Buckskin National Project

Past Producer in Humboldt county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Antimony, Iron, Arsenic, Lead, Zinc, Copper

Sections on this page

Identification information
Geographic coordinates
Site location context
Geographic areas
Public Land Survey System information
Commodities
Materials information
Alteration
Mineral occurrence model information
Host and associated rocks
Nearby scientific data
Geologic structures
Ore body information
Controls for ore emplacement
Economic information about the deposit and operations
Mining district
Land status
Ownership information
Bibliographic references
General comments
Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID	10310424
MRDS ID	M055027
Record type	Site
Current site name	Buckskin National Project
Related records	10040312, 10281271

Comments on the site identification

This record describes the current Buckskin National prospect on the east side of the district, but includes descriptive material from MRDS record # M055027 which describes the historic Buckskin National Mine.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates:	-117.54042, 41.79294 (WGS84)
Elevation	2380
Relative position	The deposit is located about 60 miles north of Winnemucca.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Humboldt(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Buckskin Mountain(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Quinn River Valley(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

McDermitt(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Little Humboldt(hydrologic unit)

Humboldt(hydrologic accounting unit)

Black Rock Desert-Humboldt(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country	State	County
United States	Nevada	Humboldt

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian	Township	Range	Section	Fraction	State
Mount Diablo	045N	039E	11		Nevada

Comments on the location information

The deposit is located in the National Mining District on the north-east flank of Buckskin Mountain and is covered by 103 unpatented lode mining claims.

Commodities

Commodity	Importance
Gold	Primary
Silver	Primary
Antimony Critical	Secondary
Iron	Tertiary
Arsenic Critical	Tertiary
Lead	Tertiary
Zinc Critical	Tertiary
Copper	Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

Ore Materials: silver, stibnite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, electrum, pyrargyrite, miargyrite, naumannite, tetrahedrite plus an approximatey equal amount of base metal sulf-ides including galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bornite
Gangue Materials: quartz, opal, chalcedony

Materials information

Materials	Type of material
Silver	Ore
Stibnite	Ore
Pyrite	Ore
Arsenopyrite	Ore
Electrum	Ore
Pyrargyrite	Ore
Miargyrite	Ore
Naumannite	Ore
Tetrahedrite	Ore
Galena	Ore
Chalcopyrite	Ore
Sphalerite	Ore
Bornite	Ore
Quartz	Gangue
Opal	Gangue
Chalcedony	Gangue

Alteration

(Local) Alteration consists predominantly of silicification and intense clay alteration. Alteration outward from the pyritic zone enveloping the Bell vein is kaolinite, followed by illite/montmorillonite, then by quartz-chlorite-quartz-calcite, then fresh rock. The kaolinite zone is more extensive in the hanging wall of the veins. There is little unaltered rock under Buckskin Mountain. Magnetite in the calcite-quartz-chlorite zone goes to pyrite in the illite-montmorillonite zone. Vertical alteration zoning is: top of Buckskin mtn.= silica cap, Hg and silicification; 20- m down (vertically) rhyolite is altered to alunite + quartz; -then to depths of several hundred meters selvages of kaolinitic alteration border the veins to depths of several hundred meters; then at depths below the level of the workings (core-drilled by ASARCO), K-mica alteration reportedly occurs in and around the veins.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code	150
USGS model code	25c
Deposit model name	Epithermal vein, Comstock
Mark3 model number	16
Model code	104
USGS model code	25a
Deposit model name	Hot-spring Au-Ag
Mark3 model number	45

Host and associated rocks

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite

Rock type qualifier

basaltic

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Quartz Latite

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Mixed Clastic/Volcanic Rock

Rock type qualifier

volcaniclastic sediments with pool sinter

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite

Rock type qualifier

basaltic

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	16
Dating method	K-Ar
Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Miocene
Chronological age	14
Dating method	K-Ar

Nearby scientific data

(1)	-117.54042, 41.79294	ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure	Local
Structure description	Two approximately orthogonal fault sets running approximately N-S and E-W have influenced hydrothermal mineralization.

