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Ward

Producer in White Pine county in Nevada, United States with commodities Copper, Lead, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc, Gold, Cadmium
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  14. Mining district
  15. Mineral rights holdings
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10208273
MRDS ID W016410
MAS/MILS ID 0320330112
Record type Site
Current site name Ward
Alternate or previous names Ward Mountain Mine, Caroline, Good Luck, Ward Mine, Silver King, Ward/Taylor Project, Ward Mountain

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -114.88276, 39.07914 (WGS84)
Elevation 2286
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position The Ward mine area is located at the southern end of Ward Mountain on the east flank of the Egan Mountains about 24 km south of Ely.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

White Pine(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Ward Mountain(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Ely(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Ely(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Spring-Steptoe Valleys(hydrologic unit)

Central Nevada Desert Basins(hydrologic accounting unit)

Central Nevada Desert Basins(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Nevada White Pine

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 014 N 063 E 15 NESENW Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • The original claims were located in Ward Gulch on Willow Creek.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Lead Secondary
Molybdenum Tertiary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Gold Secondary
Cadmium Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Ore Materials: plumbojarosite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite
  • Gangue Materials: pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, garnet, Mg-Fe pyroxene, wolastonite, idocrase, clinozoisite, epidote, chlorite, calcite, gypsum, barite

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Plumbojarosite Ore
Wollastonite Gangue
Marcasite Gangue
Pyroxene Gangue
Barite Gangue
Idocrase Gangue
Pyrrhotite Gangue
Clinozoisite Gangue
Chlorite Gangue
Gypsum Gangue
Malachite Unknown
Molybdenite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Pyrrhotite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Smithsonite Unknown
Thulite Unknown
Bornite Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Covellite Unknown
Diopside Unknown
Epidote Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Garnet Unknown
Hedenbergite Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Jasper Unknown
Magnetite Unknown

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 60
USGS model code 18c
Deposit model name Skarn Zn-Pb
Mark3 model number 22

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Skarn (Tactite)
    Rock unit name Guilmette Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Devonian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock type qualifier metamorphosed
    Rock unit name Joana Limestone
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Mississippian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock type qualifier metamorphosed
    Rock unit name Ely Limestone
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Permian
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Porphyry
    Rock type qualifier quartz monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Eocene
    Chronological age 34
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Rock type qualifier porphyritic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Eocene
    Chronological age 34

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -114.88276, 39.07914
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name NW-trending faults are the dominant local structures, with a set of E-W
Type of structure Local
Structure name -striking cross-cutting faults as well.
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Paleozoic rocks in the mine area have been folded into a SE-
Type of structure Regional
Structure name plunging antiform which was later faulted by N-NW-trending high angle norma
Type of structure Regional
Structure name normal and reverse faults, and later by prominent NNW-striking Basin-and-Ra
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Basin-and-Range type faults.

Ore body information

  • Strike N55W
    Dip 20E
    Thickness 100M
    Length 1220M
    Width 1040M
    Depth to top 294M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 CARBONATE SILIC
    Strike And Dip N55W:20E
    Minimum Depth to Top 212
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830708
  • Strike N55W
    Dip 20E
    Thickness 100M
    Length 240M
    Width 120M
    Depth to top 340M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 2
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 CARBONATE SILIC
    Strike And Dip N55W:20E
    Minimum Depth to Top 282
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830708
  • Area 65HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 65
    Date of Last Modification 910418
  • General form irregular to elliptical tube

Comments on the geologic information

  • CHAINMAN SHALE - THE CHAINMAN SHALE LIES AT THE BASE OF THE OXIDE ORE THAT WAS MINED IN EARLIER YEARS. L-REC 3, LINE 04 - UNSPECIFIED METAMORPHIC IS JASPEROID. SHAPE OF OREBODIES IS MANTO-SHAPE.
  • Original ore control entry:
  • Proximity to the granitic intrusive as well as host rock lithology and NW-trending structures all exhibit varying degrees of control over ore formation at the Ward Mine deposits.
  • There is a distinct alteration zonation pattern spatially related to temperature variations caused by the cooling of the intrusive rocks, and related to the composition of the stratigraphic horizons intruded by the pluton. Within the Guilmette Formation limestone, skarn zonation grades from nearly pure andradite garnet adjacent to the stock, outward to a garnet-Fe-Mg pyroxene-magnetite zone outward to relatively pure marble. Six stages of alteration/mineralization associated with the stock emplacement have been recognized: 1) contact metamorphism. 2) magnesium metasomatism, 3) anhydrous metasomatism. 4) hydrous metasomatism 5) sulfide introduction and 6) massive silica replacement.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1968
Mining method Open Stope - Room and Pillar
Year of first production 1989
Milling method Flotation

Comments on exploration

  • EXPLORATION HISTORY DESCRIBES DEEP SULFIDE DEPOSITS ONLY.

