| Deposit ID | 10310305 |
|---|---|
| MRDS ID | M231306 |
| MAS/MILS ID | 0320150108 |
| Record type | Site |
| Current site name | Buckingham Molybdenum Deposit |
| Alternate or previous names | Hardy, Bentley, O'Leary, Buckingham Mine |
| Related records | 10173778 |
| Point of reference | Pit |
|---|---|
| Geographic coordinates: | -117.0375, 40.6134 (WGS84) |
| Elevation | 1860 |
| Location accuracy | 10(meters) |
| Relative position | The mine is located about 10 miles southwest of the town of Battle Mountain. |
Political divisions (FIPS codes)
Lander(county)
Nevada(state)
United States(country)
North America(continent)
Land(continent)
USGS map quadrangles
Galena Canyon(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)
Winnemucca(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)
Winnemucca(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)
Hydrologic units (watersheds)
Reese(hydrologic unit)
Humboldt(hydrologic accounting unit)
Black Rock Desert-Humboldt(hydrologic subregion)
Great Basin(hydrologic region)
| Country | State | County |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Nevada | Lander |
| Meridian | Township | Range | Section | Fraction | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Diablo | 032N | 044E | 31 | Nevada |
| Commodity | Importance |
|---|---|
| Molybdenum | Primary |
| Silver | Primary |
| Copper | Secondary |
| Gold | Secondary |
| Tungsten Critical | Secondary |
| Lead | Tertiary |
| Zinc Critical | Tertiary |
| Materials | Type of material |
|---|---|
| Molybdenite | Ore |
| Tetrahedrite | Ore |
| Pyrite | Gangue |
| Galena | Gangue |
| Sphalerite | Gangue |
| Result | IN 1912, ORE RAN $14.75 PER TON IN AG AND A |
|---|
| Model code | 80 |
|---|---|
| USGS model code | 21b |
| Deposit model name | Porphyry Mo, low-F |
| Host or associated | Host | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock type | Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock | ||
| Rock type qualifier | metamorphosed and intensely veined | ||
| Rock unit name | Harmony Formation | ||
| |||
| Host or associated | Host | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock type | Metamorphic Rock > Hornfels | ||
| Rock type qualifier | biotite | ||
| Rock unit name | Harmony Formation | ||
| |||
| Host or associated | Host | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock type | Plutonic Rock > Porphyry | ||
| Rock type qualifier | granodiorite | ||
| |||
| Host or associated | Host | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock type | Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite | ||
| |||
| Host or associated | Associated | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock type | Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite | ||
| Rock type qualifier | stock | ||
| |||
| Pit (1) | -117.0375, 40.6134 |
|---|
| Type of structure | Regional |
|---|---|
| Structure description | FOLDING, THRUST FAULTS |
| Type of structure | Local |
| Structure description | NW AND NE-TRENDING FAULTS: BUCKINGHAM FAULT |
| General form | irregular, tabular, disseminated |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 640M |
| Length | 2000M |
| Width | 1200M |
| Depth to top | 0M |
| Operation type | Surface-Underground |
|---|---|
| Development status | Past Producer |
| Deposit size | Small |
| Significant | Yes |
| Discovery year | 1867 |
| Year of first production | 1875 |
| District name | Battle Mountain District |
|---|
| Type of mineral rights | Located Claim |
|---|
| Ownership category | Private |
|---|---|
| Area name | Battle Mountain BLM Administrative District |
| Ownership category | BLM Administrative Area |
| Type | Owner-Operator |
|---|---|
| Owner | Newmont Mining Corp. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Type | Owner-Operator |
|---|---|
| Owner | Amax Inc. , Union Pacific |
| Interest | 33 |
| Home office | Connecticut |
| Year | 1982 |
| First year | 1980 |
| Type | Owner |
|---|---|
| Owner | Rocky Mountain Energy Co. (Union Pacific) |
| Home office | Colorado |
| Year | 1982 |
| Type | In-situ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate year | 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demonstrated | 217000000metric tons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency | Database name | Acronym | Record ID | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USGS | Mineral Resources Data System | MRDS | M231306 | |
| U.S. Bureau of Mines | Minerals Availability System | MAS | 0320150108 |
Stewart, J.H., Mckee, E.H, and Stager, H.K., 1977, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Lander County, Nevada: NBMG Bull. 88, 106 p.
SUTULOV, A., 1982, INTERMET MOLYBDENUM YEARBOOK. ALEXANDER SUTULOV/ INTERMET PUBL., SANTIAGO, CHILE, P. 28.
Hill, J.M., 1915, Some Mining Districts in Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada: USGS Bull 594
Theodore, T.G., Blake, D.W., Loucks, T.A., and Johnson, C.A., 1992, Geology of the Buckingham stockwork molybdenum deposit and surrounding area, Lander County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 798-D, 307 p.
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.
Doebrich, J.L., and Theodore, T.G. (1996) Geologic History of the Battle Mountain Mining District, Nevada, and Regional Controls on the Distribution of Mineral Systems in Coyner, Alan R. and Fahey, Patrick L., editors, Geology and Ore Deposits of the American Cordillera: Geological Society of Nevada Symposium Proceedings, p. 453-483.
Felix E. Mutschler, Steve Ludington, and Arthur A. Bookstrom, 1999, Giant Porphyry-Related Metal Camps of the World-A Database; USGS Open-File Report 99-556.
