Gold Point Mine
Established 1897
History Of Gold Point Mine
The Gold Point mine is located in Gold Cliff Gulch in what was known as the Weatherby Mining District (also known as the Lower Burnt River District), and is known for its substantial Gold production - both placer and lode. The mine also lies approximately ¾ of a mile from Sisley Creek Road, which was once part of the original Oregon Trail.
​
The Gold Point mine was operated by V.T. Engrstron and J.W. Forsterling from 1897 to 1898, and is said to have produced $40,000 in Gold (1,935 ounces). The original claim was located even earlier by John Torrey, who shipped some ore offsite but milled most of it onsite with an Arrastra. The mine was intermittently operated throughout the early 1900’s to 1940’s, and recent operations occurred at the mine between the years of 1980 and 1990.
Geology
The Gold Point mine is located within the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and the Baker Terrane, which formed during the late Triassic to late Jurassic time (145 to 250 million years ago). The Baker Terrane is part an island arc system that accreted onto the western outer edge of the continental North American Cordillera (present day shared-border of Idaho and Oregon states). The Baker Terrane consists mainly of massive intrusions of Jurassic age Granodiorite that is laced with auriferous (gold-bearing) Quartz veins and stringers that host free-milling Gold. Locally at the Gold Point mine, the host rock for the auriferous Quartz veins is a medium-grained Hornblende-Biotite Diorite and Granodiorite.