Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 63

...

The

... BLUE BELL CLAIMS


... San Bernardino County, California

-
...
...

-...
...

...

-..
THE
BLUE BELL CLAIMS
San Bernardino County, California

by

Millard F. Maynard, Editor Al Valenti


John and Fern Jenkins Don and Jean Hall
Bob and Sugar White Mac and Elyga Mansfield

San Bernardino County Museum


Department of Earth Sciences
2024 Orange Tree Lane
Redlands, California 92373

January 1984
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface ........................................ 2

Introduction ................................... 4

Location and Access ............................ 6

Descripti on .................................... 10

History ........................................ 19

Geology ........................................ 24

Minera logy ..................................... 26

List of Minerals ............................... 28

Description of Minerals ........................ 31

Paragenesis .................................... 55

References ..................................... 60
-2

PREF/I.CE

This report has been prepared by San Bernardino County


Museum volunteers. It is one of a series we plan to prepare on
the mines in this county.
~1ining activity for metals in San Bernardino County has been
very limited since 1960. Some mining for metals is still being
done, but it is principally for gold, silver, and tungsten.
Mining for other metals such as lead, copper, and zinc is minimal.
Previous publications about mines in the county have generally
made reference only to the production of ore minerals such as
galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and barite. There are, however, many
secondary minerals of little or no commercial value. These
minerals not only produce beautiful specimens but are the core of
the world-wide avocation of mineral collecting.
The purpose of these reports is:
(1) to preserve as much data on the history of the mines
as we can, before it is no longer available, and
(2) to gather as much information as we can about the
associated mineral species found at each mine.
Because of a lack of funding, extensive studies previously
done by various State and Federal agencies have been brought to
a virtual standstill. Our volunteers hope that these reports will
partially fill the gap which has been created in the accumulation
-3

of information on our mineral resources.


Mineral collectors sharing information they have or may
acquire on mineral occurrences will help ensure the success of
this program. A simple note of mineral occurrences to the San
Bernardino County Museum, attention: R. E. Reynolds, will be
appreciated.
Reports for any mine will never be final as new minerals
will continually be found. Working cooperatively with the mineral
collecting community and mine owners, we hope to keep lists of
species up to date.

Robert E. Reynolds
Curator, Earth Sciences
San Bernardino County Museum
-4

INTRODUCTION

This report is directed toward the Blue Bell mine and


adjacent prospects on the Blue Bell (Hard Luck) claims. The
property has produced a large number of mineral species, some of
which are rather rare on a world-wide scale.
Many attractive hand specimens are covered with brightly-
colored small to microscopic crystals which comprise the unusual
mineral assemblage. Magnification is necessary to fully appreciate
the crystal morphology and the sequence of crystallization of the
species. The Blue Bell claims, therefore, are a popular area for
those who specialize in the study of micromount mineral specimens.
In 1977, t'lr. J. A. Crowley prepared an article on the minerals
of the Blue Bell mine which was published in the Mineralogical

Record issue of November/December 1977. Thi s comprehensi ve arti cle


discussed those minerals which had been found at the Blue Bell
mine up to that time.
The article stimulated the interest of mineral collectors who
have continued to find additional new minerals at the main mine
workings. Collectors expanded their investigations to additional
prospects located within the four Blue Bell claims. Their findings
include more new minerals and different mineral assemblages.
This report is an up-dating of ~iJr. Crowley's report, and it
-5

is hoped that it will continue to encourage collectors to seek


out other new minerals which probably occur at the Blue Bell mine
and prospects.
We wish to thank the following who have so graciously helped
us in assembling the material contained in this report:
Mr. Seldon C. Mahoney, owner of the mine, who has contributed
most of the history of the mine, permits us to collect
at the mine, and supplied supplemental ownership data;
Mr. J. A. Crowley, who in addition to preparing the article
in the Mineralogical Record, donated his Blue Bell study
specimens to the San Bernardino County Museum;
Dr. W. S. Wise, Department of Geological Sciences, University
of California at Santa Barbara, and Dr. A. Kampf, Curator
of Mineralogy, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural
History, who confirmed the identification of minerals found
at the mine by use of x-ray spectography and microprobe
analysis;
Jennifer Reynolds, who typed the final manuscript.
-6

LOCATION AND ACCESS

The Blue Bell mine and its adjacent prospects are located in
the Soda Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, about six
miles north of Interstate Route 15 in the southeast quarter of
Section 2, Township 13 North, Range 7 East, San Bernardino Base
and ~~eri di an.

Trona, California, U.S.G.S. Sheet, 1:250,000.

The mine ;s accessible to collectors in passenger vehicles


with two-wheel drive, providing that caution is used during
-7

driving. Interstate Highway 15 runs south of the mine. The


Zzyzx Road offramp is located 56 miles northeast of Barstow, San
Bernardino County, California, and 97 miles southwest of Las Vegas,
Nevada. The closest gasoline and supplies are located at Baker,
6.4 miles northeast of the Zzyzx offramp. Gas can also be
obtained at Rasor Road, 6.1 miles southwest of the Zzyzx offramp.
You will recognize the Zzyzx offramp as the only ramp whose
name you can not pronounce. Millard Maynard, the Cal Trans
engineer who developed the offramp, had to reorder the freeway
sign several times before the spelling was correct. At the offramp,
the collector goes north and then bears west following pavement.
Before reaching a hill on the left (south), a dirt road leads
northwest across a wash with palo verde trees. This graded dirt
road heads west along the north side of the wash until it reaches
a well-traveled track trending north, an obvious once-graded road
which has survived many rainstorms. Approximately 3.8 miles north
of the wash the Blue Bell mine prospects under claim are visible
to the west. A rough, gully-cut road runs westerly to the southern
Blue Bell workings. Continuing north on the main road from the
Zzyzx offramp the traveler enters a narrow canyon, curving first
west then south, where he arrives at the Blue Bell main workings,
approximately 6.1 miles from the Zzyzx offramp. A dozer road leads
31

18

IS

Baker and Soda Lake 15 minute topographi c maps, scale 1 :62 ,500. 1" 1 mile

~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" --------
-9

ll
to the IIglory hole and adits where there is a remarkable view of
Soda Lake Valley and the road traveled to the mine.
-10

DESCRIPTION

The Blue Bell claims are situated in the Mojave Desert.


