Buena Vista Mine

Past Producer in Churchill county in Nevada, United States with commodity Iron
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. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10124573
MRDS ID M233120
MAS/MILS ID 0320010043
Record type Site
Current site name Buena Vista Mine
Alternate or previous names Iron Mine Stockpile
Related records 10045406

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Pit
Geographic coordinates: -118.16627, 39.9735 (WGS84)
Elevation 1341
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Churchill(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Buena Vista Hills South(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Carson Sink(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Reno(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Carson Desert(hydrologic unit)

Carson(hydrologic accounting unit)

Central Lahontan(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Nevada Churchill

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 024 N 034 E 04 C SESW Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • GENERAL LOCATION: ABOUT 36 KM SW OF LOVELOCK

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Iron Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Apatite Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Chlorite Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Hornblende Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Scapolite Unknown
Sphene Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Pit (1) -118.16627, 39.9735

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 137M
    Length 3353M
    Width 914M
    Area 300HA
    Depth to top 706M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #2 IRREGULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #3 PIPELIKE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FAULTING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PROPYLITIC
    Strike And Dip E00W:
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 706
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 300
    Date of Last Modification 830421

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1898
Year of first production 1952

Mining district

District name Mineral Basin District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner John T. Reid
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1974
    First year 1898
    Last year 1941
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Mineral Materials Co.
    Year 1974
    First year 1941
    Last year 1960
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Columbia Iron Mining Co. (U. S. Steel)
    Home office Utah
    Year 1975
    First year 1975
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Southern Pacific Co.
    Home office California
    Year 1975
  • Type Operator
    Owner Art Wilson Co.
    ID 2600715
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1976

Production statistics

  • Year 1952
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 57.0 % Fe Product 237954 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 57wt-pct
  • Year 1953
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 57 % Fe Product 6362 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 57wt-pct
  • Year 1954
    Description No Mine Product. Shipped 4,352mt, 57% Fe 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 57wt-pct
  • Year 1955
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 57% Fe Product 13140 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 57wt-pct
  • Year 1956
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 58% Fe Product 96836 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 58wt-pct
  • Year 1957
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 58.8 % Fe Product 22192 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 59wt-pct
  • Year 1958
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 59.0 % Fe Product 229518 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 59wt-pct
  • Year 1959
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 58.8 % Fe Product 274081 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 59wt-pct
  • Year 1960
    Description Crude Ore Mined/ 63%Fe Direct, 58.8 Conc 50620 01
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 63wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 18290000mt ore
    Indicated 3050000mt ore
    Demonstrated 21340000mt ore
    Total resources 21340000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 32.7 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
    Iron Fe2O3 33.3 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 5080000mt ore
    Indicated 910000mt ore
    Demonstrated 5990000mt ore
    Inferred 5790000mt ore
    Total resources 11780000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 26.1999 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
    Iron Fe2O3 22.1 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
    Iron Fe2O3 22.1 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 5590000mt ore
    Indicated 2440000mt ore
    Demonstrated 8030000mt ore
    Inferred 4780000mt ore
    Total resources 12810000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 25.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
    Iron Fe2O3 25.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
    Iron Fe2O3 25.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Indicated 900000mt ore
    Demonstrated 900000mt ore
    Inferred 5800000mt ore
    Total resources 6700000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 22.1 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 5600000mt ore
    Indicated 2400000mt ore
    Demonstrated 8000000mt ore
    Inferred 4800000mt ore
    Total resources 12800000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 25.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 29000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 29000000mt ore
    Total resources 29000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 30.2 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Indicated 3400000mt ore
    Demonstrated 3400000mt ore
    Total resources 3400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 24.6 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Inferred 10600000mt ore
    Total resources 10600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 23.6 wt-pct Iron Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1967
    Total resources 600000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe2O3 17.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1967

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • MATRIX 1, COL. 1 QUANTITY AND GRADE SUPPLIED BY U.S. STEEL CORP. APRIL 10, 1981. RESERVE CLASSIFICATION WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GEOLOGICAL CIRCULAR 831. NO MINOR ELEMENT ASSAYS WERE SUPPLIED. DELETERIOUS MINOR ELEMENT QUANTITIES ARE LOW ENOUGH TO NOT PRESENT PROBLEMS IN MEETING PRESENT METALLURGICAL SPECIFICATIONS. LYMAN MOORE (1971) STATES THAT "DIRECT SHIPPING ORE PRODUCED FROM THIS PROPERTY HAS AVERAGED 58.0 PERCENT FE, 9.0 PERCENT SIO2, 0.50 PERCENT P AND 0.02 PERCENT S." REEVES AND KRAL (1955, P. 21) REPORT 0.31 PERCENT V2O5 IN THE BUENA VISTA MINE ORE. M1C2=R6+R7+R8 MATRIX 1 COLUMN 2 EQUALS THE SUM OF PUBLISHED RESERVE RE- CORDS R6, R7, AND R8. M1C3=R6+R7 MATRIX 1 COLUMN 3 EQUALS RESERVE RECORD 6 PLUS RESERVE RE- CORD 7. M1C4=R6 MATRIX 1 COLUMN 4 EQUALS PUBLISHED RECORD 6.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 53HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 33.3
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 9
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 30210
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.77
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    MOORE, L. ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

  • Reserve-Resource

    NEVADA, 116 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    IRON RESOURCES AND IRON ORE MARKETS. BUMINES

  • Reserve-Resource

    IC 8511, 1971, 207 PP.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN IRON ORE ASSOCIATION. IRON ORE 1979.

