The Long Way
San Diego County
Historic black and white photograph of three men digging at an archaeological or mining site.
Plate I. Historic dig site, Pala Chief Mine. From palachiefmine.com
A historic photograph showing men working near a rocky hillside.
Plate II. Historical mining scene, Pala Chief Mine. From palachiefmine.com

Pala Chief Mine

Pala, San Diego County, California. Dig; twice a month from October to June.

Details

Map. Pala, San Diego County, California. Larger map
Where
37304 Magee Rd, San Diego, Pala, CA 37304. Directions
When
Some Sundays Only (Check Calendar).
Fees
Adults and Children ($75/ea).
Hours
Gate Opens: 7:30am SHARP! Dig Ends 4 Hours after Start.
Access
Lots of uphill walking on the mountain; ages 12 and up suggested.
Walk-in or reserve
Reservations required, 48 hrs or better is best.
Phone
760-415-9143
Website
palachiefmine.com
Managed by
Oceanview Mines, LLC.
Established
May 1903.

This dig held only twice a month from October to June is best described as a free style bring your own tools and dig your own way.

Notable Events

  1. 1914Commercial mining ceased about 1914 after demand from China collapsed. palachiefmine.com
  2. 1960sCollector Bob Bartsch mined Pala Chief for several months and found triphane and kunzite. palachiefmine.com
  3. 1970sPala International mined the Pala Chief with minor finds. palachiefmine.com
  4. 1973Pala International expanded to two full-time crews and worked Pala Chief and other district mines, mostly at the surface, while developing several hundred feet of tunnel. palagems.com
  5. 1980sBob Dawson owned the mine from the 1980s through 2011 and made several significant finds, including tourmaline-in-matrix specimens. palachiefmine.com
  6. 2011The mine was sold to Oceanview Mines, LLC. palachiefmine.com

People

  • Bernardo Hiriart, one of four people who first located the gem deposits and established the claim (1903).
  • Bob Bartsch, collector who mined Pala Chief and found triphane and kunzite (mid 1960s).
  • Bob Dawson, mine owner who made significant finds, including tourmaline-in-matrix specimens (1980s-2011).
  • Frank A. Salmon, one of four people who first located the gem deposits and established the claim (1903).
  • John Giddens, one of four people who first located the gem deposits and established the claim (1903).
  • Pedro Peiletch, one of four people who first located the gem deposits and established the claim (1903).
  • Frank Salmon, found kunzite at Pala Chief and claimed rights to its discovery.
  • George F. Kunz, Tiffany gemologist who verified kunzite as a new gem and named it after himself.

Sources

  1. digforgems.com/palachief-mine-book
  2. digforgems.com/frequently-asked-questions
  3. palachiefmine.com
  4. facebook.com/OceanviewMine
  5. instagram.com/oceanviewgemmine
  6. palachiefmine.com/page0/index.html
  7. palachiefmine.com
  8. sdnhm.org/exhibitions/all-that-glitters/history/history-of-mining-in-southern-california
  9. palagems.com/mining
  10. pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70021576