Vegetation is predominantly creosote scrub. Temperatures range
well over 100 0 F. during summer months, and can dip below freezing
during the winter. It is frequently windy, a factor which
exacerbates the cold and provides no respite from the heat. Auto-
mobile windshields and finishes can be pitted by blowing sand.
The area receives little overall rainfall. However, when rain
occurs, it is often torrential and accompanied by heavy thunder-
storms. These cloudbursts sometimes remove sections of paved and
unpaved roads. The visitor should be aware of the dangers of
possible sheet flooding and flash flooding in canyons and washes.
Mine tunnels on the Blue Bell claims can offer protection
from heat, cold, wind, and rain. The relative comfort of the
tunnels may also be sought by desert natives such as rattlesnakes.
The Blue Bell area offers abundant space for dry camping.
There are no lIimprovernents ll
such as hook-ups or sanitary facilities.
Campers should bring their own firewood. Both day trippers and
campers must be certain to carry adequate water supplies.
Permission to collect on the Blue Bell claims should be
gained from the owner, Seldon C. Mahoney. Mr. Mahoney can be
contacted through R. E. Reynolds, Curator of Earth Sciences, San
Bernardino County Museum.
-11

Mining was initially done at the Blue Bell mine (Claim No.1,
Loc. 2A). Later work on the adjacent claims resulted in five
prospects which were located in an area to the south of the mine.
Under the cataloging system used by the San Bernardino County
Museum, the Blue Bell mine is known as Location 1-71-2, where
1 San Bernardino County
71 = Soda Mountains
2 = the numbered location of the Blue Bell mine.
Because of the number and variety of mineral species being found
at each of the locations, they are cataloged as 1-71-2A, 1-7l-2B, etc.
For this report, the locations will be referred to simply as
Loc. 2A, Loc. 2B, and so on.
The following sketches show the relationship of the Blue Bell
mine within the claims, and claim and location markers .

./ IUr-<:;..-----/SO 0 I - - - ' ; J~_ --~-- J5 () d-~ -- >J


LDC. /-;r-~A I I
-t-, '. ./-BJ..UE &'UE. ~l.'-
CA61Nfr- " -. =_~_=b~---'r _~_:_O'_~ __ ~
l
v~'
no'
J__ L---------;-L-----lL--~------'
USGS )-'iONl!...'1E..m / ,Loc. 1-7/~.2B IHRU
(APPR,oy.. LoC..).~ 1~7/-ZF JJJ THIS AREP.--

~
I
.
I~ .- -7S0
~r-J,!!.~_,:::s:.~\:
/ I
_u..

NCl • .3
~~
I
7,jO
H.E..
- I f-o r
coR.NO~.w. CO(-(, No.
750 / I
I~
JI-

t
750 /~I
(ffI N.E. CoR.

~
NO. I

to'l
-ti F'" bLUE
T·: N" d "' 0 , 3
BE.LL
• rH"..1
No,:3
NO, 3'~, IYi I<
BLur:, I belL No. I
1 c! c •.. Lj" .. '...._____ .. E.. 1;.t~! 1..
I-~ c). I
! \

3"00/1

i/t~<z~~~; IB:~:'fo,,*~~~: q~V:; ~:~~·~~:.!i


5.£, CDR.
No-I.
N.:-. coR.
No. 2.
BLuE 1[:,£;:1-1. No . .2
-t·{ ,---
I
'.E.J:J.Q.1..tL0 ' , !ll! ......, ' ~~, 5NO cl.J1:?:;:' Wl -~---____ (W" '[.END
NO.2
4
30{/:
~.w. Co~. N().,2.
~--,.---.~--- ---".---

WSGS MoNUMENT Cf-


(APPROX. LOCATION) DIA GR
.:l
~ A
A!\n~ B
_;ll',r-
)r~. c[-r
[)C.L,l.__
I

NO'S~ 1~J-J,Li L (JOE CL;.\ I t\/IS


®:SYMt:)~)l: l_OCATION
MARKER~;!O
So c. MAI-10NEY o SYM ROt.::: L\ I~.Ij
REV. NOV. 7, 198] MARi<EJ-\ S (15)
N

N SCALE:J·q I No= I()O FTv


-13

The Blue Bell mine Loc. 2A consists of several short adits


and small stopes. The largest stope is approximately 22 feet
deep, 22 feet wide, and 13.5 feet high. The roof of the stope is
a breccia cemented by mineralization. A breccia is a mass of
broken rock, and the authors strongly caution collectors that
work in this area can be hazardous.
Loc. 2B is a horizontal adit located near the bottom of the
hill. This;s the tunnel developed by Mr. Atkinson which runs
several hundred feet into the hillside and includes drifts and
stopes.
Following the trail from Loc. 28 up the hill, one finds Loc.
2C. This is also a horizontal adit, approximately 100 feet in
length, with a matrix of hard rock. Several minerals have been
found at this location but it deserves more attention.
Loc. 20 is located on the trail farther up the hill. This
location is a twisting horizontal adit and vertical shafts. The
matrix is a porous limonite alternating with metamorphic rock.
Numerous minerals have been found at the site. This is the
location erroneously called the Atkinson mine by previous collectors.
Beautiful assemblages of various microminerals are still found
at this location.
Locs. 2E and 2F are short vertical shafts located to the
-14

north of the trail uphill from adit 2B. These can be reached
by hiking south from the main Blue Bell workings (Loc. 2A).
Leavi ng Locality 2D, they can be reached by hi ki ng uphi 11 over
a large hypabyssal intrusion.

1.71.2A
Blue Bell mine
main workings

l-7l-2B

l-7l-2F l-71-2E
-
.....
\"
e !'J

c:( 1/
c:::==d.; l-71-2C

"
~
l-71-2D~do.::::
~,,,

!l ~

BLUE BELL PROSPECTS


(not to scale)
The Blue Bell mine: view to the southeast toward the Zzyzx Road offramp on
Interstate Highway 15. The access road to the Blue Bell glory hole (Loc. 2A)
runs past the structures in the foreground. Oblique view, courtesy of
Harris Aerial Photography, Yermo, California.
......
U"1
Southerly view of road terminating at the Blue Bell mine main workings (2A).
Courtesy Harris Aerial Photography, Yermo, California.
......
'"
Access road terminates at main Blue Bell workings (2A). Note foot trails that run easterly
to adjacent prospects and lead to tunnel 2B. View south, courtesy of Harris Aerial Photo- ......,
graphy, Yermo, California.
View west across Blue Bell claims. Access road to main workings (2A) is in distance. Access
road to tunnel (2B) is in foreground. Prospects 2E and 2F appear directly above tunnel 2B. ~

co
Prospects and tunnels 2C and 2D are uphill and southerly (left) of tunnel 2B.
Courtesy Harris Aerial Photography, Yermo, California.
-19

