i 5,';' i:; ] \ I ^,_|^_g|g„gy. MMM STATE OF CALIFORNIA GOODWIN I. KNIGHT, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DEWnT NELSON, Director DIVISION OF MINES FERRY BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO 11 OLAF P. JENKINS, Chief San Francisco BULLETIN 173 December 1956 MINERALS OF CALIFORNIA By JOSEPH MURDOCH University of Caliiomia, Los Angek j Los Angeles, Caliiomia and ROBERT W. WEBB University of California, Santa Barbara College Goleta, California Price $3.00 LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CAUfORNIA DAVIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL To Ills Excellency The Hoxorable Goodwin J. Knight Governor of ihe State of California Dear Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith Bulletin 173, Min- erals of California, prepared under the direction of Olaf P. Jenl has been prepared by Dr. Joseph Murdoch of the Uni- versity of California, Los Angeles, and Dr. Robert W. Webb of the University of California, Santa Barbara College, as part of a continu- ing- cooperative laroject between tlie Division of Mines and the State Universit}'. Respectfidly submitted, DeWitt Nelson, Director Department of Natural Resources October 26, 1956 ( 3 ) Figure 1A. BKXITULTK. Crystals with neptunite in natrolite. ('ourtcsif Julius Gislei-; photo by Gabriel Moulin Studio. Figure IB. NEPTUXITE. Crystals with benitoite and joaquinite in natrolite. Courtesy Juliiit Gisler; photo by Gabriel Motilin Studio. CONTENTS Page Preface 7 Introduction 11 Historical and geological sketches 13 Aboriginal and Indian minerals 13 Tlie discovery of gold in California 16 Borax 18 Crestmore 23 Pegmatite gem area of southern California 25 Cerro Gordo 27 The glaueophane schists 28 Uranium and rare-earth minerals 29 The Dana classification of California minerals 30 Description of California minerals and mineral localities 35 Bibliography 355 Serials consulted 355 Keferenees 362 (5) 3—33804 PREFACE Widespread interest in California minerals and mineral resources began earlj' in the liistorj' of the state, and has continued to increase to the present time. It has received a great impetus by the organization of many mineral societies, which have multiplied in number, and now have large memberships in California. The increasing number of min- erals and mineral occurrences which are still being reported reflects this growing interest, and is shown in the swelling size of successive catalogs of California minerals. The first catalog was W. P. Blake's, which was published in 1866, and listed 77 mineral species in a small pamphlet of 31 pages. It was followed in 1884 by a list compiled by H. G. Hanks, then State Min- eralogist, carrying 135 species. In 1914, A. S. Eakle compiled a com- prehensive list of minerals found in California, including 352 species, which was publi.shed as Bulletin 67 of the State Mining Bureau. A re- vision by the same author in 192-3 increased the number of known species to 417 (Bulletin 91"), and a re^asion by Professor Adolf Pabst, University of California, Berkeley, issued in 1938, increased the num- ber of known species to 446 (Bulletin 113). In 1948, Professors Joseph Murdoch and Robert "W. "Webb published a completely reorganized catalog (Bulletin 136) in which it was en- deavored to provide written, or at least authoritative verbal confirma- tion, of all mineral occurrences already listed, of all new entries representing old occurrences not previously mentioned, and of occur- rences discovered since 1938, \ip to and including 1945. This was not possible in all eases, because many earlier references are apparently nowhere documented, and represent verbal information from some un- recorded source, personal observation, or hearsay. This is particularly the case with entries in Eakle 's Bulletins 67 and 91; he added many items undoubtedly from his own extensive investigations throughout the state, and often did not indicate which ones these were. Bulletin 136 included some 70 additional species, and increased the total for the state to 516 definite minerals, besides many sub-species or varieties. The present bulletin increases the total to 523, even with the discredit- ing of several earlier-noted minerals. In the preparation of the 1948 Bulletin 136, the writers scanned personally all the literature dealing in any way with California min- erals, and many publications of a non-geologic natiire which were suspected of carrying mineralogic information. In this search, nearly 160 serials were consulted, in most eases from their earliest numbers. Besides these, many individual piiblications were studied. From these sources, references to thousands of individual occurrences were accumu- lated and compiled. In Bulletin 136 the introductory portion was considerably enlarged to include historical and geologic sketches of famous mineral localities. These localities — ^the Mother Lode, Crestmore, Searles Lake, Pala and Mesa Grande, and others — have contributed many minerals found for the first time in California. A list of these minerals, with the dates of their first published descriptions, follows: (T) 8 MINERALS OF CALIFORNIA fBull. 