  • Deposit

    CLEVELAND, OH, 1980, 115 PP.

  • Deposit

    CARLSON, G. N., AND R. A. BAUER. HIBBING TACONITE

  • Deposit

    STORY- PELLETIZING. SKILLINGS' MINE REV., V. 69, NO. 12,

  • Deposit

    MAR. 22, 1980, PP. 10-13.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL. NORTH AMERICAN IRON

  • Deposit

    ORE-PART I. V. 175, NO. 11, 1974, PP. 83-162.

  • Deposit

    HORTON, R. C. IRON ORE OCCURRENCES IN NEVADA. NV

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. MAP 5, 1962, SCALE 1:1,000,000.

  • Deposit

    JENNINGS, O. R. ECONOMICS OF NEVADA IRON ORES: A

  • Deposit

    MARKET STUDY. M.S. THESIS, UNIV. NV, RENO, NV, 1967, 116

  • Deposit

    PP.

  • Deposit

    JONES, G. K. IRON ORE PELLETIZATION. IND. MINER.

  • Deposit

    (LONDON), V. 138, MAR. 1979, PP. 61-73.

  • Deposit

    KRAL, V. E. BUENA VISTA IRON DEPOSIT, CHURCHILL

  • Deposit

    COUNTY, NEVADA. BUMINES RI 4094, 1947, 5 PP.

  • Deposit

    NEV. DIV. MINE INSPECTION, 1976, DIRECTORY OF NEVADA

  • Deposit

    MINE OPERATIONS ACTIVE DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1975, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    NEV. DIV. MINE INSPECTION, 1992, DIRECTORY OF NEVADA

  • Deposit

    MINE OPERATIONS ACTIVE DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1991, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    NICKLE, N. L. GEOLOGY OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE

  • Deposit

    BUENA VISTA HILLS, CHURCHILL COUNTY, NEVADA. M.S. THESIS,

  • Deposit

    UNIV. CA, LOS ANGELES, CA, 1968, 84 PP.

  • Deposit

    OHLE, E. L. EVALUATION OF IRON ORE DEPOSITS. ECON.

  • Deposit

    GEOL. AND BULL. SOC. ECON. GEOL., V. 67, NO. 7, 1972,

  • Deposit

    PP. 953-964.

  • Deposit

    RADTKE, A. S. GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE BUENA

  • Deposit

    VISTA IRON ORES, CHURCHILL COUNTY, NEVADA. ECON. GEOL. AND

  • Deposit

    BULL. SOC. ECON. GEOL., V. 59, NO. 2, 1964,

  • Deposit

    PP. 279-290.

  • Deposit

    REEVES, R. G., AND V. E. KRAL. IRON ORE DEPOSITS OF

  • Deposit

    NEVADA. PART A, GEOLOGY AND IRON ORE DEPOSITS OF THE

  • Deposit

    BUENA VISTA HILLS, CHURCHILL AND PERSHING COUNTIES,

  • Deposit

    NEVADA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. BULL. 53A, 1955, 32PP.

  • Deposit

    RENO, H. T., AND F. E. BRANTLEY. IRON -- A MATERIALS

  • Deposit

    SURVEY. BUMINES IC 8574, 1973, 177 PP.

  • Deposit

    U.S. SENATE. MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF NEVADA.

  • Deposit

    88TH CONGR., 2D SESS,, SENATE DOCUMENT 87,

  • Deposit

    JULY 23, 1964, 314 PP. (ALSO PUBLISHED AS NV BUREAU OF MINES

  • Deposit

    AND GEOL. BULL. 65.)

  • Deposit

    VOSKUIL, W. H. ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE IRON ORE

  • Deposit

    INDUSTRY IN NEVADA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. REP. 13, PT.

  • Deposit

    A, 1966, PP. 5-14.

  • Deposit

    WILLDEN, R., AND R. C. SPEED. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL

  • Deposit

    DEPOSITS OF CHURCHILL COUNTY, NEVADA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND

  • Deposit

    GEOL. BULL. 83, 1974, PP. 78-79.

  • Deposit

    WRIGHT, L. B. SOUTHERN PACIFIC'S GEOLOGISTS

  • Deposit

    FIND 132,000 TONS LOW GRADE IRON ORE. MIN. WORLD,

  • Deposit

    MAR. 1960, PP. 26-31.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit GENERAL ORE BODY SIZE: MEDIUM

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 25-SEP-96 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 02/21/1989
MSHA mine ID2600715
Mine name (MSHA)Cooney Mines
Current operatorCooney Mining
Current controller (parent)Cooney John C
Mine typeSurface (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

Authoritative Nevada resources

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