Noonday Mine
The Noonday Mine is located 7.5 miles east of Tecopa, California at the south end of the Nopah Range. Despite the extensive mine workings and obviously large tonnage of ore removed from this mine and the adjacent Columbia and War Eagle, Mines astonishingly little has been published. Although little information is available on the mine workings, it is known they extend about 175 meters below the existing crosscut. Access is via a series of raises and an inclined shaft. The main ore zone has been developed for several thousand feet along strike.
Geology
The mine workings are entirely within Noonday Dolomite. Mineralization appears to lie along a nearly north-trending vein which dips moderately to the east. A brief examination of the adjacent mines suggests the main ore vein is offset by a post mineral fault system which strikes N 65 W. A series of northeast trending fractures with steep northwest dips are thought to control localization of the ore bodies (Newman and Stewart, 1951). Minerals include Anglesite, Aurichalcite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Fraipontite, Galena, Argentiferous Galena, Gold, and Pyrite. The Noonday mine contains more calena (Silver-Lead ore) than do its surrounding mines.
Ore mineralization is restricted to argentiferous galena, but traces of chalcopyrite and pyrite were noted in stopes. Native gold has been reported (Newman and Stewart, 1951). Reportedly, the upper extension of the ore shoot has been oxidized to cerrusite and anglesite.
History
The noonday mine was originally part of the Gunsite Mine. It was founded in 1870 by J.B. Osborne. The mine ran until 1942, when rails and other metals were removed to help support the war.
Location
35.828890° -116.096110°
