Paradise Peak Mine

Past Producer in Nye county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Mercury, Barium-Barite, Bismuth, Lead, Antimony, Titanium, Tin, Molybdenum, Thallium, 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	10310352
MRDS ID	W700600
Record type	Site
Current site name	Paradise Peak Mine
Alternate or previous names	Granny Goose, Paradise, FMC Deposit, NBMG Sample Sites 1472, 1473, Goose Claims, Gabbs Mine, Nody Prospect, Finger Rock Prospect, County Line, Ketchup Flat, Paradise Peak/Sullivan Mine
Related records	10037787

Comments on the site identification

This record contains information from MRDS record W700600, which has been deleted, and incorporates all information in earlier MRDS record MP90065 for the Paradise Peak Mine plus additional updated material.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates:	-117.97066, 38.74936 (WGS84)
Elevation	1670
Relative position	The mine is located about 8 miles SSW of Gabbs.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Nye(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Granny Goose Well(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Ione Valley(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Tonopah(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Gabbs Valley(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	Nye

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian	Township	Range	Section	Fraction	State
Mount Diablo	010N	036E	03 04 06 10		Nevada

Comments on the location information

The mine is located in the SW foothills of the Paradise Range.

Commodities

Commodity	Importance
Gold	Primary
Silver	Primary
Mercury	Secondary
Barium-Barite Critical	Tertiary
Bismuth Critical	Tertiary
Lead	Tertiary
Antimony Critical	Tertiary
Titanium Critical	Tertiary
Tin Critical	Tertiary
Molybdenum	Tertiary
Thallium	Tertiary
Iron	Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

Ore Materials: free gold, auriferous pyrite, cerargyrite, native silver, acanthite, cinnabar, embolite, iodyrite
Gangue Materials: quartz, pyrite, alunite, chalcedony, smectite, opal-ct, leucoxene, illite, kaolinite, limonite; minor orpiment, realgar, barite, stibnite, jarosite; trace chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, plumbojarosite, specular hematite, native sulfur, horobesuite, metacinnabar, corderoite, montroydite, calomel.

Materials information

Materials	Type of material
Gold	Ore
Pyrite	Ore
Cerargyrite	Ore
Silver	Ore
Acanthite	Ore
Cinnabar	Ore
Embolite	Ore
Iodyrite	Ore
Pyrite	Ore
Alunite	Ore
Chalcedony	Ore
Opal	Ore
Leucoxene	Ore
Illite	Ore
Kaolinite	Ore
Limonite	Ore
Orpiment	Ore
Realgar	Ore
Barite	Ore
Stibnite	Ore
Jarosite	Ore
Chalcopyrite	Ore
Galena	Ore
Sphalerite	Ore
Tetrahedrite	Ore
Pyrrhotite	Ore
Marcasite	Ore
Plumbojarosite	Ore
Hematite	Ore
Sulfur	Ore
Metacinnabar	Ore
Corderoite	Ore
Montroydite	Ore
Calomel	Ore
Quartz	Gangue

Alteration

(Local) Alteration comments: propylitization, alunite-jarosite alteration, argillization, dense silicification, powdery silicification (acid leaching?). Oligocene andesite and Oligo-Miocene tuff underlying the principal ore host rocks are weakly to strongly propylitized, which probably reflects deuteric alteration that predates the main hydrothermal system at paradise peak. Hypogene alunite-jarosite alteration primarily occurs as a crudely stratiform layer 20-40 m thick below hydrothermal breccias that cap the deposit and above the main silicified ore zone. Argillic alteration consists dominantly of smectite, opal-ct, quartz and leucoxene, with minor mixed layer illite-smectite and/or kaolinite present. Unoxidized argillized rocks also contain 5-15% disseminated fine grained pyrite and/or marcasite. Argillization is well developed in the upper andesites that overlie the main silicified zone and in the dacite porphyry below the main silicified zone. Both alunite-jarosite alteration and argillization possibly occurred during the early stages of dense silicification. Two types of silicification, dense and powdery, are distinguished on cross sections and bench maps and are the two dominant textural types of silicification present in the deposit, although all gradations exist. Dense silicification consists of very fine-grained quartz (0.01-0.05 mm) and/or opal, 5-20% fine grained diseminated marcasite and/or pyrite (typically <0.025 mm), and a TiO2 phase (anatase or leucoxene) that totally replace the rock except for quartz and zircon phenocrysts. Dense silicification is associated with au-ag deposition. Relict textures in powdery silicified rocks suggest that many of these rocks were first densely silicified (+ fine-grained sulfide minerals) and were later oxidized, partially leached, and recrystallized to powdery silica (acid leaching by ascending fluids?). Powdery silica alteration is associated with mercury deposition.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code	154
USGS model code	25e
Deposit model name	Epithermal quartz-alunite Au
Mark3 model number	38