Ore body information

General form tabular

General form	tabular

Controls for ore emplacement

"fissure vein", N-trending faults and E-W- trending faults

Comments on the geologic information

The fissure vein averages 4 ft wide, and was opened up for 3000 ft. along strike on the 10-ft level. The rhyolitic rocks are peraluminous.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type	Underground
Development status	Past Producer
Commodity type	Metallic
Deposit size	Small
Significant	Yes
Discovery year	1907
Discoverer	John Dermody
Year of first production	1912
Year of last production	1941
Production years	1930, 1932-1933, 1938-1941

Mining district

District name	National District

Land status

Ownership category	Private
Ownership category	BLM Administrative Area
Area name	Winnemuca BLM District

Ownership information

Type Owner-Operator

Owner Romarco Minerals Inc.

Year 2004

Type	Owner-Operator
Owner	Romarco Minerals Inc.
Year	2004

Comments on the workings information

The historic deposit was developed by a shaft, 3 adits, and other underground workings totalling over 6500 feet. A mill burned in 1937. Recent surface exploration work includes core drill holes

Comments on other economic factors

Bonanza gold/silver ores mined during the early 1900's from underground workings along the Bell Vein in the eastern portion of the project area yielded a recorded production of approximately 24,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver from ore averaging approximately of 0.7 ounces gold and 8.8 ounces silver per ton. Bulk mineable reserve reported in1990 was 138,251 tons of ore grading 0.363 oounces per ton Au and 3.37 ounces per ton Ag. In 1997 reserves of 50,221 Au and 466,243 ounces of Ag were reported.

Comments on development

Silver and gold claims were staked on Buckskin Peak prior to 1907. The Buckskin National Mine was worked intermittently from 1912 through 1940 and was initially covered by 2 patented and 9 unpatented claims. The Buckskin National Gold Mining Co. was incorporated in 1912. It was equipped with a 100-ton flotation mill, but the ore was found to be unsuitable for the flotation process. From about 1928 to 1938 the property was run by the Nevada Lucky Tiger Mining Co. under a lease. In June, 1937, 50 men were employed mining 50 tons of ore per day. The historic Buckskin National Mine last operated in the 1930s . MC CORMICK ET. AL. 1942.
ASARCO was leasing property in 1983 from owners, the time Buckskin National Gold Mining Co. but there was no activity at that time. ASARCO drilled 1000 m or more of core holes in the property.

In April 2004 Romarco Minerals Inc. announced the beginning of an exploration program on its newly acquired Buckskin-National Project. Romarco acquired a 100% operating interest in the 103 unpatented lode mining claims that comprise the project area, subject to terms and obligations of lease agreements between Romarco and three private parties. The planned 2004 exploration program will involve a comprehensive approach including mapping the surface and underground geology, logging all available existing drill cores, conducting a widespread systematic soil sampling program, and initiating diamond drilling of bonanza vein targets. Additionally, existing drill core that was never split, sampled, and assayed will be split and assayed for gold, silver, and associated elements. The logging and sampling of existing drill core is currently underway, and field activities will begin in late May or June.

Comments on the environmental information

Magmatism associated with continental extension under reducing conditions

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Deposit

Willden, R., 1964, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Humboldt Co., Nev; NBMG Bull. 59.
Deposit

Vanderburg, W.O., 1938, Reconnaissance of Mining Districts in Humboldt County, Nevada; U.S. B. M. Inf. Circ. 6995
Deposit

Lindgren, W., 1915, Geology and Mineral Deposits of the National Mining District, Nevada: U.S.G.S. Bull 601.
Deposit

Lawrence, E.F., 1963, Antimony Deposits of Nevada; NBMG Bull. 61.
Deposit

Garside, L. J. And Bonham, M. F., Jr., 18 Aug 83, Field examination and tour led by Peter Vikre of ASARCO Minerals, and sample analyses.
Deposit

Vikre, P. G., 1985, Precious metal vein systems in the National District, Humboldt County, Nevada: Econ. Geol., vol. 80, no. 2, p. 360-393.
Deposit

NBMG Staff, 1985, NBMG OFR 85-3.
Deposit

NBMG Map 88, 1986, Geology of Buckskin Mountain, by P. G. Vikre.
Deposit

Nevada Dept. of Minerals, 1993
Deposit

Miller and Rumpsey, USBM production figures
Deposit

NBMG MI-86; MI-97
Deposit

NBMG Map 91, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Deposit

Amer. Mines (1990), 1990
Deposit

National Au Min. Industry News, 1 Aug 1986
Deposit

Carper, 1920,MD133, I12
Deposit

Amer. Mines (2000), 1999
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

Romarco Minerals Inc. press releases, April, May, 2004.

