Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine Area

Past Producer in Lander county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Copper, Lead, Silver, Iron

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	10310304
MRDS ID	M231296
Record type	Site
Current site name	Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine Area
Alternate or previous names	Bailey Day Claim Group, Angela claim group
Related records	10043983

Comments on the site identification

This prospect encompasses the historic Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine areas, described in earlier MRDS records # M231296, RE00049, and MRDS #M231376 from which all material has been incorporated into this record and additional new material has been added.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates:	-117.02872, 40.63129 (WGS84)
Elevation	1570
Relative position	The Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine area is located about 5 miles west of the town of Battle Mountain, Nevada.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Lander(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Snow Gulch(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Winnemucca(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Winnemucca(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Middle Humboldt(hydrologic unit)

Humboldt(hydrologic accounting unit)

Black Rock Desert-Humboldt(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Bureau of Land Management(Bureau of Land Management NV)

Bureau of Land Management NV BLM(Type of land area)

BLM(Federal land areas administered by BLM)

Geographic areas

Country	State	County
United States	Nevada	Lander

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian	Township	Range	Section	Fraction	State
Mount Diablo	032N	044E	21 28		Nevada

Comments on the location information

The Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine area is located about 5 miles west of the town of Battle Mountain, in the Copper Basin area of Battle Mountain, about a mile north of the Copper King Mine. The Labrador orebody is located approximately 2000 feet west of the Surprise Deposit.

Commodities

Commodity	Importance
Gold	Primary
Copper	Secondary
Lead	Secondary
Silver	Secondary
Iron	Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

Ore Materials: Free gold, auriferous pyrite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, malachite, azurite, tenorite, limonite, hematite
Gangue Materials: Chlorite, quartz, calcite, epidote, garnet, diopside, iron oxides, clay minerals, goethite

Materials information

Materials	Type of material
Gold	Ore
Pyrite	Ore
Chalcopyrite	Ore
Chrysocolla	Ore
Malachite	Ore
Azurite	Ore
Tenorite	Ore
Limonite	Ore
Hematite	Ore
Chlorite	Gangue
Quartz	Gangue
Calcite	Gangue
Epidote	Gangue
Garnet	Gangue
Diopside	Gangue
Clay	Gangue
Goethite	Gangue

Alteration

(Local) Alteration that has affected all rocks in the mine area are strong silicification, prograde garnet+diopside skarn that has been partially replaced by a retrograde assemblage of chlorite, quartz, calcite, and minor epidote.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code	85
USGS model code	22c
Deposit model name	Polymetallic veins
Mark3 model number	46
Model code	64
USGS model code	18f
Deposit model name	Skarn Au
Mark3 model number	82

Host and associated rocks

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone

Rock unit name

Harmony Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Late Cambrian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale

Rock unit name

Harmony Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Late Cambrian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Metamorphic Rock > Skarn (Tactite)

Rock type qualifier

garnet

Rock unit name

Harmony Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Late Cambrian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate

Rock unit name

Battle Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Pennsylvanian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale

Rock type qualifier

calcareous

Rock unit name

Harmony Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Late Cambrian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone

Rock type qualifier

calcareous

Rock unit name

Harmony Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Late Cambrian

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Metamorphic Rock > Hornfels

Rock type qualifier

calc-silicate and siliceous

Rock unit name

Battle Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Pennsylvanian

Host or associated Host

Rock type

Rock unit name Antler Peak Limestone

Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Permian

Stratigraphic age (oldest) Late Pennsylvanian

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate

Rock type qualifier

conglomerate

Rock unit name

Battle Formation

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Middle Pennsylvanian

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone

Rock type qualifier

limestone

Rock unit name

Antler Peak Limestone

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Permian
Stratigraphic age (oldest)	Late Pennsylvanian

Host or associated Associated

Rock type Plutonic Rock > Porphyry

Rock type qualifier quartz-feldspar dikes

Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granodiorite

Rock type qualifier

granodiorite

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Tertiary

Nearby scientific data

(1)	-117.02872, 40.63129	ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure	Regional
Structure description	Numerous regional scale thrust faults are present in the mine area, in particular along the contact between the Harmony and Battle Formations
Type of structure	Local
Structure description	The NNE-striking Copper King fault zone and the WNW-striking Surprise fault.

Ore body information

General form tabular

General form	tabular

Controls for ore emplacement

There is strong structural and lithologic control of ore formation, being affected by WNW-trending high angle normal faults, the Surprise fault, and location of calcareous sediments.

Comments on the geologic information

A quartz-feldspar porphyry dike in the pit is cut by garnet+pyroxene veinlets. This dike has characteristics of other Tertiary dikes in the area.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type	Surface-Underground
Development status	Past Producer
Commodity type	Metallic
Deposit size	Large
Significant	Yes
Discovery year	1934
Year of first production	1934
Year of last production	2004
Production years	1937, 1938, 1941, 1945, 1947, 1954, 1987-1993

Mining district

District name	Battle Mountain District

Land status

Ownership category	Private
Area name	Battle Mountain BLM Administrative District
Ownership category	BLM Administrative Area

Ownership information

Type Owner-Operator

Owner Newmont Mining Corp.

Year 2004

Type	Owner-Operator
Owner	Newmont Mining Corp.
Year	2004

Comments on the workings information

The Surprise, Labrador, and Bailey Day historic mines were developed by underground workings in the early days, replaced in later years by open pit mines. Historic underground workings consisted of a 465-foot-long adit and connecting workings. Production beginning in 1987 was by open pit on the site of the historic underground workings. Early Bailey Day mine workings consisted of 2 adits totaling 320 feet and a 150-foot inclined shaft, with connected workings.

Comments on other economic factors

Early ore production was not recorded.
In 1996, the total endowment for the Bailey Day (1934-1984 production and 1993 reserves) were reported at: 11,981 ounces of gold 17,446 ounces of silver, and 54,974 pounds of copper.
In 1996, the total endowment for the Labrador (1987-1993 production and 1993 reserves) were reported at 96,180 ounces of gold and 276,699 ounces of silver.
In 1996, the total endowment for the Surprise (1937-1954 & 1987-1993 production and 1996 reserves) were reported at 155,554 ounces of gold, 1,279,053 ounces of silver, and 32,505 pounds of copper.

The total endowment, production and reserves, for the combined Surprise, Labrador, Bailey Day Mine area orebodies is 263,715 ounces of gold, 1,573,198 ounces of silver, and 1,660,177 pounds of copper.
This is probably a low threshold of actual endowment.

Comments on development

Underground production occurred in 1937, 1938, 1941, 1945, 1947, and 1954. The open pit operated from 1987 to 1993.
Exploration for precious metals by numerous companies at the site of the historic copper mines began in the district in the 1980s, and through 1986, 114 drill holes had been completed in the Surprise mine area indicating an in place gold resource of 150,000 ounces. Pre-mining stripping began in April, 1987, involving about 2 million tons of overburden. Production of mill grade ore began in August 1987. In 1988, plans for a heap leach facility were postponed for at least one year. Gold recovery using heap leaching was expected to average about 60%. Mill grade ore was be treated at the Fortitude mill.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Deposit

Stewart, J. H., Mc Kee, E. H., and Stager, H. K., 1977, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Lander County, Nevada; NBMG Bull. 88
Deposit

Roberts, R. J. and Arnold, D. C., 1965, Ore Deposits of the Antler Peak Quadrangle, Humboldt and Lander Counties, Nevada: U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 459-B.
Deposit

Schmidt, K. W., Wotruba, P. R., and Johnson, S. D., 1988, Gold-Copper Skarn and Related Mineralization at Copper Basin, Nevada, in Gold Deposits of North Central Nevada, Special Publication #8, the Geological Society of Nevada, Reno.
Deposit

Battle Mountain Gold Company, 1988, Annual Report for 1987.
Deposit

NBMG Mining District File 147, numerous press clippings.
Deposit

Bulk-Mineable Precious Metal Deposits and Prospects in Nevada, NBMG Map 91.
Deposit

NBMG, 1988, The Nevada Mineral Industry - 1987, NBMG Special Publication MI-1986-MI-1993.
Deposit

Buffa, R. and Schafer, R., eds., 1988, Fall Field Trip Guidebook, the Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 271-276.
Deposit

USGS PP 459B
Deposit

Doebrich and Theodore, 1996
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