Host and associated rocks

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Tuff > Welded Tuff

Rock type qualifier

rhyolitic pyroclastic

Rock unit name

"the composite tuff"

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	22

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)

Rock type qualifier

black matrix hydrothermal breccias

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	22

Host or associated

Host

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Rock type qualifier

intrusive

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Early Miocene
Chronological age	22

Host or associated Host

Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Dacite

Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
Host or associated Associated

Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite

Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)

Rock type qualifier

rhyolitic pyroclastic tuff

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Miocene

Host or associated

Associated

Rock type

Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite

Rock type qualifier

unaltered flow

Stratigraphic age (youngest)	Miocene

Nearby scientific data

(1)	-117.97066, 38.74936	ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure	Regional
Structure description	Walker Lane structiral zone
Type of structure	Local
Structure description	Three major orientations of faults are exposed in the Paradise Peak Mine: 1) NW to WNW, 2) N to NNE, 3) E-W. All faults may have been active during the hydrothermal system and acted as conduits for hydrothermal fluids. Many of the NNE-trending faults appear to have post-mineralization movement. In addition, "ring faults" down-drop the central ore zone. Hydrothermal breccias are abundant in all levels of the deposit mined to date and are a major influence on ore grades. Three major types are recognized: 1) early white silica matrix breccias primarily developed in quartz-feldspar porphyry, 2) heterolithic black matrix breccia primarily developed in the ore-hosting tuff, and 3) heterolithic opal-jarosite matrix breccias. Types 1 and 3 are generally barren; black matrix breccias (type 2) formed during a major period of au mineralization and commonly constitute high grade gold-silver ore. Matrix of black matrix breccias is composed of fine-grained sugary quartz (<0.05 mm), anatase, and locally, fine-grained sulfide minerals (mostly pyrite or marcasite); vugs are common and are filled by coarser-grained quartz, barite, sulfides, and occasionally visible gold. The deposit is overlain by a black matrix hydrothermal breccia that was the discovery outcrop.

Ore body information

General form disseminated; stratiform

General form	disseminated; stratiform

Controls for ore emplacement

Alunitic and silicic alteration and precious metal mineralization appear to be controlled by throughgoing NW-trending high-angle fractures and faults, which are perhaps related to pre-Basin and Range extension. Hydrothermal breccia zones, possibly forming rings, are a major control of Au-Ag deposition.

Comments on the geologic information

Geology comments: six major episodes of hydrothermal activity are recognized within ore zones: early silica-sulfide alteration, 2) early hydrothermal brecciation, 3) early oxidation and leaching, 4) black matrix hydrothermal alteration, 5) opal-jarosite matrix hydrothermal brecciation, and 6) late oxidation and leaching. Several other hydrothermal events are evident in surrounding wallrocks. Mineralogy, alteration, textural and structural features, and limited fluid inclusion and stable isotope data indicate that the Paradise Peak deposit formed at very shallow depths (<200m) and low temperatures (150-200 degrees c) from acidic, low salinity, periodically boiling fluids. Although it is classified as an acid-sulfate type hydrothermal system, types and distribution of hydrothermal alteration, intensity of hydrothermal brecciation, and the geochemical suite of elements in the deposit differ from both typical hot spring gold deposits and deeper level acid-sulfate systems. Initially, 46 of 77 test holes averaged 0.14 oz/t Au, 4.7 oz/t Ag. Gold occurs as native gold with negligible silver content. Silver is present as cerargyrite, embolite, acanthite, native silver, and iodyrite. Cinnabar is found in vugs in silicified rock. Mercury deposition apparently post-dates the main deposition of gold and silver. The Ag:Au ratio ranges from 4:1 in the upper portions to >500:1 in the lowest portions of the ore zone. The Ag:Au ratio varies with Ag content since Au content commonly stays high throughout the ore zone. The overall Ag:Au ratio is approx. 33:1. The anomalous geochemical suite associated with Ag-Au ore is Bi + Sb + Hg + Ba + Pb + Ti + As Fe Mo Sn Tl. This suite appears to be a hybrid of some elements common in hot springs systems and other elements typical of deeper, generally higher temperature systems. Highly elevated levels of Mo and Sn in some samples may indicate a close genetic relationship to a shallow felsic intrusion. Base metals tend to increase with depth, but Cu and Zn remain extremely low throughout the ore zone, and thus far base-metal rich veins have not been discovered beneath the gold-silver ore zone.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type	Surface-Underground
Development status	Past Producer
Commodity type	Both
Deposit size	Medium
Significant	Yes
Discovery year	1934
Discoverer	Mr. and Mrs. William Arnell
Year of first production	1986
Year of last production	1994
Production years	AU: 1986 - 1994

Mining district

District name	Fairplay District

Land status

Ownership category	BLM Administrative Area
Area name	Battle Mountain Administrative District

Ownership information

Type Owner-Operator

Owner Arimetco International, Inc.