HISTORY

Originally known as the Hard Luck claims 1, 2, 3, and 4,


this area was opened prior to 1920. From at least 1920 the claims
were owned by Mr. Charles Reat until his death in 1952.
There is no record of production at the claims until 1949
when according to L. A. Wright, et al. (1953, p 101) about 80 tons
of lead-silver-copper ore were shipped from the Blue Bell (Hard
Luck) mine to Selby, California. The ore was composed principally
of chrysocolla, malachite, cerussite, galena, and chalcopyrite in
a carbonate gangue and had a smelter recovery of 11% lead, 4.5%
copper, and 4 ounces of silver per ton of are. Wright reported
that the known minable ore bodies were removed.
He further reported that the mine was owned by Mr. Frank Baker
of Barstow, California and leased to Mr. R. V. Waughtel of Manix,
Ca 1i forn i a.
J. G. Goodwin in his report on lead and zinc in California

(1957) reported separately on the Blue Bell mine and on the Hard
Luck group. He reported (page 616) that the mine was worked
again in 1951 with the ore being shipped to Selby, California.
The average of the 1949 and 1951 productions showed an average
smelter recovery of 7.5% lead, 0.95% copper, 5.31 ounces of silver
per ton of ore, and some gold.
-20

The above averages support Wright's statement that minable


ore bodies were removed by 1949 since the ore mined in 1951 would
have to have been of a poor quality to bring the amounts of lead
down from 11% to 7.5% and copper down from 4.5% to 0.95%.
The above reports by Wright and Goodwin are apparently in
error since the mine was owned by Mr. C. Reat. It is probable
that Mr. Baker was only operating the mine for Mr. Reat as he
was known to be doing during the period 1952-1955.
Goodwin in the same report (page 639) discusses the Hard Luck
group as an apparently different location than the Blue Bell mine.
He reports that complex ore from this location was shipped to
Midvale and Tooele, Utah, in 1951 and 1952. The average smelter
recovery for these two years was 8.2% lead, 0.854% copper, 2.75%
zinc, 6.45 ounces of silver per ton of ore, and some gold.
According to Goodwin, the owner was Mr. C. Reat of Inglewood,
California, with Mr. Frank Baker as the operator.
In analysing the smelter recovery reports, it is interesting
to note that the recovery from the Hard Luck group showed 2.75%
zinc but that no zinc was reported in recoveries from the Blue Bell
mine. It is theorized, therefore, that ore taken from the so-
ca~led Hard Luck group was actually taken from Loc. 20 in the
prospects south of the Blue Bell mine. This possibility is
further strengthened by the following comparison of the minerals
-21

which have been found at the two locations:


(1) there has been no evidence of sphalerite being
found at the Blue Bell mine; however, casts of
sphalerite have been found at Lac. 2D;
(2) secondary zinc minerals (hemimorphite, willemite,
etc.) have been very sparse at the Blue Bell mine
but they are very abundant, particularly hemimorphite,
at Loc. 20 in the prospects south of the mine.
Following the death of Mr. C. Reat in 1952, ownership of the
property was taken over by Mrs. Maude L. Reat and her son-in-law
and daughter, Seldon C. and Ardith B. Mahoney.
Their records show that Mr. Frank Baker operated the claims
during the years 1952 through 1955, apparently under a prior
verbal arrangement with Mr. C. Reat. He was probably doing the
same in 1949-1951 as stated above.
These records include one processing report from Midvale,
Utah, which shows that on March 5, 1952 a shipment of 28.06 tons
of ore from the claims was processed.
The smelter recovery from this shipment was reported as
6.7% lead, 0.76% copper, 8.4% iron, 3.10% zinc, 9.30% lime, 0.80%
sulfur, 5.20 ounces of silver per ton of are, and 0.01 ounces
of gold per ton of ore. Zinc is again reported and, also, a
relatively high percentage of iron. There was very little in the
form of iron matrix or minerals found at the Blue Bell mine. The
matrix of minerals found at Loc. 20 is very rich in iron. This
-22

supports the theory that Goodwin's "Hard Luck group" was probably
Loc. 2D.
The owners suspect that other shipments were made during
this period but have no records to verify this.
On January 15, 1957, the Hard Luck claims were leased to
Mr. W. A. Park of Lynwood, California with the stipulation that
he perform annual labor necessary to constitute assessment work
each year the lease was in effect and to have it properly recorded
in the owners name. He neglected to do so and the lease was
nullified for non-performance in January 1958.
In order to protect their interests, Seldon C. and Ardith
B. Mahoney, who were now owners of the property, had a notice of
location recorded on January 28, 1958, for each claim wherein the
name of the claims was changed from Hard Luck Nos. 1,2,3, and 4
to Blue Bell Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
On February 14, 1958, the claims were leased to Mr. W. B.
Long of Los Angeles, California. The lease was subsequently
nullified for non-performance and it is not known whether or
not he shipped any ore.
During recent years the only work at the claims has been done
by mineral collectors for the assemblage of microminerals. At
first this collecting was limited to Loc. 2A (the Blue Bell mine),
but the search soon led to exploration of the prospects to the
-23

south of the mine.


Many new mineral species and assemblages have been found at
these prospects, principally at Loc. 20.
It is interesting to note that this location was once
misnomered the "Atkinson mine" by collectors, and is listed as
such on the Trona sheet of the California Division of Mines
(Jennings et al. 1962).
The present owners advise that Mr. Atkinson worked one of
the prospects (Loc. 2B) starting in 1955 or 1956 without permission
of the owners. His contention that he was working on an area
adjacent to the Blue Bell claims was incorrect and he was forced
to discontinue his work.
Any mineral specimens which have been labeled as being from
the Atkinson mine should be changed to the Blue Bell claims.
The claims are still known as the Blue Bell Nos. 1, 2, 3, and
4, and are still owned by Seldon C. and Ardith B. Mahoney.
-24

