San Diego County

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San Diego - List of Stone Quarries, Etc.*

(* Please note this list does not include sand, gravel, or decomposed granite quarries.)

Bernardo District, San Diego County, California - Quarries in the Bernardo District
See: “Escondido (south of), Bernardo District, San Diego County, California – the Bly Stone Company” & “Escondido, Bernardo District, San Diego County, California – Daley Corporation Quarry”
Borrego Springs (northwest of), San Diego County, California – Borrego Springs Limestone Outcrop (Limestone) (Excerpt from Report XIV of the State Mineralogist - Mines and Mineral Resources of Portions of California, Chapters of State Mineralogist's Report - Biennial Period 1913-1914, Part V. "The Counties of San Diego, Imperial," by Frederick J. H. Merrill, Ph.D., Field Assistant (field work in December, 1914), California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1916, pp. 427-634.)

"About 4 ½ miles northwest of Borrego Springs, Secs. 2 and 3, T. 11 S., R. 7 E., is an outcrop of limestone on which claims have been located by Dr. D. B. Northrup, 771 Twenty-second street, San Diego, and T. A. Eckert."
- Borrego Springs (4 ½ miles from), San Diego County, California – Borrego Springs Limestone Deposit (Limestone) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)
  
  "Borrego Springs deposit is in secs. 2 and 3, T. 11 S., R. 7 E., S.B., 4 ½ miles from Borrego Springs. This is within the present boundaries of Borrego State Desert Park."
Coyote Mountains, Colorado Desert, San Diego County, California - the San Diego Desert Marble Company Quarries (Marble) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

"San Diego Desert Marble Company owns several claims in T. 16 S., R. 9 E., S. B. M., on the most eastern extremity of the Coyote Mountains, Colorado Desert. Many blocks measuring from 10 to 20 feet in diameter have been taken out, ready for transportation, from two quarries. The marble is fine-grained and exceptionally hard, usually of a gray or black and white color, with strata of pink, yellowish, and reddish marble. Nothing but assessment work has been done."

"San Diego Desert Marble Company owns several claims in T. 16 S., R. 9 E., S. B. M., on the most eastern extremity of the Coyote Mountains, Colorado Desert. Many blocks measuring from 10 to 20 feet in diameter have been taken out, ready for transportation, from two quarries. The marble is fine-grained and exceptionally hard, usually of a gray or black and white color, with strata of pink, yellowish, and reddish marble. Nothing but assessment work has been done."
Deer Park (near), San Diego County, California – C. P. Hayes – North Glacier & South Glacier Marble Deposits (Marble) (Excerpt from Report XIV of the State Mineralogist - Mines and Mineral Resources of Portions of California, Chapters of State Mineralogist's Report - Biennial Period 1913-1914, Part V. "The Counties of San Diego, Imperial," by Frederick J. H. Merrill, Ph.D., Field Assistant (field work in December, 1914), California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1916, pp. 427-634.)

"Near Deer Park, in Sec. 1, T. 15 S., R. 4 E., are two claims, located on white marble, known as North Glacier and South Glacier, controlled by C. P. Hayes, Wm. A. Berkey and Zoe Beyers Vernon. This interest is represented by G. T. Vernon, 523 Timken Building, San Diego, and J. G. Beyers, of Descanso. It is at present intended to undertake the manufacture of lime, bringing the product to San Diego by motor truck."
Dehesa, San Diego, California – “Black” Granite (orbicular or gabbro) Quarries circa 1913 (from the chapter entitled “California” (pdf), by G. F. Loughlin, in the Mineral Resources of the United States Calendar Year 1913, Part II. Nonmetals, United States Geological Survey, 1914, pp. 1356)

“At Dehesa, in San Diego County, there is an orbicular ‘black granite’ or gabbro, that is well adapted for ornamental work, and would probably be unique among building and ornamental stones. The rock is characterized by abundant rounded segregations of varying textures uniformly scattered through a medium to rather coarse-grained matrix, and several varieties, based on variations in texture, are said to be available The orbicular rock has been found only as residual bowlders. Other orbicular ‘black granites’ have been found at Rattlesnake Bar, Eldorado (El Dorado) County, and in Sierra and Plumas counties, but none has been quarried.”
Descanso (northeast of), San Diego County, California – Deer Park Limestone Deposit (Limestone & Kiln) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)

"Deer Park limestone deposit is 6 miles northeast of Descanso, in sec. 12, T. 15 S., R. 4 E., S.B. Many years ago white crystalline limestone was quarried from a lens 15 feet thick and burned in a kiln nearby for local use when gold mining was active on the adjacent Rancho Cuyama, now a state park."
Descanso (northeast of), San Diego County, California – Rancho Cuyama State Park (Lime Kiln) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)

"Deer Park limestone deposit is 6 miles northeast of Descanso, in sec. 12, T. 15 S., R. 4 E., S.B. Many years ago white crystalline limestone was quarried from a lens 15 feet thick and burned in a kiln nearby for local use when gold mining was active on the adjacent Rancho Cuyama, now a state park."
Dos Cabezas (north of), San Diego County, California – Dos Cabezas Limestone Deposits (Limestone & Marble) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)

"Dos Cabezas limestone deposits are in secs. 22, 23, 26, 27, T. 16 S., R. 8 E., S. B., about 1 ½ miles north of Dos Cabezas siding on the San Diego & Arizona Railroad.