173 Pirssonite, 1896 t Palacheite, 1003 Bakerite, 1903 Boothite, 1903 Tychite, 1905 Benitoite, 1907 Arcanite, 1908 Joaquinite, 1909 t Neocolemanitc, 1911 Palaite, 1912 Salmonsite, 1912 Sicklerite, 1912 Stewartite, 1912 Inyoite, 1914 Meycrhofferite, 1914 Searlesite, 1914 Wilkeite, 1914 t Crestmoreite, 1917 t Eakleite, 1917 Griffithite, 1917 t Riversideite, 1917 Plazolite, 1920 Vonsenite, 1920 t Jurupaite, 1921 Merwinite, 1921 Kcmpite, 1924 Foshagite, 1925 Kernite, 1927 Chromrutile, 1928 Probertite, 1929 Curtisite, 1930 Krausite, 1931 Sanbornite, 1931 Schairerite, 1931 Tilleyite, 1933 Burkeite, 1935 Woodhouseite, 1937 Ellestadite, 1937 Teepleite, 1938 Vpatchite, 1938 t Nuevite, 1946 Sahamalite, 1954 Partzite, 1807 Meloiiite. 1867 Mariposite, 1868 Calavcrite, 1868 Metacinnabar, 1870 Aragotite, 1873 t Trautwinite. 1873 Stibioforrite, 1873 Rosooelite, 1875 Posepnyte, 1877 t Sonomaitp. 1S77 lonite, 1878 Tincalconite, 1878 Colemanite, 1883 Hanksite, 1884 Napalitp, 1888 Sulphohalite, 1888 Knoxvillite, 1890 Rpdingtonite, 1890 Iddingsite, 1893 Lawsonite, 1895 Nnrtbnpite, 1895 In this bulletin, minerals are arrangjed in alphabetical order, so that only the name of the mineral need be known to find it immediately. A very complete system of cross-referencing has been employed, so that varietal names (such as chrysotile) are referred to the main entry (as serpentine). It is recognized that this arrangement separates min- erals which belong to common groups, but the convenience of the alphabetical scheme is thought to outweigh this scattering of groups. For the benefit of those who wish a survey of related minerals, a table of California minerals, a classification modified from the most recent Dana classification, has been compiled, and is also presented herein. Occurrences are listed by counties for each mineral ; and when of particular importance or interest, are accompanied by a brief descrip- tion of their geologic setting. For each occurrence, whenever possible, one or more references to the literature are given, so that the user may turn to the original description, which is ordinarily more detailed than can be given here. A number of occurrences [marked (N. R.)] still lack \vritten, or even adequate verbal documentation, and the writers will be glad to have drawn to their attention any reference to or confirmation of such eases. Occurrences verified by personal communica- tion are marked (p.c.) ; those represented by specimens in the exhibit of the Division of Mines at San Francisco carry the letters S.M.B., and the specimen number, as S.M.B. (5158). Species first discovered in California are marked by an asterisk (*), and followed by the date of the first published description. Discredited species are marked by a dagsrer (f). Under each mineral, preceding the list of occurrences, is given a brief description, to assist in its identification without the use of elaborate equipment. This description includes the chemical composition, crystal form and habit if distinctive, cleavage, hardness (H.), specific gravity (G.), sometimes luster, and occasionally chemical or blowpipe tests which may readily be made. The technical details of description, omitted here for the sake of simplicity, may be found in any standard textbook on mineralogy. t Discredited species. 1956] PREFACE y The bibliography, coiitaininp: some 2,000 titles, does not attempt to cover all notices of California minerals, but it is by far the most com- prehensive yet assembled on California mineral occnrrences. It lists all important publications in the field, and practically all those of lesser importance. Occurrences noted since January 1, 1955 are being currently accumu- lated and filed, for future supplements of the Bulletin, and information on new or omitted occurrences, and corrections, are solicited. Such in- formation may be sent to either of the authors or to the Division of Mines in San Francisco. It would be impracticable to acknowledge the services of all who liave cooperated in the preparation of this volume, but the writers wish to express their