Virtue 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. |
Get regular updates on the WMH Facebook page
|
|
Watch for Site Bulletins Here Soon!
|
State: Oregon
County: Baker
Elevation: 3,963 feet
Latitude: 44.7634879
Longitude: -117.6971594
Type: Gold
The Virtue was operated from 1862 to 1884 and from 1893 to 1898. A small output was made in 1906-1907. Since that time the mine has been closed. According to Lindgren, the production up to 1878 was $1,250,000. From 1878 to 1884, the estimated amount is $200,000. From 1893 to 1898 the production was $739,000, the maximum being reached in 1896 with $256,000, and the minimum in 1898 with $13,100. The total production is thus $2,189,000.
The mine is developed by at least 10,000 feet of workings from three adits and an 800-foot shaft. Eight veins, of which the Virtue has been most productive, have been cut in the mine workings. They are subparallel and strike N. 20° to 45° W. They dip northeast above the mill level, but steepen downward and dip southwest in the lower workings of the old mine (Gilluly, Reed, and Park, 1933, p. 72-74).
According to Lindgren (1901, p. 722-723), an ore shoot with a maximum strike length of 1200 feet was mined to a depth of about 1000 feet below the outcrop. A lean broken zone was then encountered and operations ceased. The ore was a quartz vein 6 inches to 12 feet wide. The quartz averaged about 14 inches wide and contained from 0.5 to 1.0 ounces of gold per ton. During short periods values were often considerably higher. The quartz was sparsely mineralized with pyrite and chalcopyrite. The gold was largely free and very high grade, the bullion averaging more than 925 fine. Operations at depth were handicapped by a heavy flow of warm water.
Source: Gold and Silver in Oregon, State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, 1968
