A few veins have been observed with indications of reactivation and subhorizontal motion. Two distinct types of barite-silver mineralization occur within the district. Embolite constituted the main ore mineral with lesser cerargyrite and native silver. Disseminated to stockwork vein deposits of low grade silver-barite mineralization also occur within the sedimentary units of the Barstow Formation. Of these, only two are common.
Gradations exist between all vein types.
The accompanying figure is a generalized paragenetic sequence for the Pickhandle barite-silver veins. Rare calcite is paragenetically much later than barite and often quite dark due to the presence of included iron and manganese oxides. Interstices between barite fragments are most commonly filled with a mixture of iron and manganese oxides. Magnetite occurs locally, with partial to total alteration to hematite. A variety of manganese oxides are present, but they cannot be differentiated by simple microscopic analysis.