Mining district

District name Ward

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category BLM Administrative Area
Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Silver King Mines Inc.
    ID 2600576
    Interest 47
    Home office Utah
    Year 1988
  • Type Owner
    Owner Pacific Silver
    ID 2600576
    Interest 47
    Home office Hawaii
    Year 1988
  • Type Owner
    Owner Gulf Oil Corp.
    ID 2600576
    Interest 3
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1988
  • Type Owner
    Owner Phillips Petroleum Co.
    ID 2600576
    Interest 3
    Home office Oklahoma
    Year 1988
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Silver King Mines, Inc.
    ID 2600576
    Interest 100
    Home office Utah
    Year 1989
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Alta Gold Co.
    ID 2600576
    Year 1991

Comments on the ownership information

  • IN EARLY 1978 GULF OIL CORP. PURCHASED A 51 PERCENT INTEREST IN THE 13,000 ACRE WARD PROPERTY OWNED BY SILVER KING. GULF AGREED TO EXPENT $10.5 MILLION OVER A 7-YEAR PERIOD IN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OR PAY $5 MILLION IN CASH DIRECTLY TO SILVER KING MINES OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE 51 PERCENT INTEREST. GULF OIL IS REQUIRED TO EXPEND A SET AMOUNT EACH YEAR IN A PROGRESSIVE SCALE RANGING FROM $340,000 THE FIRST YEAR TO $3 MILLION THE SEVENTH YEAR. IF THE WARD MTN PROPERTY IS PUT INTO PRODUCTION, GULF OIL WOULD BECOME THE OPERATOR, WITH SILVER KING MINES EITHER PARTICIPATING UNDER A 51-49 PERCENT JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT, OR SILVER KING ACCEPTING A 16.5 PERCENT CARRIED NET PROFITS INTEREST.

Production statistics

  • Year 1991
    Description Cadmium 58708 Lbs
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cadmium Cadmium 26629.5mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Silver 58277 Oz
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 1812617.56g
  • Year 1991
    Description Copper 810884 Lbs
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 367810.79mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Lead 525411 Lbs
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Lead Lead 238322.42mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Zinc 10229783 Lbs
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Zinc Zinc 464015.01mt

Comments on the production information

  • YIELD PERCENT RECOVERY FOR GIVEN COMMODITIES IS PERCENT OVERALL RECOVERY FROM MILL FEED TO MILL PRODUCT, NOT AS INDIVIDUAL CIRCUIT RECOVERIES.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1977
    Indicated 9000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 9000000mt ore
    Total resources 9000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 61.7 g/mt Silver Major 1977
    Zinc Zn 3 wt-pct Zinc Major 1977
    Copper Cu 1.5 wt-pct Copper Major 1977
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Indicated 4500000mt ore
    Demonstrated 4500000mt ore
    Total resources 4500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 102.9 g/mt Silver Major 1985
    Zinc Zn 5.5 wt-pct Zinc Major 1985
    Copper Cu 1 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Measured 16mt ore
    Indicated 95mt ore
    Demonstrated 111mt ore
    Inferred 54mt ore
    Total resources 165mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 62.21 g/mt Silver Major 1988
    Lead Pb 0.5 wt-pct Lead Minor 1988
    Zinc Zn 4 wt-pct Zinc Major 1988
    Copper Cu 1.3 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Measured 16mt ore
    Indicated 95mt ore
    Demonstrated 111mt ore
    Inferred 38mt ore
    Total resources 149mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 68.6 g/mt Silver Major 1989
    Lead Pb 0.5 wt-pct Lead Minor 1989
    Zinc Zn 4 wt-pct Zinc Major 1989
    Copper Cu 1.3 wt-pct Copper Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Measured 223392mt ore
    Demonstrated 223392mt ore
    Total resources 223392mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 79 g/mt Silver Major 1995
    Lead Pb 0.905 wt-pct Lead Minor 1995
    Zinc Zn 9.087 wt-pct Zinc Major 1995
    Copper Cu 1.006 wt-pct Copper Major 1995

