Mineral Evolution Database
Created and maintained by the Mineral Evolution Project in partnership with RRUFF and mindat.
Mineral locality data provided by mindat.org



The Mineral Evolution database is currently under development.

The goal of this page is to present localities at which the mineral is found, and estimates of the oldest possible geologic age of the minerals at these localities.


Locality Name:
Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USA

Oldest recorded age at locality: 1563
Youngest recorded age at locality: 1325

mindat Locality ID: 11616
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-11616.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USA": 2
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 2

Number of Child Localities: 2
Child Localities:
Birthday Mine (Birthday Claim; Birthday Area)
Sulphide Queen Mine (Sulphide Queen Body)

Latitude: 35°29'21"N
Longitude: 115°32'11"W
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): 35.489166666667,-115.53638888889
AThis mineral is Anthropogenic.
GThis mineral is directly dated.
BThis mineral is reported as having this age.
YThis mineral is using an age reported as an element mineralization period.
OThis mineral is using an age calculated from all data at the locality.
RThe age displayed for this mineral originates from a different, non-child locality.
PThe age displayed for this mineral is the range of ages for this mineral at all of this locality's children.
This mineral's age has not yet been recorded.

This Mineral list contains entries from this locality, including sub-localities. Minerals in bold are reported by mindat.org as occurring directly at this locality, and do not occur at any children (sublocalities) of this locality.

Elements at this locality, including sub-localities: Al Ba C Ca Ce Cu F Fe H K La Mg Mo Na O P Pb S Sb Si Sr Th Ti Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: Al C Ca Ce Cu F Fe H K Mg Mo Na O P Pb S Sb Si Th Ti Zn Zr 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AllaniteAmphiboleAragoniteBaryteBastnäsiteCalciteCeriteChalcopyriteClayClinozoisite
CorundumDiasporeEpidoteFeldsparFluoceriteFluoriteMalachiteMicaMonaziteNone
Not in a structural groupParisitePyritePyroxeneQuartzRocksaltRutileScheeliteSpinelTalc
TetrahedriteTitaniteZircon

47 IMA Minerals at location:
Aegirine  (*)Aegirine-augite  (*)Allanite-(Ce)  (*)Ankerite  (*)Aragonite  (*)
Arfvedsonite  (*)Augite  (*)Azurite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)
Calcite  (*)Celestine  (*)Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)Cerite-(Ce)  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)
Diopside  (*)Dolomite  (*)Epidote  (*)Fluocerite-(Ce)  (*)Fluorite  (*)
Fluorophlogopite  (*)Galena  (*)Goethite  (*)Hematite  (*)Magnetite  (*)
Malachite  (*)Microcline  (*)Monazite-(Ce)  (*)Muscovite  (*)Orthoclase  (*)
Parisite-(Ce)  (*)Phlogopite  (*)Potassic-magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Quartz  (*)
Riebeckite  (*)Rutile  (*)Sahamalite-(Ce)  (*)Siderite  (*)Strontianite  (*)
Talc  (*)Tenorite  (*)Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)Thorite  (*)Titanite  (*)
Wulfenite  (*)Zircon  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Aegirine  (*)PyroxeneNaFe3+Si2O61412132501022
Aegirine-augite  (*)Pyroxene(Ca,Na)(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)Si2O6141213250286
Allanite-(Ce)  (*)Allanite EpidoteCaCe(Al2Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)141213250706
Ankerite  (*)NoneCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)21563133011713183092
Aragonite  (*)AragoniteCa(CO3)1412132503250
Arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleNaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2141013960295
Augite  (*)Pyroxene(Ca,Mg,Fe)2Si2O61412132502060
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)21412132505509
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)156313252171318,17131911547
Bastnäsite-(Ce)  (*)BastnäsiteCe(CO3)F156313301171318304
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)15631330117131827770
Celestine  (*)BaryteSr(SO4)1563133011713181252
Cerianite-(Ce)  (*)FluoriteCeO215631330117131894
Cerite-(Ce)  (*)Cerite(Ce7Ca2)   Mg(SiO4)3(SiO3OH)4(OH)314121325047
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS214121325027198
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O61563133011713184135
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)21563132511713199895
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)1412132508173
Fluocerite-(Ce)  (*)FluoceriteCeF314121325045
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF21412132509617
Fluorophlogopite  (*)MicaKMg3(Si3Al)O10F215631330117131847
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS14121325024243
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)1412132507437
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O314121325014640
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O414121325014899
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)214121325012537
Microcline  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)1563133011713184924
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)MonaziteCe(PO4)141213250945
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)214121325017380
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)1412132502349
Parisite-(Ce)  (*)ParisiteCaCe2(CO3)3F2156313301171318112
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)21408139202273
Potassic-magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleKNa2(Mg4Fe3+)Si8O22F21412132508
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS214121325039462
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO214121325061156
Riebeckite  (*)Amphibole   Na2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)Si8O22(OH)2141213250375
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO21412132505614
Sahamalite-(Ce)  (*)NoneCe2Mg(CO3)41412132502
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)1412132506417
Strontianite  (*)AragoniteSr(CO3)156313251171319589
Talc  (*)Clay TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)21412132503337
Tenorite  (*)NoneCuO1412132501101
Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)TetrahedriteCu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S131412132505317
Thorite  (*)ZirconTh(SiO4)1412132501006
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O1412132504899
Wulfenite  (*)ScheelitePbMoO41412132501655
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)1330133005251


Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Jen_0001041MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Jen_0001042MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Jen_0001043MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Jen_0001044MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Jen_0001045MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Jen_0001046MAGMATIC STYLE: Irregular sheet, dykes and veins. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Potassic shonkinite, syenite, granite and fenite.
Michelle_0261_aSahamalite occurs in the Sulphide Queen Mine of the Mountain Pass Deposit, closely associated with parisite and bastnaesite (as described in reference).
Michelle_0262_bLocality described as "Mountain Pass Carbonatite and Alkalic Igneous Rocks." Mountain Pass Carbonatite is one of the largest sources of REE in the world. The carbonatite intrudes into gneiss, containing REE, Au, Ag, Pb and baryte.
Michelle_0263_cLocality described as "Mountain Pass Carbonatite and Alkalic Igneous Rocks." Mountain Pass Carbonatite is one of the largest sources of REE in the world. The carbonatite intrudes into gneiss, containing REE, Au, Ag, Pb and baryte.
Michelle_0264_dLocality described as "Mountain Pass Carbonatite and Alkalic Igneous Rocks." Mountain Pass Carbonatite is one of the largest sources of REE in the world. The carbonatite intrudes into gneiss, containing REE, Au, Ag, Pb and baryte.
Michelle_0265_eLocality described as "Mountain Pass Carbonatite and Alkalic Igneous Rocks." Mountain Pass Carbonatite is one of the largest sources of REE in the world. The carbonatite intrudes into gneiss, containing REE, Au, Ag, Pb and baryte.
Michelle_0266_fLocality described as "Mountain Pass Carbonatite and Alkalic Igneous Rocks." Mountain Pass Carbonatite is one of the largest sources of REE in the world. The carbonatite intrudes into gneiss, containing REE, Au, Ag, Pb and baryte.


12 Ages assigned to this locality:

Excel IDMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)Age as listed in referenceDating MethodAge InterpretPrioritized?Sample SourceSample NumRun NumAge from other LocalityDated MineralMinerals explicitely stated as having this ageAge applies to these ElementsMinDat Locality IDDated Locality (Max Age)Location as listed in referenceReferenceReference DOIReference IDAge Notes
Jen_0001041141514151415     Yes  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001042147514051440±35K-Ar    Yes  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001043142013501385±35K-Ar    Yes  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001044143013301380±50Rb-Sr    Yes  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001045153013701450±80Rb-Sr    Yes  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001046156314831523±40U-Pb galena  YesGalena  272976Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Michelle_0261_a133913251332±7Th-PbAge of carbonatiteparisite     11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of carbonatite. Emplacement of carbonatite was the final event in the intrusion of the 1400 ma complex. Clear parisite coexists with younger bastnaesite in sample.
Michelle_0262_b141214081410±2U-PbAge of early shonkitite intrusionapatite     11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of early shonkitite intrusion. According to field relationships, this is the first of three stages of intrusions.
Michelle_0263_c140813921400±8Ar-ArAge of early shonkitite intrusionphlogopite   Phlogopite  11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of early shonkitite intrusion. According to field relationships, this is the first of three stages of intrusions.
Michelle_0264_d141013961403±7Ar-ArAge of syenite and granitic intrusionarfvedsonite   Arfvedsonite  11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of syenite and granitic intrusion. According to field relationships, this is the second of three stages of intrusions.
Michelle_0265_e13301330<1330Pb-PbAge of syenite and granitic intrusionzircon   Zircon  11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of syenite and granitic intrusion. According to field relationships, this is the second of three stages of intrusions. Ages from zircon are described as "highly discordant" and not made significantly older by abrasion techniques.
Michelle_0266_f138213681375±7Th-PbAge of carbonate bodies, dikes and veins intrusionsmonazite     11616Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAMountain PassDeWitt et al. (1987) APGSA19_642Age of carbonate bodies, dikes and veins intrusions. According to field relationships, this is the last of the three stages of intrusions.

SampleSource LocalityReference URL
FKM-118Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAhttps://www.rockptx.com/fkm-101-to-fkm-125/#FKM-118
R080043Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass Deposit; Mountain Pass Mine And Mill; Bastnaesite Deposit; Bastnäsite Deposit; Mountain Pass Carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Mountain Pass District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), San Bernardino Co., California, USAhttps://rruff.info/R080043

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