thanks to the following, who have made important contributions to the work: Professor Adolf Pabst, University of Cali- fornia, Berkeley; Professor A. 0. Woodford, Pomona College; the late Professor Charles Palache, Harvard University ; Dr. W. T. Schaller, U. S. Geological Survey ; Dr. W. F. Foshag, U. S. National Museum ; the late Mr. M. Vonsen, Petaluma, California; the member Societies of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies; Professor Ccorge Tuusel!, University of California, Los Angeles; Professor C. Douglas Woodhouse, University of California, Santa Barbara; and many individuals who generously wrote comments and criticisms. Of special help was Dr. Olaf P. Jenkins, Chief of the Division of Mines of California, and his entire staff of co-workers. Financial support for the project was received from the State Department of Natural Resources, through the Division of Mines. Acknowledgment should also be made of subsidies received during the period 1936 to 1942 for the study of mineral localities in California, from the Committee on Research, University of California, Los Angeles. The results of these studies, although published elsewhere, have con- tributed to the accuracy and completeness of this volume. Joseph Murdoch Robert W. "Webb University of California Los Angeles, California University of California, Santa Barbara College Goleta, California June 15, 1955 INTRODUCTION A mineral may be defined as a chemical compound formed under natural conditions, having essentially uniform properties and composi- tion. Most minerals are solids at ordinary temperatures, mercury and water being exceptions, occurring normally as liquids. In the solid form, minerals ordinarily possess a definite atomic structure, characteristic for each species, although this structure is occasionally missing, in which case the mineral is termed amorphous. Under favorable condi- tions of formation, they assume definite external forms, called crystals, but if their growth is interfered with, the resulting mass is called crys- talline, or massive. Jlinerals may be formed by crystallization from a melt, as in the case of those characteristic of igneous rocks, from sohition, as in veins, or by suhlimation from a vapor, usually at a volcanic vent. Igneous rocks are those which have been formed by the solidification on cooling, of magma, or molten rock material. Usually this results in the crystallization of the rock-forming minerals, but sometimes the cooling is so rapid as to prevent this crystallization, and the resulting product is like a glass, and is called obsidian. At times igneous rocks cooling on the surface of the earth have bubble-holes, formed by escap- ing gases. These openings are called vesicles, and may be filled, or partially filled, by deposition of later mineral matter to form geodes or lithophysae. The texture of igneous rocks is determined largely by the rate of cooling, and may be granitoid (coarse), for slowly cooled, or felsitic (fine) for rapidly cooled, masses. The minerals present repre- sent the general relative abundance of elements in the melt, and differ quite widely in their nature. Granite (and the surface form, rhyolite) has essentially quartz and orthoclase feldspar, with usually considerable plagioclase, and often hornblende or augite, muscovite or biotite, and minor amounts of apatite, magnetite, zircon, etc. Syenite (and trachyte) are much the same, but quartz is usually absent. Diorite (and andesite) carry plagioclase and hornblende, with occasional pyroxene or biotite, and sometimes quartz (granodiorite). Gabhro (and basalt) are essen- tially plagioclase and augite (or one of the other pyroxenes), or olivine. Feridotite (not usually represented by a siarface form) may be essen- tially a single mineral, such as olivine, pjToxene, or hornblende, and often carries ilmenite or chromite in considerable amount. Sedimentary rocks are usually secondary in their origin, formed from the products of disintegration and decay of earlier rocks. Some- times they are formed by chemical precipitation of dissolved material, as in the case of rock salt or gypsum. More commonly they are made by the accumulation of actual particles of rock material washed down from the land surface and spread out on the sea (or lake) bottom. The fine-grained sediments (shale), are largely clay and finely divided quartz. The coarse are sand grains (sandstone), or pebbles (con- glomerate). Limestones are formed ordinarily by the accumulation of calcium carbonate in the shells or skeletons of marine organisms (mol- luscs, corals, etc.). They are usually more