CALIFORNIA

The southern Panamint Range consists of an uplifted block of ancient Precambrian metamorphic and sedimentary basement rock intruded by younger Mesozoic granitic plutons and younger still Tertiary volcanic and hypabyssal rocks. The Panamint Range is bounded on the west by the Panamint Valley Fault Zone. In the Manly Peak area, the Butte Valley Fault forms the eastern boundary. Manly Peak, the probable site of the lost mine, consists mostly of Mesozoic-age granite. The peak is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by Precambrian basement rock. Several mines occur within this band of ancient Precambrian rock

(including the Lotus Mine, located just to the southwest of Manly Peak). Younger Tertiary volcanic rocks (and minor hypabyssal rocks) occur just south and southeast of Manly Peak. The contact between these younger Tertiary volcanics and the older Mesozoic granites of Manly Peak occurs in the Goler Wash area. The contact is apparently fault-bounded. Redlands Canyon is mostly underlain by Precambrian metamorphic and sedimentary rocks with some younger granites occurring on the west end of the canyon near Redlands Spring and Manly Fall.

The Panamint Range is well-endowed with mineral deposits. It is home to four major mining districts, 3 of which are gold-producing and the other silver. The gold-producing districts of the Panamints churned out a quarter of a million ounces of the yellow metal during their lifetimes! The range therefore offers some potential for future mineral strikes.

The granites of Manly Peak are bounded on the north, west, and southwest by Precambrian basement rock. Home to a number of small mines, the ancient Precambrian country rock apparently contains a modicum of mineralization. Prospectors

may want to concentrate on the northwestern slope of Manly Peak, overlooking Redlands Canyon. The contact between the older basement rock and the younger granites should be investigated thoroughly. The ledge was said to be exposed in a steep draw on the northwestern side of the mountain. According to Huhn, the exposure was limited to only about 20 feet. Prospectors should be mindful of the unusual nature of the ore. A nondescript, cement-gray specimen of ore may be easily overlooked by the eager gold-seeker. The floor of Redlands Canyon may contain pieces of float from the ledge. A metal-detector should certainly prove useful in the search.