Hi Penny. Thanks a bunch. Benitoite is found in this area. The mine is a couple of miles south of the location of the rock formation in the picture. Benitoite was discovered in 1906 near the headwaters of the San Benito River, in San Benito County, California. It has a sapphire blue color and was first thought to be a variety of sapphire.

Cinnabar is also found in an abundance in this area. Of course that comes from the quicksilver mines at New Idria. New Idria is a ghost town now, but you still had better smile when you go into the area as they still use close circuit TV there to monitor the comings and goings of visitors.

There are two faults in the area. One is the New Idria thrust fault and the other is the Griswald fault. I have never seen the New Idria fault, but the Griswald fault can be seen on the east side of Griswald Canyon. This is the way into the New Idria area if you’re coming in from the Hollister, or the Fresno area.

Rock formations and combinations are interesting in that it looks like what ever was left over from all the other areas it was dumped there. There appears to have been some volcanic activity there, but not sure if it’s related to the Quine Sabe volcanics, which can be seen starting near Hollister and ending north of Santa Rosa. Take Care…Don in creepy town

http://www.benitoitemine.com/benitoite/benitoit.shtml

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