GEOLOGY

Geologic mapping of the Soda Mountains was initially done by


Grose (1959); his work is summarized by Jennings, et al. (1962).
The northern Soda Mountains are generally considered as that
portion north and west of Interstate Highway 15.
The oldest rocks exposed in the northern Soda Mountains are
marine carbonate sediments deposited during the late Paleozoic
and early Mesozoic eras. Fossils suggest that the age of the
depositional sequence was through the Carboniferous, Permian,
and Triassic epochs. Doug Walker (in Marzolf and Dunne, 1983) from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently mapping a
detailed stratigraphic section in the northern Soda Mountains.
In a paleogeographic reconstruction of the Soda Mountains,
Marzolf (1982) describes the original marine carbonate sequence
that was subsequently intruded and covered by Triassic volcanic
rocks. In early Jurassic times these rocks were covered by
extensive dune sands.
During the late Mesozoic, the area was intruded by granitic
rocks and subsequently by extensive hypabyssal dikes. Such intru-
sions altered the carbonate sediments, the volcanics, and the
clastic dune sands to marble and chert interfingered with calc-
silicate skarn as well as metavolcanic rocks, quartzites, and
-25

banded hornfels. These rocks are brittle, sometimes porous, a


combination that made them an excellent host for later minerali-
zation.
During the Cenozoic era, possibly in Miocene times, the
northern Soda Mountains received deposits of andesite (Jennings,
et al. 1962) and volcanic ash (Henderson, 1980). The volcanic
ash, perhaps deposited in a lake, can be seen at the Pink Lady
bentonite mine directly north of the Zzyzx offramp.
Faults plotted by Grose (1959) may have been active in late
Tertiary and early Quaternary times after mid-Tertiary deposition
of volcanic ash.
None of the work by the above authors specifically addressed
the timing of emplacement of the sulfide ore body at the Blue Bell
mine. Crowley (1977) suggests correctly that mineralization was
contemporaneous with or later than ~lteration of the Mesozoic
granitic rocks. However, additional detailed field investigation
and mapping will be necessary to adequately attribute ore minerali-
zation to any specific Tertiary event.
-26

MINERALOGY

Forty-five minerals and potential for four unknown minerals


have been found at the different Blue Bell prospects.
The original sulfide ore body and associated gangue minerals
were emplaced by hydrothermal solutions against traps and in
reservoirs in the cold host rock. Later, the ore body was
gradually exposed and oxidized by ground water percolating through
the brecciated rock.
Crowley (1977) suggests that the original constituents of
the ore body were galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, hematite, and
quartz. Galena, hematite, and quartz are the only hypogene minerals
that remain. Galena is probably the source of the fifteen oxide
minerals that contain lead, and may also be the source of the
silver minerals. Sphalerite is absent but the presence of aurichal-
cite, rosasite, smithsonite, willemite, and especially the abun-
dant hemimorphite suggest that a zinc sulfide was present. Chalco-
pyrite is reported as part of the ore processed from the "glory
hole" (Loc. 2A) but has not been collected recently. There are
twelve secondary minerals found at the mine that contain copper.
Crowley (1977) suggests that the absence of pyrite from the
hypogene ore body at the main Blue Bell workings is probably a
significant factor in the supergene mineral assemblage that remains.
-27

This may be a valid postulate that links the supergene deposition


of the main ore body at the "gl ory hole" (Loc. 2A) with the tunnel
developed by Mr. Atkinson (Loc. 2B).
In contrast, Locs. 2C through 2F, particularly Loc. 20, consist
of abundant goethite and limonite boxwork suggesting the presence
of pyrite in the hypogene assemblage. Goethite pseudomorphs
found at Loc. 20 appear to be of two types. Those approximating
cubic habits may have originally been galena or pyrite. Those
with orthorhombic habits may have replaced anglesite or barite.
-28

LIST OF MINERALS

Angl esi te PbS0 4


Apatite Ca5(P04)3F
Aurichalcite (Zn,Cu)5(C0 3)2(OH)6
Brochanti te CU4(S04)(OH)6
Ca 1cite CaC0 3
Caledonite Pb 5Cu 2(C0 3) (S04)3(OH)6
Cerussite PbC0 3
Chalcanthite CuS04· 5H 20
Chalcopyrite CuFeS2
Ch 1orargyrite AgCl
Chrysocolla (Cu,Al)2H2Si205(OH)4'nH20
pseudo aft. aurichalcite
pseudo aft. caledonite
pseudo aft. hemimorphite
pseudo aft. kaolinite
pseudo aft. malachite
Dioptase CUSi0 2 (OH)2
Embol i te Ag(Cl,Br)
Epi dote Ca2(Al,Fe+3)3(Si04)3(OH)
Fl uor; te CaF 2
Fornaci te (Pb,Cu)3[(Cr,As)4 J2(OH)
Ga lena PbS
-29

Goethite alpha-Fe+ 30(OH)


Gold Au
Grossular garnet Ca 3A1 2(Si0 4)3
Gypsum CaS04' 2H 20
var, satin spar
Hematite alpha-Fe 203
Hemimorphi te Zn4Si207(OH)2'H20
Jarosite KFe3(S04)2(OH)6
Kaolinite A1 2Si 205 (OH)4
Kettnerite CaBi(C0 3)OF
Leadhi 11 ite Pb 4(S04)( C03)2(OH)2
Linarite PbCu(S04) (OH)2
Magneti te Fe+2Fe2+304
Malachite CU2(C03)(OH)2
Minium Pb-+ 2Pb+ 404
Murdochite PbCu 6(O,Cl,Br)8
Peri te PbBi 02Cl
Pl attnerite Pb0 2
Plumbogummite (?) PbA1 3(P0 4 )2(OH)5'H 20
Pyrite (?) FeS2
Pyrol usite Mn02
Pyromorphite Pb 5(P0 4)3Cl
-30

Quartz Si0
2
Rosasite (Cu,Zn)2(C0 )(OH)2
3
Smithsonite ( ?) ZnC0 3

Sphalerite (?) (Zn,Fe)S

Tsumebite Pb 2Cu(P0 4 )(S04)(OH)

Wulfeni te PbMo0 4

Willemi te ZnSi0 4

Unknown Mi nera 1 A

Unknown Mi nera 1 B

Unknown Mineral C

Unknown Mi nera 1 0
-31

DESCRIPTION OF MINERALS

NATI VE ELEt1ENTS

Gold Au
There are no known specimens of gold from these locations,
although smelter recovery records indicate that gold was
present (Goodwin 1957, S.C. Mahoney, p.c. 1983).

SULFIDES

Chalcopyrite
No specimens of chalcopyrite are known. However, the mineral
was reported by Wright, et al. (1953) to have been one of the
components of the ore taken from Loc. 2A in 1949-1950.

Galena PbS
Specimens of galena have been found at Loc. 2A. It occurs
as bright cleavages in thin seams coated with gray and brown
oxide minerals. It was reported in Wright, et al. (1953) as one
of the components of the ore mined at Loc. 2A in 1949-1950.
Goethite pseudomorphs from Loc. 20 that have a cubic habit
may be after galena or, possibly, pyrite.

Pyrite (?)
Goethite boxwork is abundant at Loc. 20 in contrast to other
-32

areas. Cubic goethite pseudomorphs at this locality may be


after pyrite or galena.