or less re-crystallized, so that much of the evidence of organic origin is destroyed. Limestones may be enriched in magnesia to form dolomite. (11) 12 MINERALS OF CALIFORNIA [Bull. 173 Metamorphic rocks are formed by the action of powerful earth forces on any earlier-formed rock mass, so that notable changes in character are produced. These changes involve the development of foliation (a roughly parallel arrangement of the mineral grains), recrystallization, or the formation of new minerals by a re-combination of elements already present, or added due to the action of igneous intru- sions. Many new compounds are formed in this way, especially by the action of igneous rocks (contact metamorphism), and the great variety of minerals at Crestmore has been largely produced in this way. Pegmatites are igneous rocks, which, sometimes partake of the character of veins, and are often noted for the great variety of unusual mineral species present. They are formed by the separation from a partly crystallized magma, of a residue which is enriched in silica and often in rare elements. This crystallizes in vein- or dike-like form, often with very coarse, even giant, texture. Where rare elements are present, they may abound in cavities, or vugs, in which unusual compounds may crystallize in well-developed forms. The gem-pegmatites of southern California show well this type of occurrence. Veins are formed by deposition of minerals from solutions standing in, or traversing, fractures in any rock. They are formed at all tempera- tures from just below that of magmas to those of the surface waters, and constitute an important source of the less common, as well as of the more usual minerals. If the crevices are not completely filled, the result- ing cavities may be lined with beautifully formed crystals. Veins may be formed by waters travelling upward from an igneous source, or by solu- tions soaking down from the surface. They may be formed by filling of open spaces, or by replacement of minerals already present along the walls of cracks. A very great number of mineral species are found in veins. Pseudomorphs. When replacement of one mineral by another has proceeded so gently that the form of the original mineral is preserved, a psciidomorpJi results. The mineral pyrite is frequently replaced by limonite, to produce rather perfect pseudomorphs, and many other instances of this phenomenon might be mentioned. HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SKETCHES ABORIGINAL AND INDIAN MINERALS A number of minerals were known and used for one purpose or another by pre-historic races, and by the later Indians of California. Many references to these are to be found in the following authorities: Heizer and Treganza (1) who give an extensive bibliography, with a quite extensive list of minerals and occurrences; Abbott, Haldeman, Wells, Schumacher, "Woodward, Yates, Kunz (24), "Walker, and others have also supplied information on this subject. The earliest known mineral was apparently turquoise, which Avas mined by aboriginal tribes in the northeast corner of San Bernardino County in pre-historic times. The old workings here were rediscovered in 1897 by T. C. Bassett, who found in them a couple of stone hammers, and called his claim the Stone Hammer mine. This find aroused so much interest that the San Francisco Call, in 1898 sent out an expedition con- ducted by Dr. Gustav Eisen of the California Academy of Sciences to explore the mines. His account was published in an extensive article in the Call of March 18, 1898, and led to considerable investigation of the area. The following extracts from Kunz, (24) pp. 107-109, give a good description of the find and of the general character of the area, which is in the Turquoise Mountains, T. 16 N., R. 10 and 11 E., S. B. : "Sir. T. C. Bassett had observed in this neighborhood a small hillock where the float rock was seamed and stained with blue. On digging down a few feet, he found a vein of turquoise — a white talcose material inclosing nodules and small masses of the mineral, which at a depth of 20 feet showed fine gem color. Two aboriginal stone hammers were met with, as usual at all the turquoise localities in the southwest, and from this circumstance the location was named the Stone Hammer mine. "The State Slining Bureau reported at about the same time that turquoise had been found in tlie desert region between Death Valley and Goff's Mining District, nearer the former, and that good samples were in the museum of the Bureau. * * * "The turquoise district, as described by Mr. Eisen and others of the party, occu- pies