Gray Eagle

Project Summary

Multi-commodity project in the White Mountains, Inyo County, California, approximately 10 km east of Bishop within the Black Canyon Roadless Area (RARE II Area 5061) of the Inyo National Forest. 33 lode claims totalling 681.8 acres covering three known prospects: Gray Eagle (Au-Cu-Ag), Mirage-Mariposa (W-Ag), and Ursi Major (Au). The Mirage-Mariposa is a past producer with an indicated and inferred resource of approximately 55,000 tons at 0.15% WO₃. The Gray Eagle mine produced 38.6 oz gold and 23 oz silver between 1933 and 1940. Mineralization is hosted in contact-metamorphic deposits and hydrothermal fissure veins within Mesozoic granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada batholith, specifically the Quartz Monzonite of Redding Canyon.

Location: Black Canyon, White Mountains, ~10 km (6 mi) E of Bishop, Inyo County, CA. Within Inyo National Forest. Claims: 33 lode (GE 1–33), 681.8 acres

Geology

The project area lies within the Black Canyon Roadless Area on the western slope of the White Mountains. The dominant rocks are Mesozoic granitic intrusives, specifically the Quartz Monzonite of Redding Canyon, which have intruded older Proterozoic through Cambrian carbonate, quartz sandstone, and shale sequences. Mineralization occurs in two distinct styles: (1) contact-metasomatic replacement bodies where scheelite and associated garnet-epidote tactite formed at the granite–limestone contact, and (2) hydrothermal fissure veins carrying gold, silver, and copper sulphides in quartz. A geochemical survey detected anomalous concentrations of tungsten, gold, silver, lead, copper and zinc throughout the area. A USBM assessment identified two properties with approximately 40,000 tons of indicated and inferred low-grade gold and silver-bearing rock, plus one producing tungsten mine.

History

Mining in the Black Canyon area dates to the late 1800s. In 1912, five carloads of ore were shipped from the Gray Eagle, Golden Mirage, and X-Ray mines, and the Mirage-Mariposa was first worked in that year. The Gray Eagle mine produced 11 tons yielding 38.6 oz gold, 23 oz silver, and 33 lbs copper between 1933 and 1940. The Mirage-Mariposa (Golden Mirage) produced 79 tons yielding 160.4 oz gold and 170 oz silver in 1912, with tungsten production recorded from the R&R and Mariposa claims in the 1950s. Total recorded production from the Black Canyon Roadless Area was 8,835 tons yielding 4,328 oz gold, 16,693 oz silver, 2,625 lbs copper, and 220,744 lbs lead. The Gray Eagle and Mirage-Mariposa properties were owned by F.N. Peregoy as of the early 1980s.

Prospects

Gray Eagle: A past producer at 2,182 m elevation. Primary commodity is gold with secondary copper and silver. The deposit is a vein hosted in limestone with an associated granite contact. Several small chalcopyrite-bearing stringers traverse the contact, and massive garnet rock is exposed in underground workings. The ore vein is approximately 0.2 m thick and nearly horizontal. Developed via unspecified underground openings. Produced 11 tons of ore yielding 38.6 oz gold, 23 oz silver, and 33 lbs copper between 1933 and 1940. The adjacent Gray Eagle No. 2 prospect is a silver-gold prospect on patented land with underground workings.

Mirage-Mariposa: A past producer at 2,010 m elevation, historically known as Wooley Mine, Golden Mirage, or R&R claims. Primary commodities are tungsten and silver. Two ore body types are present: a contact-metasomatic replacement body (scheelite in garnet-epidote tactite, N20E strike, 40°W dip, 0.6 m thick, 5 m wide, 15 m long) and a tabular hydrothermal fissure vein. Ore minerals include scheelite, argentite, epidote, garnet, and quartz in the Quartz Monzonite of Redding Canyon. Workings include a glory hole 40 ft wide with a 17-ft-deep shaft, and underground development totalling 3,835 sq ft of headwall. The USBM estimated indicated subeconomic resources of 21,000 tons and inferred resources of 34,400 tons at an average grade of 0.15% WO₃. Historical gold production in 1912 was 79 tons yielding 160.4 oz gold and 170 oz silver.

Ursi Major: A gold prospect at 1,860 m elevation. The deposit is a tabular hydrothermal fissure vein with gold and quartz as the primary minerals. Ore body dimensions are 0.4 m thick, 75 m wide, and 150 m long, outcropping at surface. Primary ore control is fracturing with slight silicification alteration. Developed via surface and underground workings including at least one trench. No recorded production, but the large footprint (150 x 75 m) of the vein system represents a significant exploration target that has received limited historical work.

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