Sphalerite (?) (Zn,Fe)S


Sphalerite has not been found at any of the locations. It
is considered, however, to have been one of the hypogene minerals
because of the abundant secondary zinc minerals present at the
mine (Crowley 1977).

OXIDES

Goethite alpha-Fe+ 30(OH)


Goethite has been reported from Loc. 20. It occurs as small
honey-colored balls with a radiating crystal structure. Goethite
boxwork and goethite pseudomorphs also occur at Loc. 20.

Hematite
The specular variety of hematite is reported from Loc. 2A
by Crowley (1977) and flat blades of hematite have been reported
from cavities in the garnet-rich host rock.
At Loc. 20 hematite occurs as irregular single and multiple
crystals in a granular auartz matrix filling rectangular cavities
apparently left by sulfide minerals. When broken, the color
transmitted from the partings is a deep ruby-red. The streak is
-33

reddish-brown. Fragments are not magnetic but are sometimes


intergrown with magnetite.

Magnetite
Magnetite has been found at Loc. 20 as black octahedral and
dodecahedral crystals. These occur with granular quartz and
irregular hematite crystals within rectangular cavities apparently
left after sulfide minerals were oxidized. The crystals are black
on broken surfaces and have a black streak. They are easily
attracted to a magnet or magnetized needle. On one specimen the
dodecahedrons are coated with clear quartz and also covered with
a thin layer of chalcedony.

Minium
Minium has been found at Loc. 20 as red secondary coatings
around vugs possibly left by galena.

Murdochite
r1urdochite occurs as black, cubic crystals at Lac. 2A
where it is associated with chrysocolla pseudomorphs. It is
also found at Loc. 20 as black cubic crystals and masses on
wulfenite and on blades of chrysocolla pseudomorphs. The
murdochite sometimes completely replaces the wulfenite.
Murdochite octohedrons (W.S. Wise) occur on hemimorphite at Lac. 20.
-34

Black cubes of murdochi te (0.05 mm) on 1.7 mm spray of blue


auri chalci te. Sugar Whi te specimen and photograph.

Pl attneri te
Plattnerite has been found as black acicular crystals and
masses on calcite rhombs at Loc. 2A and at Loc. 2D. At Loc. 2B
brilliant black, short, equidimensional crystals of plattnerite
have been found in stopes along the adit.

Pyrol usite
Dendrites in fractures and black earthy masses found at
Locs. 2A and 20 appear to be pyrolusite.
-35

HALIDES

Ch 1orargyri te AgCl
Chlorargyrite was reported to have been found at Loc. 2A
by Croy/ley (1977). He reports that it is inconspicuous but
relatively common when looked for. It is associated with
chrysocolla, quartz, and dioptase in black to brown siliceous
ore. The chlorargyrite occurs as brown to purplish-brown cubes
and cubo-octahedrons. The crystals are seldom over a few mm in
size.
Some have expressed concern that this occurrence may have
been embolite, which has since been found at this location and
which has been verified by microprobe by Dr. W. S. Wise, University
of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). See description of embolite,
foll owi ng.

Embolite Ag (Cl ,Br)


Embolite occurs as yellowish and olive-green crystals and
waxy masses at both Loc. 2A and Lac. 20. Its identity has been
confinned by microprobe analysis by Dr. ~J. S. Wise, UCSB. Dr.
Wise uses the name "embolite" for the silver mineral which has
approximately equal proportions of bromine and chlorine.
-36

Greenish-yellow embolite crystal. John Jenkins


specimen and photograph.

At Loc. 2A embolite is generally associated with chrysocolla.


At Loc. 20 it is more widespread and is found individually
and in association with hemimorphite, quartz, calcite, fluorite,
and perite. Occasionally all are found on the same specimen.
Several specimens show olive-green embolite crystals in
parallel growth over brownish to black crystals which are also
apparently embolite. The color of embolite with a higher bromine
content is said to be less stable than that with a high chlorine
content. The color change noted above may suggest a decrease
in bromine with continued deposition of embolite.
-37

Fl uori te

Clear colorless fluorite.


John Jenkins specimen
and photograph.

Clear colorless fluorite cube (2.7 rrun) with fan ofhemimorphite.


Sugar Whi te specimen and photograph.
-38

Colorless, transparent cubes and octahedrons of fluorite


occur at Loc. 2A; the cubic form is most common. Fluorite
crystallized late and Crowley (1977) reports that it has been
found on all of the minerals except brochantite.
At Loc. 2D fluorite is found with hemimorphite, quartz,
embolite, wulfenite, murdochite, calcite, kettnerite, and perite.
It occurs as clusters of intergrown crystals which are occasionally
tinged lavender or purplish at the edges or zoned purple in
th~ center. Opaque purple octohedrons also occur.
Clear, colorless crystals of fluorite with inclusions of
chrysocolla pseudomorphs make very attractive specimens.

CARBONATES

Aurichalcite
Crystals of aurichalcite have been identified by x-ray
analysis by Dr. A. Kampf, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural
History (LACM). The crystals were found at Loc. 2C associated
with hemimorphite. The crystals are clear, aquamarine in color,
and are flat with a blunt termination.
Aurichalcite occurs sparingly at Loc. 20 as spherules of
sky-blue radiating crystals. Pseudomorphs of chrysocol1a
-39

presumably after aurichalcite are found at Loc. 2D.

Calcite
Calcite was one of the last minerals to crystallize at
the Blue Bell. At Loc. 2A it occurs as clear, colorless rhombo-
hedrons usually associated with dioptase and as c~rved, bladed
crystals (Crowley 1977). It has also been found at this location
as groups of six-sided, clear colorless crystals.
At Loc. 20 calcite has been found as multi-faced crystals
associated with hemimorphite, quartz, fluorite, and embolite.
It also occurs as clear bladed crystals on quartz and associated
with fluorite. Calcite was recently found at Loc. 20 as white,
curved, flat crystals resembling wood shavings. At Loc. 2B matrix
is covered with scalenohedral calcite crystals.

Cerussite
Cerussite occurs at Loc. 2A as clear coatings showing
crystal faces and striations on matrix with tsumebite and
kaolinite, sometimes enclosing both. In the same area, it is
found with and coating chrysocolla pseudomorphs.
Crowley (1977) records bladed cerussite crystals, usually
stained red-brown, which predate the sulfate minerals and have
linarite, caledonite, and leadhillite formed on them, and as
-40

milky white subhecral crystals which formed late in the sequence


at Loc. 2A.