"Beds of white crystalline limestone varying in thickness from 20 to 100 feet (Tucker 25c, p. 370)* are said to extend at intervals for a length of 1 mile with a strike of N. 30 W. and over a width of three-quarters of a mile. The limestone has been intruded by granitic rock and has some schist layers. It has been changed to marble of fine grain in some layers but the largest outcrop is a coarsely crystalline white limestone reported to carry 98 percent CaCO₃, and occurring on a hill 800 feet high. These deposits are idle and undeveloped, so far as known."

(* W. Burling Tucker, "Los Angeles field division, San Diego County," California Min. Bur. Rept. 21, pp. 325-382, ills., 1925)
Dos Cabezas Springs (northeast of), San Diego County, California – Golden State Mining and Marble Company Marble Deposits (Marble) (Excerpt from Report XIV of the State Mineralogist - Mines and Mineral Resources of Portions of California, Chapters of State Mineralogist's Report - Biennial Period 1913-1914, Part V. "The Counties of San Diego, Imperial," by Frederick J. H. Merrill, Ph.D., Field Assistant (field work in December, 1914), California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1916, pp. 427-634.)

"About 4 ½ miles northeast of Dos Cabezas Springs, Sec. 21, T. 16 S., R. 8 E., are two claims covering a deposit containing two colors of marble, and belonging to the Golden State Mining and Marble Company, C. A. Walker, president, Watts Building, San Diego. One stratum, extending about 600 feet in length and 20 feet in width, is pure white, interspersed with tiny black dots. This marble is of high grade, fine grained, slightly harder than common marble and takes a high polish. Adjoining this stratum is one of light gray blue over 600 feet in length and about 180 feet in width. This is of the same quality as the white and black dotted, and is well suited for interior decoration, as in corridors and panels. This deposit lies about 1 mile from the San Diego and Arizona Railroad, but must await the completion of that line."
- San Diego County, California – Golden State Marble Deposits (Marble) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)
  
  "Golden State marble deposits were located years ago by a company of this name in sec. 21, T. 16 S., R. 8 E., S.B., within a mile of the line of the San Diego and Arizona Railroad. A bed of white marble outcrops 600 feet in length by 20 feet in width (Merrill 16a, p. 674)* and a gray-blue bed has a width of 180 feet and length of 600 feet.
  
  "The company once had larger holdings of marble a few miles east in Imperial County, but never developed any of its deposits."
  
  (* Frederick J. H. Merrill, "Imperial County," California Div. Mines Rept. 14, pp. 637-722, illus., 1916 )
Dos Cabezas (north of), San Diego County, California – Heathman Limestone Quarry (Limestone) (Excerpt from "Limestone in California," by Clarence A. Logan, California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 43, No. 3, July 1947, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, California, pp. 175-357. Used with permission, California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.)

"Heathman quarry, R. W. Heathman, owner, San Diego (in 1939), is in sec. 27, T. 16 S., R. 8 E., S.B., 1 mile north of Dos Cabezas siding. Thirty tons of white limestone was mined by open pit in 1939 from a deposit 10 feet wide."

El Cajon (east of), San Diego County, California – the Dehesa Quarry (Granitic Rock) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

"Dehesa Quarry, N. Kessler and Marion Powers, Dehesa, owners. On the north side of the Sweetwater River, a few miles east of El Cajon, is a large mass of gabbro, portions of which are orbicular and are highly ornamental on a polished surface. This rock is mentioned in the XIth Annual Report of the State Mining Bureau, page 95, by H. W. Fairbanks. The orbicular rock was first discovered by Marion Powers, of Dehesa. Prof. A. C. Lawson, of the University of California, gave a short description of it in 'Science' (Vol. XV, p. 415), and a more extended description of it in Bulletin No. 17, Vol. III, Department of Geology, University of California. See also Bulletin 37, 'Gems, Jewelers' Materials, and Ornamental Stones,' State Mining Bureau. W. H. Kessler and W. R. Hamilton, of Stanford University, made a study of this rock and published an excellent illustrated description of it in the American Geologist for September, 1904. The Mining Bureau is indebted to these gentlemen and to the American Geologist for the cuts of the orbicular gabbro shown in this Bulletin.."

Ill. No. 22.Boulder of Orbicular Gabbro.

Ill. No. 23.Section of Orbicular Gabbro, Showing General Appearance. White minerals are feldspars. Dark minerals are olivines, hornblendes and hypersthenes. Thickness, about 2 mm. Natural size.

Ill. No. 24. Orbicular Diorite Mine, Dehesa, San Diego County-Near View of Outcrop.

"The gabbro occurs apparently as an intrusive boss in the midst of the granites. It outcrops over an area of about a square mile on the hill at Dehesa, and it is said by Fairbanks to extend 4 or 5 miles southeast. The hill on which it occurs extends about 1200 feet above the river and 1800 feet above sea level. On the slopes in the central portion of the gabbro mass there are scattered boulders of the orbicular rock. The boulders vary in size, some of the larger ones being several feet in diameter. The orbicular rock has not been found in place…."