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • MATRIX 1, COL 1 REPRESENTS TONNAGE AND GRADE OF THE WARD MINING DISTRICT AS STATED TO THE EVALUATOR BY SILVER KING MINES, INC., DURING A VISIT TO THE WARD PROPERTY IN MARCH 1979. THE INDICATED RESOURCE IS BASED ON SURFACE DRILLING USING 500 FOOT (152 METER) CENTERS AND UNDERGROUND DRILLING. THE 10 PERCENT PROBABILITY ESTIMATE IS BASED ON GEOPHYSICAL INDICATIONS OF THE EXTENT OF MINERALIZATION AND THE FACT THAT DRILL HOLES TO DATE (WITH DRILLING STILL IN PROGRESS IN 1981) HAVE NOT FOUND THE LATERAL LIMITS OF AG-CU-ZN-PB MINERALIZATION. MATRIX 1, COL 2 REPRESENTS MEASURED ORE MATRIX 1, COL 2 REPRESENTS RESOURCES BLOCKED OUT IN THE GOOD LUCK AREA BY UNDERGROUND LONG-HOLE DRILLING.
  • 1995 DATA: ESTIMATED PROCESS RECOVERY RATES: SILVER-80%; COPPER-70%; ZINC-93%; LEAD-70%. OPERATIONS CEASED IN 1991. ALTA GOLD CURRENTLY HAS NO PLANS FOR DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 9150M
    Overall depth 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method ROOM AND PILLAR 10-34
    Swell Factor .7
    Percent Waste Rock .1
    Percent Recovery 75
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics NO PLANES OF WEAKNESS
    Number of Shafts 2
    Length of Inclines (m) 2256
    Slope of Inclines 10
    Number of Inclines 2
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 0
    Capacity 1270
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 18.86
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1989

Comments on the workings information

  • WATER FOR MILL WOULD BE FROM WELLS DRILLED IN STEPTOE VALLEY PUMPING DISTANCE LESS THAN TWO MILES. ELECTRICITY WOULD HAVE TO BE EXTENDED THREE MILES TO THE MINE/MILL SITE. SERVICING POWER COMPANY IS MOUNT WHEELER POWER CO. WATER IS SUPPLIED FROM THE MINE AT 30 GPM ELECTRICAL POWER COST IS 5.75 CENTS/KWH-CURRENT COST IS $12,000/MO
  • The original mines were developed by underground workings with later surface workings.

Comments on other economic factors

  • THREE YEARS OF EXPLORATION FROM 1978 THROUGH 1980 HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED LEAVING ONE YEAR OF EXPLORATION AND TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR MINE AND MILL PLANT CONSTRUCTION REMAINING.
  • The mine produced sporadically from 1875 to 1991 with the most recent production from 1989 through 1991 of 20,920,000 lbs Zn, 1,058,000 lbs Cu, 1,835,000 lbs Pb, 100,604 oz Ag, and 75,343 lbs Cd. Total production is estimated at more than 182 kilotonnes ore containing >.05 tonnes gold, 28 tonnes silver, 1 kilotonne copper, 7.9 kilotonnes lead, and 14.7 kilotonnes zinc.
    In 1991, Alta Gold reported a resource of 1381 kilotonnes ore containing 97.5 tonnes silver, 14.8 kilotonnes copper, 12 kilotonnes lead, and 86.5 kilotonnes zinc.
    The total recorded value of mineral production at Ward from 1872 to 1890 was about $960,000. Through 1967, almost $2.5 million had been produced from the Ward Mining District.
    A million dollars worth of silver was reportedly taken from a single stope of the Ward Mine in the early years of production.
    In 1990, development work defined reserves of 1.2 million metric tons of ore grading 68 g/t silver, 1.5 % lead, 6.5 % zinc,and 0.7% copper.
    In 1998 the deposit was reported to contain proven reserves of 246,178 tonnes of ore grading 9.0869% Zn, 1.0062% Cu, 0.905% Pb, and 2.305 ounces per ton silver.