Kettneri te
Kettnerite has been identified by x-ray diffraction and
microprobe methods by Dr. ~. S. Wise, UCSB. It occurs as white
s~uare plates having a pearly micaceous luster. These are grouped
in irregula.r masses and balls associated with perite, hemimor-
phite, embolite, fluorite, and chrysocolla pseudomorphs at Loc. 2D.

Leadhi 11 ite
Colorless to pale ice-blue milky coatings of leadhillite
have been found at Loc. 2A, often associated with caledonite,
sometimes with linarite, and rarely with dioptase or cerussite.
Individual crystals a few mm in size form aggregates of up to
several square cm. The pseudohexagonal crystals have the c-axis
approximately normal to, parallel to, or slightly inclined to
the matrix (Crowley 1977).

Malachite
Malachite has been found at Loc. 2D with hemimorphite and
aurichalcite, and altering to chrysocolla. Malachite occurs as
flat fronds of green crystals in loose bundles, sometimes
-41

isolated but commonly in mounds radiating from a central source.

Rosasite
Light green, fuzzy, powdery coatings of rosasite are found
on some of the minerals at Loc. 2A (Crowley 1977).

Smithsonite (?)
Black oxides form casts over scalenohedral crystals which
may have been smithsonite at Loc. 2D.

SULFATES

Anglesite
Coatings of milky white subhedral anglesite crystals with a
greasy luster occur at Loc. 2A, often coated with linarite and
sometimes with caledonite or brochantite. Brilliant colorless
druses of angelsite crystals also occur covered with linarite
and caledonite (Crowley 1977).
Goethite pseudomorphs with an orthorhombic habit from Loc.
2D may be after ang1esite.

Brochantite
Brochantite has been found at both Locs. 2A and 2B. At Loc.
2A it occurs as deep green crystals of acicular to stubby prismatic
-42

habit. It usually occurs with linarite and also has been found
associated with anglesite, hemimorphite, and caledonite (Crowley
1977). Brilliant green brochantite crystals on and being
replaced by chrysocolla are found at Loc. 2B associated with
1inari te.

Caledonite
At Loc. 2A caledonite occurs as fine, flat-lying bright
turquoise-blue crystals up to 2 cm in length, and growing from
sides of fissures as stubby prismatic crystals up to several mm
long with roundish and poorly-developed terminations. It occurs
with 1inarite, leadhi 11 ite, anglesite, and sometimes '.'/ith cerussite
and dioptase. Fine druses of caledonite with linarite and/or
leadhi11ite reach 10 x 15 cm. Caledonite and linarite commonly
grade into each other in the same crystal; both were among the
earliest minerals to crystallize (Crowley 1977). Caledonite
replaced by chrysocolla and associated with fornacite has also
been found at Loc. 2A.

Cha 1canthite
Chalcanthite has been found at the Atkinson tunnel, Loc. 2B.
It occurs as bright blue fibrous crystals and occasional "rams
horns" lining seams.
-43

Gypsum
The satin spar variety of gypsum has been found at Loc. 2A.
At Loc. 20 gypsum variety satin spar is found as loose "rams
horns " associated with fluorite and dioptase.

Jarosite
Jarosite has been found at Locs. 2A and 20 as brownish resin-
colored pseudo-cubic crystals and as flat crystals with large
c-faces.

Linarite
Brilliant royal blue bladed crystals of linarite up to three
cm long are relatively common at Loc. 2A. The longer crystals
usually lack good terminations in contrast to smaller transparent
crystals because of contact with matrix or other minerals. The
crystals are striated parallel to the long axis. Since linarite
crystals have been reported with cerussite cores, it may replace
cerussite. Linarite also replaces or is replaced by caledonite
and brochanthite (Crowley 1977).
Linarite has also been found at Loc. 2B with, on, and altering
to chrysocolla and in association with brochantite.
-44

CHROMATES

Fornacite
Fornacite was found at Loc. 2A in 1983. It occurs as small,
dark olive-green, bladed crystals associated with fluorite,
dioptase, wulfenite, and cerussite. A granular yellow-green
mineral often found associated with fornacite has the same
streak and may also be fornacite.

Dark olive-green fornacite crystal (0.8 mm).


Sugar White specimen and photograph.

PHOSPHATES

Apatite
Apatite crystals occur at Loc. 20 as squat barrels on
jarosite and as spheres, hemispheres. and rarely as fans
-45

of loosely knit, equal length crystals radiating from a common


center. Individual crystals appear hexagonal with a pinacoid
termination and are clear to white.

Plumbogummite (?)
A mineral of similar composition to that of plumbogummite
occurs as yellow-green halos and crusts in association with
tsumebite at Loc. 2A. This identification is only tentative
because there is insufficient material for an x-ray diffraction
photograph. The microprobe (Wise, UCSB) detected major amounts
of Pb, Al, and P.

Pyromorphite
Pyromorphite has been found as white to yellow prismatic
crystals associated with tsumebite and kaolinite at Loc. 2A.
In tunnel 2C it occurs as green hexagonal crystals with pinacoidal
terminations. It is found at Loc. 2E as very minute yellow
hexagonal crystals. These pyromorphite specimens were analysed
with microprobe by Dr. W. S. Wise (UCSB).

Tsumebite
Tsumebite has been found at Loc. 2A where it occurs as
complex, emerald-green crystals associated with cerussite, pyro-
morphite, plumbogummite (?), and kaolinite. It was identified
-46

by x-ray methods (A. Kampf, LACM).

ANTI MONATES

Peri te
Perite has been identified by x-ray analysis' by Dr. A.
Kampf (LACM) as occuring at Loc. 20. It is found as yellow mica-
ceous masses associated with kettnerite, hemimorphite, embolite,
fluorite, quartz, and chrysocolla pseudomorphs.
Perite was apparently one of the earlier minerals formed at
this location as it is found embedded in the limonitic matrix and
coated with quartz druses which sometimes line the vugs in the
matrix.

MOLYBDATES

Hulfenite
At. Loc. 2A wulfenite occurs as yellow tabular crystals
of varying forms about 1 mm in size. Wulfenite crystallized
late in the sequence and usually occurs by itself or on dioptase.
(Crowl ey 1977).
It is also found at Loc. 2A as small, bright-yellow to
orange-yellow amoeba-like blebs lying flat on the matrix.
-47

Clear yello.v wulfeni te crystal wi th fans of hemimorphi te.


John Jenkins specimen and photograph.

Clear yellow wulfenite (largest 2.5 rom) and clear colorless cubes
of fluori te (largest.6 11l1W.Sugar Whi te specimen and photograph.
-48

Wulfenite occurs at Lo~. 20 as clear to cloudy yellow tabular


crystals with variable pyramid faces. It is with or covered by
fluorite, dioptase, hemimorphite, and murdochite. Murdochite
in some instances completely replaces the wulfenite.

