Pine tree and Josephine Mines

摘要

I recently decided to revisit a historic mining site in the Bagby Mining District, Mariposa County. It had been about 20 years; since 1 was last there and I was surprised at the changes. When I last visited the mine, there were still corrugated metal-covered buildings standing. The buildings and nearby tunnel with collapsed entrance were just off Highway 49 on the ridge-top. You could easily pull into an open area, park and walk around. The Geologic Guidebook Along Highway 49-Sierran Gold Belt (Bulletin 141) makes the observation that the same structures were present in 1948. It was reading that that originally prompted me to visit it years ago. When I last visited the mine, it was evident that the crushed ore was brought to the concentration and cyaniding building a conveyor belt. Some of the quartz-rich ore had spilled on the ground in a long line. Panning the material, revealed abundant pyrite and a sine amount of free gold. I roasted some the pyrite and ground it more finely in mortar and pestle and again panned There was additional free gold release that showed up in the pan.