Comments on development

  • One source reports discoveries of silver-lead ore at Ward about 1866, but another reports that in March of 1872, freighters William Ballinger and John Henry were searching for oxen in the Willow Creek area, and discovered silver ore in Ward Gulch. They collected ore samples which were assayed at Cherry Creek. The ore proved favorable; they returned to Willow Creek with other prospectors and staked claims. In 1873, the claims were sold to Judge Frizell. The townsite of Ward was established and named after one of the claim locators, B. F. Ward. In 1875, the claims were evaluated by mining experts, which resulted in the sale of the Paymaster Mine to the Martin White investment company of San Francisco. This combination of confirmed mineral values and funds for their extraction started the boom period at Ward, which lasted from 1876 until 1882. The Ward charcoal ovens were constructed at this time and the population soared to about 6000 inhabitants. In 1877, six companies were developing 17 mines, but the Caroline group of claims held by Martin White was virtually the only producer. A new mill was bult in 1878 and operated until the mines shut down in 1883. The lower Paymaster Tunnel was collared in 1879 and driven 960 m in an unsuccessful attempt to intersect the downward projection of the rich orebodies.In 1883 a large fire destroyed about one-third of the buildings in Ward, and many of the other buildings were removed to Taylor.
    The town was abandoned by the late 1880s, but the Paymaster tunel was again reopened and explored in 1906.
    There was sporadic mineral production from the Ward mines in 1890, 1907, 1908-1909, 1911, 1917, and from 1934-1942, much of the ore being from reprocessing of mine dump material. Several compnies explored the district in the 1940s and 1950s at which time drilling from the Mountain Pride and lower Defiance drifts identified an ore zone too small to mine. Silver King Mining Company acquired the Ward Mine property in 1962 and by 1967 had produced 63,400 metric tones of low-grade ore. Encouraging results from several diffrrent geophysical surveys in the mine area caused Phiips Petroleum Co., in a joint venture with Silver King, to initiate an extensive drilling program which identified additional mineralization in new formations in the mine area. The Paymaster Adit was again reopened and lengthened to 1828 m. but still failed to develop a mineable tonnage of ore. Drilling had encountered a granitic stock at depth, which spurred porphyry copper exploration interest in the district, and more drillinjg was conducted No porphyry copper deposit was found, but more than half of the drill holes encountered significant skarn-hosted sulfide mineralization. Phillips drpped their portionj of the joint enture in 1976, but Gulf Minerals entered a joint venture with Slver King and drilled more hole s and did metallurgical tests to try to work out the difficult metal extraction, but
    in 1982 Gulf sold out its interest back to Silver King, who proceeded to sink two exploratory declines, drifts and more drilling to define ore zones. This work defined reserves of 1.2 million metric tons of ore grading 68 g/t silver, 1.5 % lead, 6.5 % zinc,and 0.7% copper.
    Ore was mined in the early 1990s and was processed at the Taylor mill across the valley to the east. Alta Gold acquired the property about 1989, but Alta Gold later went bankrupt, and its assets were sold.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    HOSE, R.K., M.C. BLAKE AND R.M. SMITH. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEVADA. NEV. BUR. OF MINES AND GEOL., BULL. 85, 1976, PP. 79-81

  • Geology

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL. PHILLIPS AND SILVER KING DISCOVER SECOND CU-ZN-AG ORE ZONE IN NEVADA. THIS MONTH IN MINING. V. 170, NO. 11, 1969, P. 111.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW. SILVER KING ACQUIRES WARD PROPERTY; OPTION ON TAYLOR MINE. V. 66, NO. 35, AUG. 22, 1977, P. 22.

  • Ownership

    NEV. DIV. MINE INSPECTION, 1991, DIRECTORY OF NEVADA MINE OPERATIONS ACTIVE DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1990, P. 88.

  • Geology

    HEIDRICK, T.L. GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE WARD MINING DISTRICT, WHITE PINE CO., NEVADA. THESIS, BA. UNIV OF COLORADO, 1963.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL. NEWS BRIEFS/IN THE U.S./NEVADA/PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO. V. 178, NO. 10, OCTOBER 1977, P. 150.

  • Deposit

    HAVENSTRITE, STEWART. ABSTRACT: GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS IN THE WARD MINING DISTRICT. SILVER KING MINES INC., MARCH. 1977, 4 PP.

  • Geology

    EVERETT, F.D. RECONNAISSANCE OF TELLURIUM RESOURCES IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, AND UTAH - INCLUDING SELECTED DATA FROM OTHER WESTERN STATES AND MEXICO. BUMINES RI 6350, 1964, PP. 15,20,21.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SILVER KING MINES, INC. ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED APRIL 30,1976. SILVER KING MINES, INC. 1976, PP. 2,7-9.

  • Deposit

    NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION. GULF OIL DRILLS WARD MOUNTAIN FOR COPPER-SILVER-ZINC. BULLETIN, V. 2, NO. 10, OCTOBER 1978, P. 11.