SILICATES

Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla occurs at both Locs. 2A and 20 as beautiful
sky-blue pseudomorphs after aurichalcite, hemimorphite, malachite,
and occasionally caledonite and kaolinite.
At Loc. 2A chrysocolla is found associated with embolite,
dioptase, quartz, and chlorargyrite. It can occur pseudo-
morphic after caledonite in sharp crystals. It also replaces
kaolinite and is covered with orange or pale yellow pyromorphite
crystals.
At Loc. 20 is is found intergrowing with clear colorless
cubes of fluorite and emerald-green dioptase crystals. All of
these are sometimes found on the same specimen.
It is also found as inclusions in clear, colorless cubes
of fluorite.
-49

Spray of sky-blue chrysocolla after ma.i achi te (1.4 mm).


Sugar White specimen and photograph.

Chrysocolla pseudomorphs,
possibly after malachite,
with clear colorless
fluori te cubes.
John Jenkins specimen
and photograph.

L -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~
-50

Dioptase
Brilliant light emerald-green druses of acicular to
rod-shaped microscopic dioptase crystals with flat and pyramidal
terminations occur at Loc. 2A. Found in the periphery of the
ore body, it formed on most of the minerals present, and is
commonly associated with chrysocolla. Although dl0ptase formed
late in the crystal sequence, it is often coated with chlorar-
gyrite (Crowley 1977).
At Loc. 2D dioptase if found with chrysocolla pseudomorphs,
fan-shaped aggregates of hemimorphite crystals, clear colorless
fluorite, quartz, and gypsum. It occurs as individual crystals
and groups of crystals.

Epidote
Bright, transparent, olive- to pistachio-green crystals
of epidote are found in flat-lying groups filling and coating
fractures in the host rock at Loc. 2E.

Grossular Garnet
Yellow crystals and masses of grossular garnet have been
found at Locs. 2B and 2D restricted to calcite-filled vugs in
the host rock. These vugs have occasionally been emptied of
calcite and now contain secondary minerals deposited upon the
garnet.
-51

Hemimorphite
Small transparent blades of hemimorphite are common in the
peripheral areas of Loc. 2A, generally in the same areas as
dioptase and other silicates (Crowley 1977).
At Loc. 20 it is even more common. It occurs as sprays of
crystals sometimes sprinkled with microscopic clear colorless
singly and doubly terminated quartz crystals, clear colorless
cubes of fluorite, and multi-faced calcite crystals. It can be
associated with perite, kettnerite, and olive-green crystals and
masses of waxy embolite on a limonite matrix.

Clear colorless hemimorphite crystals form rosette.


John Jenkins specimen and photograph.

It also occurs as fan-shaped aggregates of clear crystals


-52

associated with dioptase, fluorite, and sky-blue chrysocolla


pseudomorphs of various minerals.
Some specimens have tightly grouped flat-lying crystals of
hemimorphite which resemble buttons and are blackish in color.
These are usually associated with quartz. Other specimens show
hemimorphite as branching groups of clear, striated crystals in
nearly parallel position tapering down to a point. These are
associated with quartz which lines the vugs in the limonite
matrix.
Hemimorphite also occurs as short blocky prismatic crystals
both singly and doubly terminated and associated with clear to
cloudy singly and doubly terminated quartz crystals, emerald-
green dioptase, and sky-blue chrysocolla pseudomorphs.

Kaolinite
Kaolinite occurs at Loc. 2A as white spherules which are
associated with pyromorphite, tsumebite. and chrysocolla
pseudomorphs. It has been identified by x-ray diffraction by
Dr. W. S. Wise (UCSB). At this locality. the chrysocolla may
have replaced kaolinite.

Quartz
Tiny transparent, sparkly crystals of quartz are associated
-53

with other silicate minerals at Loc. 2A. It appears to have


crystallized late in the sequence (Crowley 1977).
At Loc. 20 quartz appears to have crystallized in two
stages. It is found as masses and crystals as part of the
limonitic matrix. It is also found as clear to milky-white singly
and doubly terminated minute crystals growing on nemimorphite
and on blades of chrysoco1la pseudomorphs. It can be associated
with perite, fluorite, embolite, and calcite.

Wi llemi te
Willemite has been found at Loc. 20 where it occurs as
short, hexagonal, colorless crystals forming radiating sprays in
association with hemimorphite. It has been identified by Dr. A.
Kampf (LACM) by x-ray analysis.

UNKNOWN MINERALS

Unknown Mineral A is found at Lac. 20 forming white casts


after hemimorphite, sometimes with clear fluorite cubes on the
casts.

Unknown Mineral B occurs at Lac. 20 as black granular


coatings on grossu1ar garnet crystals and masses.
-54

Unknown Mineral C is found at Loc. 20 as a black mineral


either coating or replacing hemimorphite.

Unknown Mineral D occurs at Loc. 2D as a black mineral


layered between perite and quartz in vugs in the limonitic
matrix.

Unknown mineral A, white casts after hemimorphite.


Sugar White specimen and photograph.
-55

PARAGENESIS

The hypothetical suite of hypogene minerals deposited in


the vicinity of workings Loc. 2C and 20 may have been somewhat
different than those that Crowley (1977) suggests were deposited
at the main Blue Bell workings. Geographically, the latter would
appear to include Localities 2A and 2B described herein. Because
of apparent differences, we have included Crowley's paragenesis
which is followed by a discussion of minerals from Locs. 2C/20.
The great variety ·of minerals, reversals in crystalliza-
tion sequence, and rapid changes in mineral assemblages
in the same fissure both vertically and laterally over the
space of a few cm or less make the application of Eh-pH
diagrams difficult. The Eh-pH conditions in the solutions
apparently changed considerably during secondary mineral
formation. Some general observations can be made about the
assemblages however. Conditions were initially near
neutral, which allowed the cerussite to form. With time,
the solutions became progressively more acidic and finally
a reversal toward higher pH and eventually mildly alkaline
conditions occurred. The acidic conditions through most
of the time of secondary mineral formation would account
for the general lack of limonitic minerals in the Blue Bell
mine [Loc. 2A], the iron having been carried away by the
acid solutions. In addition, a pyrite-deficient hypogene
assemblage would also help to explain the lack of limonitic
material.

