF AT LEAST $200,000."

Unfortunately, according to the USGS Topo map, it's private property (see the center of the map).



I've got my eye on a few areas right around there, though........

Regards,

Rick

 

[Cl1983]

What program is that map from if I may ask

 

[Rowdy Yates]

Google Earth. Open Google Earth, on the left hand side choose "Earth Gallery" (next to "Layers"). When the "Maps Gallery" appears, search for "USGS Historical Topographic Maps". Click on the Historical Topographic Maps USGS icon. When that screen appears, click on "View in Google Earth" in the lower right hand corner. This will overlay the topo map on what you are viewing in Google Earth.

HTH,

Rick

 

[Cl1983]

Thanks rowdy. I found it in there pretty easy. Sent it to the geology staff at my college should make some lectures and labs easier

 

[EagleDown]

Google Earth. Open Google Earth, on the left hand side choose "Earth Gallery" (next to "Layers"). When the "Maps Gallery" appears, search for "USGS Historical Topographic Maps". Click on the Historical Topographic Maps USGS icon. When that screen appears, click on "View in Google Earth" in the lower right hand corner. This will overlay the topo map on what you are viewing in Google Earth.

HTH,

Rick

Thank God!! finally, some instructions that didn't leave me feeling like a complete idiot. (lol)

Now, I still need to figure out how to get the BLM overlay onto GoogleEarth.

 

[Lanny in AB]

What a ton of old school eye candy!

Nicely done Eagle, and it looks like the theory was correct; they didn't do all of that developing and work for nothing. They got good gold out of that mine.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[EagleDown]

What a ton of old school eye candy!

Nicely done Eagle, and it looks like the theory was correct; they didn't do all of that developing and work for nothing. They got good gold out of that mine.

All the best,

Lanny

Yes, it was a very interesting find. I always like to see the old equipment they used. Unfortunately, MineCache didn't say that it was patented property. (Private owned).

I surmised that not only were they processing their own gold, but by some of the different host materials, they were also doing some milling for other mines in the area. Usually that was done on a percentage basis. Or, if it was real low value, on a tonnage basis. With the host materials that I spotted, I would say they were milling for at least 3 other mines. But, it's all guess-work. (lol)

Best to you too my Brother!!

 

[EagleDown]

I need a local partner for metal detecting. I'm hoping for someone who is (at least) somewhat retired and can go out with me often. I must be getting a little old because it's no longer fun being the "Lone Wolf". (lol)

Plus, at my age, it makes sense to have someone with me just for safety's sake. If anyone around Coarsegold or Oakhurst is interested pm me. We might not find a lot of gold, but I'll try to keep you laughing. (lol)