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Hall Molybdenum Mine

Producer in Nye county in Nevada, United States with commodities Molybdenum, Copper, Silver, Gold
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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. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Land status
  18. Ownership information
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10310364
MRDS ID M231757
Record type Site
Current site name Hall Molybdenum Mine
Alternate or previous names Cyprus Tonopah, Chicago Group, Treasure Hill Group, Nevada Moly Project, Equatorial Copper Mine, Tonopah Copper Mine, Hall-Hand Property, Hall Moly, Liberty Mine, Hall Copper, San Antonio Mine, Anaconda-Nevada Moly Prospect

Comments on the site identification

  • This record supersedes MRDS record #M231757 from which all material has been incorporated into the current record, as well as additional new material.

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Pit
Geographic coordinates: -117.2969, 38.3211 (WGS84)
Elevation 1830
Relative position The deposit is located about 24 miles by road NNW of Tonopah.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Nye(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Liberty Springs(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Tonopah(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Tonopah(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Southern Big Smoky 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 005N 042E 04 05 06 Nevada
Mount Diablo 006N 042E 32 Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • The deposit is located on the west flank of the San Antonio Mountains, about one mile north of the Liberty Mine.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Molybdenum Primary
Copper Primary
Silver Secondary
Gold Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Ore Materials: molybdenite, chalcopyrite, ferrimolybdite, powellite, ilsemannite , chalcocite, malachite, azurite
  • Gangue Materials: pyrite, chalcopyrite, limonite, sericite, quartz

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Molybdenite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Ferrimolybdite Ore
Powellite Ore
Ilsemannite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Malachite Ore
Azurite Ore
Galena Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Pyrite Gangue
Chalcopyrite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Sericite Gangue
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Alteration types affecting host rocks are sericitization, kaolinization, silicification. Orebody is oxidized to about 150 feet in depth.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 80
USGS model code 21b
Deposit model name Porphyry Mo, low-F

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Triassic
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Permian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Schist
    Rock type qualifier quartz mica
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Triassic
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Permian
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Rock type qualifier stock
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
    Chronological age 77
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Alkali-Granite (Alaskite)
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
    Chronological age 77

Nearby scientific data

Pit (1) -117.2969, 38.3211
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure description sheared contact zone

Ore body information

  • General form small flakes, bunches, thin coatings
    Length 365.76M
    Width 15.24M
    Depth to bottom 77.42M
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 15E
    Thickness 40M
    Length 760M
    Width 760M
    Depth to top 3M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 PIPELIKE
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 OTHER
    Strike And Dip N45E:15E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 3
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830421
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 45E
    Thickness 150M
    Length 360M
    Width 360M
    Depth to top 40M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 PIPELIKE
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 SERICITIC
    Strike And Dip N45E:45E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 3
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830421
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 50E
    Thickness 90M
    Length 350M
    Width 350M
    Depth to top 310M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 4
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 PIPELIKE
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 SERICITIC
    Strike And Dip N45E:50E
    Minimum Depth to Top 270
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 3
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830421
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 15E
    Thickness 40M
    Length 760M
    Width 760M
    Depth to top 3M
    Field Value
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Strike And Dip N45E:15E
    Date of Last Modification 850814
  • Area 1190HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1190
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Ore formed along a strongly sheared contact zone between schist and quartz monzonite porphyry.

Comments on the geologic information

  • From the Anaconda Nevada Moly record - GENERAL SIZE OF ORE BODY - LARGE. ORE ALSO CONTROLLED BY FAULTING. DIP OF MINERALIZED ZONE RANGES FROM 15-50 DEG. EAST. THE DEPOSIT IS LOCATED WITHIN A LARGE WELL-DEFINED QUARTZ MONZONITE INTRUSIVE STOCK. THE ORE BODY IS PIPE- LIKE; THE WEST SIDE IS CUT BY A NORMAL FAULT AND DOWN DROPPED TO THE WEST. THE DEPOSIT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE ZONES; UPPER, MIDDLE, AND LOWER. THE UPPER ZONES ARE EXPOSED IN THE WEST AND CENTRAL PORTIONS, AND COVERED IN THE EAST BY A SERIES OF VOLCANICS. THE UPPER ZONE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY EXPOSED AND RANGES IN DEPTH FROM ZERO METERS ON THE WEST TO 240 METERS ON THE EAST. IT IS AN OXIDIZED ZONE MADE UP OF COPPER MINERALS IN QUARTZ MONZONITE, AND CONSTITUTES THE COPPER ORE BODY. THE UPPER ZONE MUST BE STRIPPED TO MINE THE MOLYBDENUM ORE BODY. THE AMOUNT OF SUPERGENE ENRICHMENT IS INCONSEQUENTIAL. THE RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF THE VARIOUS MINERAL COMPONENTS MUST REMAIN CONJECTURAL. THE MIDDLE ZONE LIES IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE UPPER ZONE, IS APPROXIMATELY 150 METERS THICK, AND RAKES TO THE EAST AT 15 DEGREES. IT IS UNOXIDIZED AND IS COMPOSED OF CHALCOCITE AND MOLYBDENITE IN QUARTZ MONZONITE. THE MIDDLE ZONE CONSTITUTES THE MAIN MOLYBDENUM ORE BODY. THE LOWER ZONE IS SEPARATED FRM THE MIDDLE ZONE BY 120 METERS OF BARREN ROCK. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 90 METERS THICK AND IS MADE UP OF MOLYBDENITE IN QUARTZ MONZONITE.
  • From the Anaconda Nevada Moly record - CREEDITE IS ALSO PRESENT.
  • From the Anaconda Nevada Moly record - QUARTZ MONZONITE IS REALLY A QUARTZ PORPHYRY. UNSPECIFIED METAMORPHIC IS REALLY METAMORPHOSED SEDIMENTS.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1863
Mining method Combined Methods
Year of first production 1979
Year of last production 1991
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Milling method Flotation
Production years 1979-1985, 1986-1991

Mining district

District name San Antone District

Land status

Ownership category BLM Administrative Area
Area name Tonopah BLM district

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Anaconda Copper Co., Tom Parker, Project Manager
    Home office P. O. Box 1268, Tonopah, NV 89049
    First year 1984
  • Type Owner
    Owner Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1996
    First year 1988
  • Type Operator
    Owner Cyprus Tonopah Mining Corp.
    ID 2602069
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1996
    First year 1988
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Equatorial Mining North America, Inc.
    Year 2004

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1972
    Total resources 2267000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.25 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1972
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1979
    Total resources 63492000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.125 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1979
    Copper Cu 0.4 wt-pct Copper Trace 1979
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1983
    Total resources 455000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.072 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1983
    Copper Cu 0.06 wt-pct Copper Trace 1983
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1980
    Indicated 150000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 150000000mt ore
    Total resources 150000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.096 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1980
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1980
    Indicated 99000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 99000000mt ore
    Total resources 99000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.12 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1980
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1980
    Indicated 36000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 36000000mt ore
    Total resources 36000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.4 wt-pct Copper Minor 1980

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Anaconda Nevada Moly record - ALTERNATE NAME - HALL COPPER. FORMERLY LISTED AS SEQ#0320230159 COMPANY SAYS DEPOSIT HAS ESTIMATED MININIM RESERVES OF 150 MILLION S.T. EXPECTS TO EXTRACT 6000 STPY MOLYBDENUM OVER 20 YEARS. ALSO CALLED HALL MOLYBDENUM. CYPRUS MINERALS COMPANY PLANNED TO OBTAIN APPROVAL TO ACQUIRE CONTROL OF THE TONOPAH MINE, MJ 4/29/88.PURCHASE IS COMPLETE PER J.BLOSSOM 8/29/88.PER 9/88 PAYDIRT TONOPAH COULD PRODUCE 2-3 MM LBS MO IN 4TH QTR 1988 MINE IN CARE & MAINT STATUS AS OF 1991.
  • From the Anaconda Nevada Moly record - EIGHTY PERCENT OF RESOURCE IS IN THE QTZ. PORPHYRY INTRUSIVE

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 1356.36M
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 185HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .74
    Percent Waste Rock 84.1
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 20
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 5
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 95
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 14
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 38
    Capacity 20000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 13462
    Unit Production Cost 4.53
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1980

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings consist of a 310-foot 65 degree inclined shaft, a 180-foot vertical shaft, a 150-foot vertical shaft and an open pit more than a half mile in diameter.

Comments on other economic factors

  • The molybdenum orebody as delineated in the 1940s on the 280 foot level contained 1.3 million tons of developed and indicated ore averaging 0.37 % molybdenum sulfide. Anaconda's patent application report in 1970 contains an estimate of 123 million tons of proven ore with an average grade of 0.126 % molybdenum sulfide and 0.1 % copper.
    Equatorial's drilling and geologic evaluation completed through 1999 resulted in a proven ore reserve of 98 million tons at 0.343% total copper. The total copper resource was estimated at 137.8 million tons averaging 0.314% total copper.
    The total amount of copper and molybdenum production from the deposit is unknown. Hall is considered by the USGS to be one of the ?Giant Porphyry-Related Metal Camps of the World?