According to Jarrell (1944) brochantite forms from mildly


acid, dilute sulfate solutions. The transition from neutral
to acidic conditions probably coincided with the formation
of brochantite. Then the transition from acidic to alka-
line conditions occurred after the formation of the second
stage brochantite. The formation of the hemimorphite-dioptase-
wulfenite mineral assemblage then occurred under neutral
to alkaline conditions, after the cessation of the crystalli-
-56

zation of brochantite. The solutions in the ore body were


initially copper bearing, and became progressively enriched
in lead and other ions as oxidation progressed and pH dropped.
These types of conditions would explain the assemblage in
order of crystallization of brochantite --~ linarite --~
caledonite + anglesite. When conditions began to change
towards higher pH, these minerals again came into their
stability field and crystallized in the reverse sequence;
caledonite --~ 1inarite --~ brochantite with excess
lead forming anglesite or combining with carbonate to form
cerussite. As stated by Takahashi (1960), anglesite and
cerussite are metastable under neutral conditions.
(Crowley 1977)

At Locations 2Cj2D the presence of pyrite in the original


sulfide pod is suspected because of the abundance of goethite and
other iron oxides and sulfates, as well as the presence of cubic
pseudomorphs. The presence of galena (argentiferous?), sphalerite,
and chalcopyrite is suggested by the relatively abundant zinc,
copper, silver, and lead minerals. Two secondary minerals suggest
that bismuth may have been present as bismuthinite or within
another sulfide (galena?). Orthorhombic pseudomorphs suggest the
presence of anglesite, or possibly barite, as a gangue mineral.
The primary sulfide ore body may have included metals such
as iron, zinc~ copper, lead, silver, and bismuth (?). After
emplacement, it may have been oxidized, as Crowley suggests, by
near-neutral solutions. The copper and lead groups dispersed
while the iron group remained. The minerals used by Crowley as
indicators of high acid conditions are not present at Locs. 2Cj2D.
-57

Alkaline conditions may have caused crystallization of magnetite


and hematite locally within goethite pseudomorphs. Perite
crystallized soon after, and is the earliest identified bismuth
mineral in the 2C/20 suite. The iron oxides and perite were
then coated with a first generation of quartz.
The carbonate minerals malachite, aurichalcite, and smith-
sonite (?) appear to be the earliest secondary copper and zinc
minerals to crystallize at prospects 2Cj2D. Silicate-rich solutions
then monopolize the zinc and copper, forming hemimorphite and
chrysocolla. The latter often replaces the former, as well as
the carbonate minerals. Fluorite, rare in oxidized zones (Palache
et al. 1944), crystallized from this point on, until late in the
sequence.
A change in supergene deposition is implied when the deposi--
tion of chrysocolla and hemimorphite gave way to the deposition
of willemite and then a second generation of quartz. Around this
time, the crystallization of jarosite was followed by apatite,
the earliest phosphate, and kettnerite, the latest bismuth
mineral. Subsequently, pyromorphite and wulfenite crystals preci-
pitated. The latest lead minerals to occur were plattnerite
and murdochite, the latter sometimes entirely replacing wulfenite.
Subsequently, fluorite and dioptase crystals proliferate and
-58

are intermixed with embolite. The only minerals to crystallize


1ater at Locs. 2C/2D are calcite, auri cha 1cite, and gypsum.
The paragenetic sequence at Locs. 2C/2D suggests that
oxidation of the original sulfide body produced oxides of iron and
lead/bismuth, followed by copper carbonates.
Successive deposition was influenced by silica-rich fluids.
Seven mineral species contain bromine, chlorine, and fluorine.
There is a possibility that these halogens and phosphorus were
introduced with the siliceous fluids. Their abundance raises the
question of whether the silica-rich solutions coincided with or
followed local mid-Tertiary siliceous eruptions in the Mojave Desert.
\~ulfenite was formed by reacti on of lead in the deposit with
molybdate radicals transported from relatively distant porphyrys.
Phosphates such as pyromorphite are rare in the southwestern
United States. The lack of arsenate minerals at the mine may
reflect an absence of arsenic in the sulfide ore body.
The source of the elements of the latest minerals to crystallize,
carbonates and sulfates of calcium and zinc, are available locally.
They were deposited by percolating ground water.
There are apparent variations in mineral species and sequence
of deposition between the main workings (Locs. 2A/2B) and those
prospects to the south (Locs. 2C/2D). The lack of similarity may
-59

partially be due to compositional differences in the original


sulfide bodies. The alteration of these sulfide bodies may
have been by fluids of differing degrees of acidity.
Altogether, the suite of minerals from the Blue Bell claims
is rare, colorful, and offers further opportunity for detailed
study as well as enrichment of species, locality: and micromount
mineral collections.
-60

REFERENCES

Crowley, J.A., 1977. r1inerals of the Blue Bell mine, San Bernar-
dino County, California. The Mineralogical Record, Vol.
8, No.6, pp 494-496, 518.
Goodwin, J.G., 1957. Lead and zinc in California. California
Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 53, pp 353-724.
Grose, L. T., 1959. Structure and petrology of the northeast
part of the Soda r~ountains, San Bernardino County, Cali forni a.
Geological Society of America Bulletin 70, pp 1509-1548.
Henderson, G. V., 1980. Geology of the Pink Lady bentonite
mine, Zzyzx, California, in Geology and mineral wealth
of the California desert,IFife and Brown, eds. South
Coast Geological Society, p. 278.
Jarrell, 0. W., 1944. Oxidation at Chuquicamata, Chile. Economic
Geology, 39, pp 251-286.
Jennings, C.W., J.L. Burnett and B.W. Troxel, 1962. Geologic map
of California, Trona sheet, 1 :250,000. California Division
of Mines and Geology.
Marzolf, John C., 1982. Paleogeographic implications of the
early Jurassic (?) Navajo and Aztec sandstones. Geological
Society of America Abstracts of Programs.
Palache, Charles, H. Berman, and C. Fronde1, 1944. The system of
mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury
Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh Edition, Vo1s
I, II. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Takahashi, T., 1960. Supergene alteration of zinc and lead
deposits in limestone. Economic Geology, 55, pp 1083-1115.
Walker, Douglas, 1983. preliminary report, stratigraphy of the
northern Soda Mountains, in Evolution of early Mesozoic
tectonostratigraphic environments, southwestern Colorado
Plateau to southern Inyo Mountains, Marzolf and Dunne, eds.
Field trip guide, Geological Society of America.
-61

Wright, L.A., R.M. Stewart, T.E. Gay Jr., and G.C. Hazenbush,
1953. Mines and mineral deposits of San Bernardino
County, California. California Journal of Mines and
Geology, Vol. 49, pp 49-192.

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi