Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
The
-
...
...
-...
...
...
•
-..
THE
BLUE BELL CLAIMS
San Bernardino County, California
by
January 1984
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ........................................ 2
Introduction ................................... 4
Descripti on .................................... 10
History ........................................ 19
Geology ........................................ 24
Paragenesis .................................... 55
References ..................................... 60
-2
PREF/I.CE
Robert E. Reynolds
Curator, Earth Sciences
San Bernardino County Museum
-4
INTRODUCTION
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.
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
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 .
~
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
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 ~
co
Prospects and tunnels 2C and 2D are uphill and southerly (left) of tunnel 2B.
Courtesy Harris Aerial Photography, Yermo, California.
-19
HISTORY
(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
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
GEOLOGY
MINERALOGY
LIST OF MINERALS
Quartz Si0
2
Rosasite (Cu,Zn)2(C0 )(OH)2
3
Smithsonite ( ?) ZnC0 3
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
OXIDES
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
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
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.
Fl uori te
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
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
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
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.
PHOSPHATES
Apatite
Apatite crystals occur at Loc. 20 as squat barrels on
jarosite and as spheres, hemispheres. and rarely as fans
-45
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
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 yellow wulfenite (largest 2.5 rom) and clear colorless cubes
of fluori te (largest.6 11l1W.Sugar Whi te specimen and photograph.
-48
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
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.
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
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
PARAGENESIS
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.