  • Geology

    ZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, AND UTAH - INCLUDING SELECTED DATA FROM OTHER WESTERN STATES AND MEXICO. BUMINES RI 6350, 1964, PP. 15,20,21.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW. GULF OIL ACQUIRES 51 PERCENT OF SILVER KING'S NEVADA PROPERTIES. V. 67, NO. 7, FEB. 18, 1978, P. 16.

  • Reserve-Resource

    REPORT, YEAR ENDED MAR. 31, 1983.

  • Geology

    DATA FROM OTHER WESTERN STATES AND MEXICO. BUMINES RI 6350, 1964, PP. 15,20,21.

  • Deposit

    SMITH, R.M., AND R.R. TRENGROVE. DMEA-2257, WARD LEAD-SILVER DEPOSIT, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEV. REPORT OF EXAMINATION BY FIELD REAM REGION III. DEFENSE MINERALS ADMINISTRATION. (UNPUBLISHED CONFIDENTIAL REPORT. JULY 10, 1952, 17 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    638. SINGLETON, R. H. LITHIUM. BUMINES MINERAL COMMODITY PROFILE, 1979, 25 PP.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING. 1978 ANNUAL REVIEW. NEVADA. V. 31, NO. 5 MAY, 1979, P. 488.

  • Geology

    F995 ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SILVER KING MINES,INC. 1985 A.R. (FOR YEAR ENDING 3/31/85)

  • Deposit

    THE WALLACE MINER. GULF OIL TO DEVELOPE WARD MOUNTAIN MINE. V. 72, NO. 20, JUNE 8, 1978, P. 2.

  • Reserve-Resource

    1995 ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Deposit

    HILL, J.M. NOTES ON SOME MINING DISTRICTS IN EASTERN NEVADA. U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 648, PP. 180-186.

  • Reserve-Resource

    AMERICAN MINES HANDBOOK. 1996. P. 17.

  • Deposit

    LINCOLN, F.C. MINING DISTRICTS AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF NEVADA. NEVADA NEWSLETTER PUBLISHING CO. RENO, NEVADA, 1923, PP. 256, 257.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING DIRECTORY. 1996-97. U.S. MINES AND MINING COMPANIES P. 278.

  • Deposit

    166. ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL. THIS MONTH IN MINING: SILVER KING WILL PLACE WARD PROPERTY INTO PRODUCTION IN 1985. V. 183, NO. 7, 1982, P. 49.

  • Deposit

    188. EVERETT, F. D. RECONNAISSANCE OF TELLURIUM RESOURCES IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO AND UTAH - INCLUDING SELECTED DATA FROM OTHER WESTERN STATES AND MEXICO. BUMINES RI 6350, 1964, PP. 15, 20-21.

  • Deposit

    203. GAGE, H. L. SOME FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC LEAD-ZINC MINES THAT COULD SUPPLY ZINC CONCENTRATES TO A PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTROLYTIC ZINC INDUSTRY. THE LEAD-ZINC MINES OF NEVADA. BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, PORTLAND, OREGON 1941, PP. 662-666.

  • Deposit

    258. HEIDRICK, T. L. GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE WARD MINING DISTRICT, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEVADA. M.S. THESIS, UNIV. CO, BOULDER, CO, 1965, 154 PP.

  • Deposit

    424. MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST. NEW DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS, SILVER KING MINES HAS STARTED MINE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WARD PROPERTY. ENG. AND MIN. J. INT. DIRECTORY, V. 9, NO. 2, 1982, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    433. MINING ENGINEERING (NY). U.V. DRILLS MOLYBDENUM. V. 31, NO. 5, 1979, P. 488.

  • Deposit

    471. NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION (RENO). GULF OIL DRILLS WARD MOUNTAIN FOR COPPER-SILVER-ZINC. NV MIN. ASSOC. BULL., V. 2, NO. 10, 1978, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    490. NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION (RENO). SILVER KING'S WARD MINE NEAR ELY GEARING FOR PRODUCTION. NV MIN. ASSOC. BULL., V. 6, NO. 4, 1982, P. 15.

  • Deposit

    633. SILVER KING MINES, INC. (SALT LAKE CITY, UT). ANNUAL REPORT, YEAR ENDED APR. 30, 1976, PP. 2, 7-9.

  • Deposit

    634. SILVER KING MINES, INC. (SALT LAKE CITY, UT). ANNUAL REPORT, YEAR ENDED APR. 30, 1978.

  • Deposit

    635. SILVER KING MINES, INC. (SALT LAKE CITY, UT). ANNUAL REPORT, YEAR ENDED MAR. 31, 1980.

  • Deposit

    636. SILVER KING MINES, INC. (SALT LAKE CITY, UT). ANNUAL REPORT, YEAR ENDED MAR. 31, 1981.

  • Deposit

    644. SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW. SILVER KING ACQUIRES WARD PROPERTY: OPTION ON TAYLOR MINE. V. 66, NO. 35, 1977, P. 22.

