BRAG Club Rockhounding Field Trip to Blue Lady Mine
9 February 2008

Introduction

The Blue Lady Mine is located in the Chihuahua Valley pegmatite district that straddles Riverside and San Diego North Counties. Also known as the Pearson Mine, it is the best known pegmatite mine of the district. The mine is known for well-formed crystals of indigo-blue elbaite tourmaline and a fair amount of acicular or asbestiform blue tourmaline can be found on the dumps today. This occurrence is doubtlessly influenced the current name of the mine.

To end a dispute over mining rights, ownership of the mine was turned over to the state by the BLM about 15 years ago. The mine is located within the Sky Oaks Field Reservation managed for research projects by San Diego State University. Access to property is controlled by the University’s Geology Department. Because the mine has not been actively worked for the last 15 years, with the exception of efforts by the occasional mineral collector, turning over of materials in the dump areas is the best way to find good examples of most minerals.

The other minerals that can be found at the locality are garnet, usually associated with biotite and schorl, “ball” muscovite, well-formed quartz crystals, orthoclase and plagioclase feldspars, and more exotic metallic accessory minerals. A few of these minerals occur in several separate bands making up the impressive “line rock” of the pegmatite. Good examples of this rock can also be found on the mine dumps. Members Bob Housley and Garth Bricker have collected at the mine in recent years and can tell us more about the exotic minerals they have identified at the locality.

Getting There

NOTE: FOLLOW YOUR ODOMETER!

  1. On Hwy 79, travel north past Warner Springs and turn right onto Chihuahua Valley Road (look for large green sign).
  2. On Chihuahua Valley Road, travel for 6.5 miles (all asphalt).
  3. Turn onto Lost Valley Road:
    At 6.25 miles, the road will take a sharp right. Instead of continuing to the right, you drive straight ahead, crossing the road and you will see two parallel roads ahead. Take the road to the right that says “Lost Valley Road” (look for a small street type sign, with a blue back ground and white lettering and a large wooden sign with a dark background and yellow lettering that says “Lost Valley Scout Camp, 11 miles”.) Do not take the road on the left that has a white square archway over it (Cruces Dr. and Palmas Dr.) and two white gates that are usually closed.
  4. The roadside pull-off area and gated road for the Blue Lady Mine are approximately 1 ½ miles in on Lost Valley Road. The pull-off area is on the left (when driving in) or north side of the road. The tailings pile can be seen up on the hillside.
  5. It is approximately a ½ mile hike in to the mine from the gate where we park the cars. The last part of the trail is “up slope”. There are no shade trees at the mine location./li>

In summer months, the temperature can exceed 100 degrees. Take appropriate steps to protect yourself from the sun and heat. Bring plenty of water.