Lost Cabin MineAll mine locations were obtained from the USGS place names database. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property. |
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State: California
County: Modoc
Elevation: 4,967 feet
Latitude: 41.3582236
Longitude: -120.9427461
Type: Gold
Lost Cabin Mine (Hess) is in Sec. 28, 33, T. 41 N., R. 9 E., 28 miles west of Alturas, and is owned by A. K. Wylie, of Alturas. The old work at the property has been mentioned in the quoted material under the heading, "Geology of Winters District." The vertical shaft mentioned in the more recent reports (State Mineralogist's Report XXV, p. 14) has not been used recently.
A new mill has been built about 100 yards from the highway. It contains an 8 by 8-inch crusher to reduce the ore to one-inch size, followed by a 3-ft. by 4-ft. Hendy ball mill with a double screen on the discharge end. Inside screen is quarter-inch; outside screen is 30-mesh. Oversize from these screens is returned to the ball-mill by a bucket-elevator. Ore ground fine enough to pass through the 30-mesh screen flows to two Kraut cells, below which are two flotation cells operated by compressed air. The latter were designed and constructed by William S. Howell, operator of the mill. Power is derived from a 45-hp. Continental gasoline engine; and there is a 7.5-inch by 7-inch compressor. Chemicals used include No. 301 and No. 208 American Cyanamid xanthates, cresylic acid, Aerofloat 25, Z6-Great Western pine oil. Copper sulphate is used as a cleaner. Lime is added at the head of the mill to make water alkaline to phenolphthalein. Capacity of the mill is one ton per hour. It has been idle during the past winter.
Ore for the last run of the mill came from a 90-ft. shaft near the incline-shaft mentioned in the older reports. Trouble was experienced on account of breaking into old, caved workings from the old shaft. Present work is being done on contract by three men, and consists of prospecting by drifting and crosscutting from a new 125-ft. shaft, which is 200 ft. west of the old incline. This work is in a fracture zone in the andesite or basalt. Lateral work from the shaft amounts to about 100 feet. In this fracture-zone, occasional bunches and kidneys of gold ore with a gangue of quartz and calcite are found. Hoisting is done in buckets with a home-made power windlass driven by an old automobile engine.
Source: Quarterly Chapter of State Mineralogist's Report XXXII, Volume 32, 1936. California Journal of Mines and Geology.