General comments

Subject category	Comment text
Deposit	Buckskin-National is a volcanic-hosted gold-silver exploration project that exhibits exceptional discovery potential for high grade, bonanza gold and silver vein systems that are analogous to ore deposits at the nearby Ken Snyder Mine. Bonanza gold/silver ores mined during the early 1900's from underground workings along the Bell Vein in the eastern portion of the project area yielded a recorded production of approximately 24,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver from ore averaging approximately of 0.7 ounces gold and 8.8 ounces silver per ton. Mineralization consists of a complete hot springs gold system from surface sinter deposits to antimony-rich upper portions of veins to deeper ruby silver and gold-bearing quartz veins. The mines explore two N15W, 75SW-trending veins which are parallel to and on strike with the National and Birthday veins 7 km to the NW. The eastern vein is the Lawry and the western vein is the Bell vein, the latter of which is on the current Buckskin National property. The tops of the vein system can be seen at the surface in pits and stopes. The veins are on a 3m wide silicified zone with veins and stockworks of fine-grained chalcedonic quartz with fine laminated crustification. Stibnite occurs in the upper parts of these veins; it is absent or late-stage in deeper veins. There are 4 stages of vein mineralization: stage IV (latest, highest in system) stibnite and Ag sulfosalts and fine crustiform chalcedony; stage III strong pyrite and marcasite; stage II rhythmically crustified quartz-chalcedony veins with Ag sulfosalts and native gold (electrum); stage I (deepest) silver minerals associated with white K-mica and feldspar- stable alteration. The tops of these veins "apex" about 200 m below the paleosurface (pool sinters, etc.). Fluid inclusions from these veins indicate temperatures of approx 175 degrees C with some indications of overpressure. Hydrothermal breccias have been noted. The Bell Vein underground consists of a strong iron sulfide zone several meters wide with a 2060 cm crustified quartz vein in center.

Subject category

Comment text

Deposit

Buckskin-National is a volcanic-hosted gold-silver exploration project that exhibits exceptional discovery potential for high grade, bonanza gold and silver vein systems that are analogous to ore deposits at the nearby Ken Snyder Mine. Bonanza gold/silver ores mined during the early 1900's from underground workings along the Bell Vein in the eastern portion of the project area yielded a recorded production of approximately 24,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver from ore averaging approximately of 0.7 ounces gold and 8.8 ounces silver per ton.
Mineralization consists of a complete hot springs gold system from surface sinter deposits to antimony-rich upper portions of veins to deeper ruby silver and gold-bearing quartz veins. The mines explore two N15W, 75SW-trending veins which are parallel to and on strike with the National and Birthday veins 7 km to the NW. The eastern vein is the Lawry and the western vein is the Bell vein, the latter of which is on the current Buckskin National property. The tops of the vein system can be seen at the surface in pits and stopes. The veins are on a 3m wide silicified zone with veins and stockworks of fine-grained chalcedonic quartz with fine laminated crustification. Stibnite occurs in the upper parts of these veins; it is absent or late-stage in deeper veins. There are 4 stages of vein mineralization: stage IV (latest, highest in system) stibnite and Ag sulfosalts and fine crustiform chalcedony; stage III strong pyrite and marcasite; stage II rhythmically crustified quartz-chalcedony veins with Ag sulfosalts and native gold (electrum); stage I (deepest) silver minerals associated with white K-mica and feldspar- stable alteration. The tops of these veins "apex" about 200 m below the paleosurface (pool sinters, etc.). Fluid inclusions from these veins indicate temperatures of approx 175 degrees C with some indications of overpressure. Hydrothermal breccias have been noted. The Bell Vein underground consists of a strong iron sulfide zone several meters wide with a 2060 cm crustified quartz vein in center.

Reporter information

Type	Date	Name	Affiliation	Comment
Reporter	01-JUN-2004	LaPointe, D.D.	Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Editor	01-SEP-2007	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.

Beyond USGS

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

External references

Wikidata: Q49402445 (Buckskin National Mine)

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.