Year 1997

Type	Owner-Operator
Owner	Arimetco International, Inc.
Year	1997

Comments on the workings information

Historic workings at the Nody prospect consisted of a 40 ft. shaft and several surface trenches. Modern facility consists of open pits, a 4000 tpd mill, and heap leach facilities.

Comments on other economic factors

The mine produced a total of 1,614,084 ounces of gold and 24.1 million ounces of silver from 1986 through 1994.
Pre-mining ore reserves in 1986 were reported as 12 million tons of ore grading 0.097 ounces per ton gold and 3.53 ounces per ton silver.
Reserves in 1996 remaining at the Ketchup Flats deposit were 5 million tons of ore grading 0.022 opt Au, and 0.2 opt Ag.

Comments on development

On the basis of visible hydrothermal alteration and presence of old mercury workings in the area, prospectors Mr. and Mrs. William Arnell brought the Paradise Peak property to the attention of FMC geologists in 1982. The first samples from the deposit collected by FMC geologists in early 1983 were highly anomalous in gold and silver. Following a detailed surface sampling program, drilling began in June, 1983. The first drill hole intercepted over 80 feet of altered rock containing 0.35 opt Au, and 7 of the first 18 holes encountered ore. Drilling on 60 m centers was completed in December, 1983 and was immediately followed by drilling on 30m centers over the ore zone. Paradise Peak was the 7th largest gold discovery in recent U.S. history at the time it was announced in Jan. 1984. Mill construction began on January 1, 1985, mining began in December, 1985, and the first dore was poured in April, 1986. Full operation was accomplished just six days after processing began. Paradise Peak had one of the fastest start-up times of its kind in mining history, with production beginning just 33 months after the first exploration hole was drilled.
Mining was at the rate of 100,000 oz Au/yr and 3.5 million oz Ag/yr production, as well as 200,000 lb Hg per year, with ore production capacity: 1-3 million tonnes/yr. Paradise Peak was expected to have a 10-yr life. Dore is 96 weight % Ag, 3.5 weight % Au. A total of 185 persons were employed by FMC at Paradise Peak in 1986. Mining ceased at the main pit in April 1993; at the County Line orebody in April 1992;and at Ketchup Flat in August 1993. The deposit and orebodies were mined out and milling ceased in May 1993 with production from ore on leach pads to cease in 1994. .
FMC Gold sold the Paradise Peak facility and property to Arimetco International, Inc. in October of 1995. Arimetco planned to process copper ore from nearby property and to recover additional gold from the heap leach stockpiles under the name of the Paradise Peak/Sullivan Mine.

Comments on the environmental information

Oxidized subduction-related continental-margin arc along western North America.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Deposit

Bonham, H.F., Jr., 11 Sep 84, NBMG Field Examination Report and Sample Analysis
Deposit

Thomason, Robert, E., F.M.C., 1986, G.S.N. Lecture On Paradise Peak Gold Deposit.
Deposit

Reno Gazette-Journal, Oct 1985, "Big Gold, Silver Deposit Discovered Near Gabbs.
Deposit

NBMG Mining District File 227, many press clippings, 1984-1986, Items 19, 20
Deposit

NBMG MI-1985, 1986, 1989.
Deposit

Rocky Mountain Pay Dirt, April 1988, p. 124
Deposit

Thomason, R. E., 1986, Geology of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit in Tingley , J.V. and Bonham, H. F., Precious Metal Mineralization in Hot-Springs Systems, Nevada-California, NBMG Report 41, P. 90-92
Deposit

Thomason, R.E., 1987, Geology of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit in Johnson, J.L. Ed, Guidebook for Field Trips: Geological Society of Nevada Symposium, Bulk Mineable Precious Deposits of the Western U.S., Reno, p. 250-253
Deposit

John, D. A., Nash, J.T., Clark, C.W.,Wulftange,W.H., 1990, Geology of the Paradise Peak Deposit, in Buffa, R. Ed, Guidebook For Field Trips: Geological Society Of Nevada Symposium, Bulk Mineable Precious Deposits of the Western U.S., Fieldtrip 11, Reno
Deposit