"The orbicular gabbro is adapted to interior decoration, because of its variegated texture and coloring. Without being gaudy or bizarre, it has a rich coloring and a unique configuration that will catch and please the eye…."

"The number and size of the boulders scattered over the surface indicate that there is considerable stone here for commercial purposes, and exploitation may at any time reveal the rock in place. If it should be found in place in sufficient quantities to furnish a constant supply to the market, and to fill any orders in reasonable time, it ought to readily find a place among ornamental stones. It is almost unknown as a commercial product, so that architects would be slow to use it until assured that it is obtainable in quantity.

"Orbicular gabbro occurs elsewhere in California. There is a specimen in the museum of State Mining Bureau from Rattlesnake Bar, El Dorado County, which was sent in by John Muir, and labeled "Orbicular Diorite (Napoleonite)…."

"Orbicular granite is said to occur in Rhode Island and in Ontario, but so far as known, no commercial use has been made of it in either place. The same is true of the locality in Davie County, North Carolina."*

(* Footnote: Orbicular gabbro, diorite from Davie County, N. C., by Thos. L. Watson, Journal of Geol., Vol. XII, p. 294.)

El Cajon (east of), San Diego County, California – Dehesa Granite Quarry (Granite) (Excerpt from Report XIV of the State Mineralogist - Mines and Mineral Resources of Portions of California, Chapters of State Mineralogist's Report - Biennial Period 1913-1914, Part V. "The Counties of San Diego, Imperial," by Frederick J. H. Merrill, Ph.D., Field Assistant (field work in December, 1914), California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1916, pp. 427-634.)

"About 6 miles east of El Cajon on the north bank of the Sweetwater River, and about 1 mile west of Dehesa, in Section 14, T. 16 S., R. 1 E., is a large mass of gabbro, portions of which have an orbicular structure and show a highly ornamental surface when polished.

"This gabbro is intrusive in the midst of the granite. It outcrops over an area of about a square mile on the hill near Dehesa and extends 3 or 4 miles southeast. The hill on which it occurs rises about 1,800 feet above sea level. On the slopes, in the central portion of the gabbro mass, the orbicular rock occurs in scattered boulders, which vary in size, some of the larger ones being several feet in diameter. It has not, however, been found in place.

"There are three varieties of this orbicular rock, based on variations in its texture. In the most common variety, an outer ring of feldspar surrounds a nucleus consisting of a crystalline aggregate, much like the ground mass of the rock. Another variety consists of spheroidal bodies showing neither concentric nor radial structure. These appear to be harder and of firmer texture than the surrounding material and, on the disintegration of the rock by weathering, rounded balls remain like pebbles in the residuum. The third variety has both radial and concentric structure.

"The rock consists of plagioclase, feldspar, anorthite, hornblende, hypersthene and iron oxide. It varies considerably in texture outside of the spheroids, some portions of the mass being rather finely crystalline and others quite coarsely crystalline. Some of the hornblende crystals, in place along joint planes, are several inches in length. The basic character of the orbicular portions is shown by the analysis of an orbule.

Analysis of an Orbule of the Gabbro by Jas. W. Howson.*

(Page 675 footnote 1: Univ. of Ca. Dept. of Geol. Bull. No. 17, Vol. III, p. 394.)

Analysis of the Feldspar of the Gabbro by W. T. Schaller.*

(* Page 675 footnote 2: Bull. 38, p. 59.)

"This analysis indicates anorthite or lime feldspar.

"This orbicular gabbro is adapted to interior decoration, because of its variegated texture and color. Without being gaudy or bizarre, it has a rich coloring and a unique configuration that should catch and please the eye.

"No definite estimate can be made of the quantity of this stone now available. It is seen only in boulders, and these form but a small per centage of the boulders on the hillside. Their occurrence is such as to leave one in doubt as to whether they came from a single dike-like portion of the mass, or from several separated portions. The number and size of the boulders scattered over the surface indicate that there is considerable stone here available for commercial purposes, and exploration may reveal the rock in place. If it should be found in sufficient quantity to furnish a constant supply to the market, and to fill orders in a reasonable time, it ought to readily find a place among ornamental stones. Since it is almost unknown as a commercial product, architects would be slow to specify it until assured that it is obtainable in quantity.

"This gabbro area was first mentioned by Fairbanks, R. XI, p. 85. The orbicular rock was first discovered by Marion Powers, of Dehesa. Professor A. C. Lawson, of the University of California, gave a short description of it in Science, Vol. XV, page 415, and a more extended one in Bull. No. 17, Vol. III, Dept. of Geol., Univ. of Cal. W. H. Kessler and W. R. Hamilton, of Stanford University, made a study of this rock and published an excellent illustrated description of it in the American Geologist for September, 1904. See Bull. Nos. 37 and 38, State Mining Bureau.

"The deposit is controlled by N. Kessler and Marion Powers, of Dehesa."

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