Geological Society of Nevada, 1999, Geology and Gold Mineralization of the Buffalo Valley Area, Northwestern Battle Mountain Trend; GSN Special Publication No. 31, 1999 Fall field trip Guidebook.
Deposit

Wendt, Clancy, 2004, Technical Report on the? ICBM/COPPER BASIN Property, Lander and Humboldt Counties, Nevada, Staccato Gold website, : http://www.staccatogold.com/i/pdf/icbm-43-101.pdf

General comments

Subject category	Comment text
Deposit	The Bailey Day deposit formed as a vein associated with a fault zone in a sandstone bed bounded by bedding-plane fault. Ore is associated with disseminated and fracture controlled oxidized pyrite in garnet skarn of the Harmony Formation and in lens-shaped calc-silicate horizons of the Battle Formation adjacent to mineralized structures. Ore at the Labrador and Surprise orebodies is principally localized along 2 faults: the NNE-striking Copper King fault zone and the WNW-striking Surprise fault. Most of the Bailey Day ore came from a sandstone bed bounded by bedding-plane faults and impregnated with secondary copper minerals. Model name could also be gold-or copper-bearing skarn. There are two other types of gold deposits. The gold-bearing skarns which may be related to mid-Oligocene intrusive activity and an example of this type is the Labrador deposit, which occurs in the northeast portion of Copper Basin. The other type is a silica-pyrite body with a lack of skarn and calc-silicate assemblage minerals. This deposit type develops in calcareous siltstones and sandstones of the Harmony Formation (Schmidt et al., 1988). The Surprise deposit ore primarily occurs within the Harmony Formation. It consists of strongly oxidized and retrograde altered garnet skarn developed within interbedded limestone, calcareous siltstone and sandstone. Two main faults have acted as conduits: the Copper King fault zone strikes northeast and dips 70-80? east; the Surprise fault strikes west-northwest and dips 85? north. Both faults show post-mineral offset (Schmidt et al., 1988). The Labrador deposit ore occurs in the garnet skarn of the Harmony Formation and also in the calc-silicate and siliceous hornfels of the lower Battle Formation. North-northeast and west-northwest high-angle normal faults localize mineralization (Schmidt et al., 1988)

Subject category

Comment text

Deposit

The Bailey Day deposit formed as a vein associated with a fault zone in a sandstone bed bounded by bedding-plane fault. Ore is associated with disseminated and fracture controlled oxidized pyrite in garnet skarn of the Harmony Formation and in lens-shaped calc-silicate horizons of the Battle Formation adjacent to mineralized structures. Ore at the Labrador and Surprise orebodies is principally localized along 2 faults: the NNE-striking Copper King fault zone and the WNW-striking Surprise fault. Most of the Bailey Day ore came from a sandstone bed bounded by bedding-plane faults and impregnated with secondary copper minerals.
Model name could also be gold-or copper-bearing skarn.
There are two other types of gold deposits. The gold-bearing skarns which may be related to mid-Oligocene intrusive activity and an example of this type is the Labrador deposit, which occurs in the northeast portion of Copper Basin. The other type is a silica-pyrite body with a lack of skarn and calc-silicate assemblage minerals. This deposit type develops in calcareous siltstones and sandstones of the Harmony Formation (Schmidt et al., 1988).
The Surprise deposit ore primarily occurs within the Harmony Formation. It consists of strongly oxidized and retrograde altered garnet skarn developed within interbedded limestone, calcareous siltstone and sandstone. Two main faults have acted as conduits: the Copper King fault zone strikes northeast and dips 70-80? east; the Surprise fault strikes west-northwest and dips 85? north. Both faults show post-mineral offset (Schmidt et al., 1988).
The Labrador deposit ore occurs in the garnet skarn of the Harmony Formation and also in the calc-silicate and siliceous hornfels of the lower Battle Formation. North-northeast and west-northwest high-angle normal faults localize mineralization (Schmidt et al., 1988)

Reporter information

Type	Date	Name	Affiliation	Comment
Reporter	01-FEB-2005	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.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

Newmont Mining Corp. — renamed to Newmont Corporation (2019)
Renamed from Newmont Mining Corporation to Newmont Corporation in early 2020 (after the 2019 merger with Goldcorp).

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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.