Bonham, H.F. and Hess, R.H., 1990, Bulk-Mineable Precious Metal Deposits in Nevada, NBMG MI-89
Deposit

FMC Gold, Annual Reports, 1987,88,89
Deposit

Nevada Mineral Reserves and Resources Data Base, Nevada Bureau Of Mines And Geology Db7
Deposit

John, D., Thomason, R., and Mckee, E., 1989, Geology and K-Ar Geochronology of the Paradise Peak Mine and the Relationship of Pre-Basin And Range Extension to Early Miocene Precious Metal Mineralization in West-Central Nevada: Economic Geology, vol. 84, p. 631-649.
Deposit

John, D., Nash, J., Clark, C., and Wulftange, W., 1991, Geology, Hydrothermal Alteration, and Mineralization at the Paradise Peak Gold-Silver-Mercury Deposit, Nye County, Nevada, in Raines, G.L., et al, eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin, The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 1020-1050.
Deposit

Dobak, P., 1988, Alteration and Paragenesis of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit, unpublished M.S. Thesis, Colorado State University, 141 p.
Deposit

Skillings, D., 1986, FM's Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Mine Officially Dedicated June 28, Skillings' Mining Review, August 9, p. 4-7.
Deposit

NBMG, 1991, The Nevada Mineral Industry - 1990, NBMG Special Publication MI-1990.
Deposit

Read, Mike, 1993, Oral Communication on Status of Paradise Peak Operations From FMC Gold's Paradise Peak Mine, 4 August, 1993
Deposit

Mining Magazine, January 1989, p44
Deposit

NBMG, 1994, MI-1993
Deposit

Nevada Division of Minerals, 1994
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

Meridian Gold's website, 2004: http://www.meridiangold.com/operations_past.cfm#paradise

General comments

Subject category	Comment text
Deposit	Studies to date suggest at least 3 stages of hypogene gold deposition formed an ore zone that is elliptical, about 200 by 450 m in plan and elongated in a NW direction. Some host rock is brecciated with quartz-sulfide matrix. Breccia exhibits hydrothermal replacement texture. Bottom of ore zone is not yet defined, but it dips 15 SE, and thins out on the SE edge, to 15-20 ft thick. Mineralization is bounded on the west side by a fault that was active before mineralization event, acting as a dam to mineralizing fluids. Faults offset ore zone on north and east sides. Curvilinear faults encircle ore zone and drop the center down. Ore zone is nearly stratiform confined largely to the felsic volcanics although there is some gold-silver mineralization in the underlying dacites. Gold-silver mineralization is mainly confined to the silicified rhyolitic tuffs. Ore zone is about 100 ft thick. Ore zone boundaries are sharp.

Subject category

Comment text

Deposit

Studies to date suggest at least 3 stages of hypogene gold deposition formed an ore zone that is elliptical, about 200 by 450 m in plan and elongated in a NW direction. Some host rock is brecciated with quartz-sulfide matrix. Breccia exhibits hydrothermal replacement texture. Bottom of ore zone is not yet defined, but it dips 15 SE, and thins out on the SE edge, to 15-20 ft thick. Mineralization is bounded on the west side by a fault that was active before mineralization event, acting as a dam to mineralizing fluids. Faults offset ore zone on north and east sides. Curvilinear faults encircle ore zone and drop the center down. Ore zone is nearly stratiform confined largely to the felsic volcanics although there is some gold-silver mineralization in the underlying dacites. Gold-silver mineralization is mainly confined to the silicified rhyolitic tuffs. Ore zone is about 100 ft thick. Ore zone boundaries are sharp.

Reporter information

Type	Date	Name	Affiliation	Comment
Reporter	01-AUG-86	LaPointe, D.D. (Tingley, J.V.)	Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Updater	01-NOV-88	La Pointe, D.D.	Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Updater	01-AUG-89	Beougher, Dee (Spanski, Gregory T.)	U.S. Geological Survey
Updater	01-AUG-90	Marcus, Sue	U.S. Geological Survey
Updater	01-AUG-86	Phinisey, J. (Marcus, S.)	U.S. Geological Survey
Updater	01-APR-92	Marcus, Susan	U.S. Geological Survey
Updater	01-AUG-93	Li, Zhiping ( Moyer, L.)	U.S. Geological Survey
Updater	01-JUN-04	La Pointe, 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.

Beyond USGS

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

External references

Wikidata: Q49439146 (Paradise Peak 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.