  • Deposit

    645. SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW. GULF OIL ACQUIRES 51 PERCENT OF SILVER KING'S NEVADA PROPERTIES. V. 67, NO. 7, 1978, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    757. WALLACE (ID) MINER. GULF OIL TO DEVELOP WARD MOUNTAIN MINE. JUNE 8, 1978, P. 2.

  • Deposit

    776. WATSON, B. N. LARGE LOW GRADE SILVER DEPOSITS IN N. AMERICA. WORLD MIN., V. 30, NO. 3, 1977, PP. 44-49.

  • Deposit

    QUARTERLY REPORT DTD 6/30/87.

  • Deposit

    COMPANY NEWS RELEASE DTD 10/27/87-MERGER OF SILVER KING MINE AND PACIFIC SILVER CO.

  • Deposit

    RESEARCH REPORT DTD 3/1/86 BY FINANCIAL IMAGE SYSTEMS FORM 10K FOR SILVER KING MINES, DTD 6/15/87.

  • Deposit

    NBMG MI-80; MI-83 thru MI-86; MI-89 thru MI-91

  • Deposit

    Amer. Mines (1990), 1990; thru Amer. Mines (2000), 1999

  • Deposit

    Ely Land Status, 1977

  • Deposit

    MASMILS 0320330112

  • Deposit

    Skillings Mining Review, vol.74, no.5, pp.6-9, 02 Feb 1985, Silver King operating Taylor Mine and proceeding with Ward Project.

  • Deposit

    Long, K.R., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Ludington, S.D., 1998, Database of significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the United States; Part A, Database description and analysis; part B, Digital database: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-206, 33 p., one 3.5 inch diskette.

  • Deposit

    Hasler, R. W.; Wilson, W. R.; Darnton, B. T., 1990, Geology and ore deposits of the Ward Mining District, White Pine County, Nevada ; in Geology and ore deposits of the Great Basin, Reno, NV, United States, Apr. 1-5, 1990, conference proceedings.

  • Deposit

    Mike Bunker, Ely BLM District, Ward, Nevada and the Charcoal Ovens, at http://www.webpanda.com/white_pine_county/historical_society/Ghost_Towns/wardhist.htm

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit HILL, J.M., 1916, NOTES ON SOME MINING DISTRICTS IN EASTERN NEVADA. 1916. U.S. GEOL. SURVEY BULL. 648, PP 180-186. GAGE, H.L. SOME FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC LEAD-ZINC MINES THAT COULD SUPPLY ZINC CONCENTRATES TO A PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTROLYTIC ZINC INDUSTRY/VIII. THE LEAD-ZINC MINES OF NEVADA: BONNEVILLE POWER ADMIN., PP 662-666.
Deposit The Ward Mine deposit is a polymetallic Cu, Au, Ag and Pb-Zn skarn deposit. Four distinct orebodies have been identified: the Bootlegger, Wildcat, Zinc Tube, and Goodluck ore zones. Although the mineralized rock within these zones occurs as somewhat irregular replacements, they are roughly aligned along a N60W trend and are generally laterally continuous except fro te Bootlegger zone.
Paleozoic limestones and shales in the mine area have been intruded by a 34 Ma porphyritic quartz monzonite stock and associated NW-trending dike swarm. Metal zonation within the skarn is also controlled by a combination of proximity to the stock and lithology of the protolith. Six stages of alteration/mineralization associated with the stock emplacement have been recognized: 1) contact metamorphism. 2) magnesium metasomatism, 3) anhydrous metasomatism. 4) hydrous metasomatism 5) sulfide introduction and 6) massive silica replacement.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 19-JUN-97 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-DEC-04 LaPointe, D.D. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Editor 01-SEP-07 Schruben, Paul G. U.S. Geological Survey Converted from S&A FileMaker format to Oracle. Edit checks on rocks, units, and ages with Geolex search, and other fields.
Updater 26-JAN-10 Illo, Diane R. Contractor Merged Duplicate File.

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 05/13/1991
MSHA mine ID2600576
Mine name (MSHA)Ward Mountain Project
Current operatorAlta Gold Company
Mine typeUnderground (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

External references

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Nevada resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.