an area of 30 or 40 miles in extent, but the best mines are in a smaller section, about 1.0 miles long by 3 or 4 in width. The region is conspicuously volcanic in aspect, being largely covered with outflows of trap or basaltic rock reaching outward from a central group of extinct craters. These flows extend for many miles in all directions, and appear as long, low ridges, separated by valleys and canons of the wildest character. Among these basaltic rocks and in the valleys are found smaller areas of low, rounded hills of decomposed sandstones and porphyries, traversed at times by ledges of harder crystalline rocks, quartzites, and schists. In the canons and on the sides of these hills are the old turquoise mines, appearing as saucer-like pits, from 15 to 30 feet across and of half that depth, but generally much filled uj) with debris. They are scattered about everywhere. Around them the ground consists of disintegrated quartz rock, like sand or gravel, full of fragments and little nodules of turquoise. Whenever the quartzite ledges outcrop distinctly they show the blue veins of turquoise, sometimes in narrow seams, sometimes in nodules or in pockets. The mode iif iK-curri'iice appears clii.sely to resemlile that at Turquoise Mountain, Ari- zona. * • • Stone tools are abundant in the old workings, and the indications are plain that this locality was exploited on a great scale and probably for a long period, and must have been an important source of the turquoise used among the ancient Mexicans. From an archaeological point of view this locality possesses remarkable interest. The canon walls are full of caverns, now filled up to a depth of several feet with apparently wind-blown sand and dust, but whose blackened roofs and rudely sculptured walls indicate that they wore occupied for a long time by the people who worked the mines. In the blown sand were found stone implements and pottery frag- ments of lude tyi)e. incised but not painted. The openings to these caves are partially closed liy roughly built walls composed of trap blocks piled upon one another with no attempt at fitting and no cement, but evidently made as a mere rude protection against weather and wild beasts. The tools, found partly in the caves and largely in (13) 14 MINERALS OP CALIFORNIA [Bull. 173 ,=»,^< 9332. "V k /toIc \ ^Francis Spr BM. ♦■ '- toltec ," % a ='\umE^'' \, 7 (Dr,} lie 1 (^ ohe 9) 14 / ^jf^~^ Red Pass ,^>'»" Lakt f '-- lOr,) Red Pa 5 ^V**^ Boher ^ K / ^ X t Granite Spr 13 O O yf o ■> **^ ^s*" 2105*^ '* = . * 12 o Ik ■v LEGEND O^^ i Springs "^ ^t Petroglyphs ^ V Turquoise mines ^ ■ Puebloan sites Fiver unIoh Cruc '0^ /'4C FIC Bole o % Boxler Mesauite ^ iie'oo' "****^ lists'! E ose Map from U.S.G-S. e SCALE 2 4 6 e UlLES Figure 2. Map of the Mojave Sink region, San Bernardino County, California, show- ing- location of turquoise mines. Alter M. J. Rogers (1). the mine pits are carefully wrought and polLshed from hard basalt or trap, chiefly hammers and adzes or axes, generally grooved for a handle and often of large size. Some are beautifully perfect, others much worn and battered by use. "The most impressive feature, however, is the abundance of rock carvings in the whole region. These are very varied, conspicuous, and peculiar, while elsewhere they are very rare. Some are recognizable as 'Aztec water signs,' pointing the way to springs ; but most of them are unlike any others known, and furnish a most interest- ing problem to American archaeologists. They are numbered by many thousands, carved in the hard basalt of the cliffs, or, more frequently, on large blocks of the same rock that have fallen and lie on the sides of the valleys. Some are combinations of lines, dots, and curves into various devices ; others represent animals and men ; a third and very peculiar type is that of the 'shield figures,' in which complex patterns of lines, circles, cross hatchings, etc., are inscribed within a shield-like outline per- haps 3 or 4 feet high. "One curious legend still exists among the neighboring Indians that is in no way improbable or inconsistent with the facts. The story was told Mr. Eisen by 'Indian Johnny,' son of the Piute chief, Tecopah, who died recently at a great age, and who in turn had received it from his father. Thousands of years ago, says the tale, this region was the home of the Desert Mojaves. Among them suddenly appeared, from 1956] HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SKETCHES 15 the west or south, a strange tribe searching for precious stones among the rocks, who made friends with the Mojaves, learned al)out these mines, and worl