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
BLAKE, D. W., T. G. THEODORE, J. N. BATCHELDER, AND E. L. KRETCHMER, 1979, STRUCTURAL RELATIONS OF IGNEOUS ROCKS AND MINERALIZATION IN THE BATTLE MOUNTAIN MINING DISTRICT, LANDER COUNTY, NEVADA, IN PAPERS ON MINERAL DEPOSITS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, REP. 33, PP. 878-89.
LINCOLN, F. C., 1923, MINING DISTRICTS AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF NEVADA: NV NEWSLETTER PUBL. CO., RENO, NV, 280 P.
SAYERS, R. W., M. C. TIPPET, AND E. D. FIELDS, 1967, THE ORE DEPOSITS AT COPPER CANYON AND COPPER BASIN, LANDER COUNTY, NEVADA: TRANS. SOC. MIN. ENG. AIME, V. 244, P.
SAYERS, R. W., M. C. TIPPETT, AND E. D. FIELDS, 1968,DUVAL'S NEW COPPER MINES SHOW COMPLEX GEOLOGIC HISTORY: MIN. ENG., V. 20, NO. 3, PP. 55-62.
SCHILLING J. H., 1980, MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITS AND OCCURRENCES IN NEVADA: NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. MAP 66, SCALE 1:1,000,000.
TIPPETT, M. C., 1967, THE GEOLOGY OF THE COPPER BASIN ORE DEPOSITS, LANDER COUNTY, NEVADA: M.S. THESIS, UNIV. NV, RENO, NV, 30 P.
VAN DENBURGH, 1939, A. S. RECONNAISSANCE OF MINING DISTRICTS IN LANDER COUNTY, NEVADA: U.S. BUMINES IC 7043, 83 P.
WILSON, B. R., AND S. W. LAULE, 1979, TECTONICS AND SEDIMENTATION ALONG THE ANTLER OROGENIC BELT OF CENTRAL NEVADA: IN PROCEEDINGS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION OF GEOLOGISTS/UTAH GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION BASIN AND RANGE SYMPOSIUM AND GREAT BASIN FIELD CONFERENCE, LAS VEGAS, NV, OCT. 7-11, 1979 ED. BY G. W. NEWMAN AND H. D. GOODE. RMAG, PP. 81-92.
WOODCOCK, J. R., 1979, MOLYBDENUM - A GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN RESOURCES AND ONGOING PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT: ENG. AND MIN. J., V. 180, NO. 8, PP. 86-89.
WORLD MINING (SAN FRANCISCO), 1981, WHAT'S GOING ON IN WORLD MINING - UNITED STATES: NEVADA; NEVADA MAY BE THE NEXT BIG MOLYBDENUM PRODUCER: V.34, NO.12, P. 77.
WORLD MINING (SAN FRANCISCO), 1982, WHAT'S GOING ON IN WORLD MINING - UNITED STATES: NEVADA; DUVAL DISCOVERS SILVER AND GOLD NEAR BATTLE MOUNTAIN. V. 35, NO. 1, 72 P.
| Subject category | Comment text |
|---|---|
| Deposit | The Buckingham stockwork molybdenum system is classified as a low-fluorine (or quartz monzonite) molybdenum system by Theodore and Menzie (1984). It contains one of the largest identified resources of molybdenum in the United States, estimated at more than 1 billion tonnes of mineralized rock averaging approximately 0.06 weight percent molybdenite (MoS2) and containing 100 million ounces of silver as well as smaller amounts of tungsten, copper, and gold. Molybdenum mineralization is related to emplacement of a late Cretaceous (86-Ma) composite porphyry system that intruded and metamorphosed the surrounding Late Cambrian Harmony Formation to biotite hornfels. Approximately half of the Buckingham deposit is hosted by metamorphosed and intensely veined rocks of the Late Cambrian Harmony Formation and half by intrusive rocks (Doebrich and Theodore, 1996). Molybdenum mineralization is related to the emplacement of a late Cretaceous composite quartz monzonite porphyry system that intruded and strongly metamorphosed the enclosing Paleozoic sedimentary rocks to hornfels. There are at least seven major phases of intrusions that collectively form what are called the East and West stocks. All seven phases contain molybdenum mineralization. The main Buckingham deposit formed in association with five igneous phases located in the two stocks. All five phases developed shells of molybdenite mineralization and the shells locally overlap to produce grades of about 0.1 to 0.20 weight percent MoS2. Porphyry copper deposits in the copper zone surrounding the central molybdenum zone underwent supergene enrichment to create the Contention, Carissa, Copper Queen, Widow, and Sweet Marie copper deposits. Gold-silver skarn ore at the Surprise Mine and distal disseminated silver-gold ore associated with silica-pyrite alteration at the Empire Mine (approximately 1.5 million tonnes averaging 1.8 g Au/t) and at the Northern Lights Mine (approximately 390,000 tonnes averaging 1.6 g Au/t) may be associated genetically with the Buckingham system. There appears to be metal zoning from proximal copper-rich ores in the Contention Pit to the distal gold-silver-copper ores in the Surprise Mine (Doebrich and Theodore, 1996). |
| Type | Date | Name | Affiliation | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reporter | 01-JUL-05 | 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 | 04-AUG-11 | Causey, J Douglas | U.S. Geological Survey | Combined data from duplicate records 10043993 and 10173778 and deleted those records. |
Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.
MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:
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