Comments on development

  • The area near Liberty Springs, a mile south of the Hall mine area, was the site of sporadic silver mining from 1876 to around 1900, producing about 100,000 ounces of silver. Clarence Hall developed an underground silver mine on the property that later became the Hall deposit. It was explored by U.S. Vanadium Corp in 1935-38, by the USBM in 1942, and by the Metals Reserve Corp. (Desert Silver Inc.) in 1943. During World War II, the Hall deposit was identified as a molybdenum resource with 354 feet of diamond drilling completed on the property by 1945. Anaconda Company procured the deposit in 1956 and outlined the molybdenum orebody in the 1970s. Anaconda applied for patent on 19 of the key claims of the property in 1969 and was granted patents on 18 of the claims in 1970. Economic feasibility studies were done in 1978, production started in 1979 and lasted through 1985. In 1981, over 1000 persons were employed in development and construction at the site. The property was listed as an active open pit mine and mill, flotation, tank leach operation in 1983, employing a total of 306 persons. Subsequently the property was sold to Cyprus Metals who reopened the mine in 1986 and operated it through 1991. Equatorial Mining North America, Inc. acquired property adjacent to the site of the former Hall Molybdenum Mine in 1997 and in 1999 opened it as an open pit heap-leach copper mine. Equatorial's copper operation closed in 2001 and is undergoing reclamation. Efforts are currently (2004) being made to use some of the facilities at the site for renewable energy production (solar and wind).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Kral, V.E., 1951, Mineral Resources of Nye Co.: NBMG Bull. 50, Vol. 45, No. 3, p. 159-160

  • Deposit

    Mitchell, W.D., 1945, Oxidation in a Molybdenite Deposit: Econ. Geol., vol. 40, no. 2, p. 99-114.

  • Deposit

    Kleinhampl, F.J. and Ziony, J.I., 1984, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Northern Nye Co.: NBMG Bulletin 99B.

  • Deposit

    Anderson, C.A. and Cox, M.W., 1943, Geology of the Hall Molybdenum Property, Nye Co., NV: USGS OFR. 11 pp.

  • Deposit

    Reno Evening Gazette, Dec. 28, 1979.

  • Deposit

    Mining Record, Sept 5, 1979.

  • Deposit

    NBMG Map 84, 1983, Active Mines and Oil Fields

  • Deposit

    Division of Mine Inspection, 1983, Directory of Nevada Mine Operations Active During Calendar Year 1983.

  • Deposit

    Handout for Nevada Mining Association tour, Sept 23, 1983.

  • Deposit

    Carten, R.B., White, W.H., and Stein, H.J., 1995, High-grade granite-related Mo systems; classification and origin, in Kirkham, R.V., Sinclair, W.D., Thorpe, R.I., and Duke, J.M., eds., Mineral deposit modeling: Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 40, p. 521-554.

  • Deposit

    Shaver, S.A., 1986, Elemental dispersion associated with alteration and mineralization at the Hall (Nevada Moly) quartz-monzonite type porphyry molybdenum deposit, with a section on comparison of dispersion patterns with those from Climax-type deposits: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 25, p. 81-98.

  • 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

    NBMG MI-1999-MI-2003.

  • Deposit

    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.

  • Deposit

    SCHILLING, THE NEVADA MINERAL INDUSTRY, NBMG, 1980, P. 37

  • Deposit

    STATE OF NEVADA. DIRECTORY OF MINE OPERATIONS ACTIVE DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1982, COMPILED BY DIVISION OF MINE INSPECTION, 1983, 60P.

  • Reserve-Resource

    VALENTI, P. B., C. I. WILMOT, AND R. A. HEIG. ANACONDA NEVADA MOLYBDENUM PROJECT. SOC. MIN. ENG. AIME. PREPRINT 83-141, 1983, 7 PP.

  • Deposit

    ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.-ANACONDA MINERALS CO. MERGER. ANACONDA COMPANY. HALL PROPERTY. AN ANACONDA COMPANY MEMORANDUM. 1979, P. 1-3.

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ANACONDA NEVADA MOLY PROJECT. U. S. BLM, 1979, 148 P.

  • Deposit

    SPANISH BELT MINING DISTRICT, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. PH.D. DISS., STANFORD UNIV., STANFORD, CA, 1972, 258 PP.

  • Deposit

    BUREAU OF MINES HALL MOLYBDENUM PROPERTY. U. S. BUMINES WAR MINERAL REPORT 196, 1943, P. 1-13.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING & MINING JOURNAL. E & MJ AT PRESSTIME. ANACONDA PLANS NEVADA'S LARGEST MINING INVESTMENT IN 50 YEARS; ENG. AND MINING JOUR., FEBRUARY 1980, PP. 9-10.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING & MINING JOURNAL. E & MJ THIS MONTH IN MINING, ANACONDA'S NEVADA MOLY PROJECT TO GO ON STREAM IN FALL OF 1981. ENG. AND MINING JOUR., MARCH 1980, P. 39 & P. 43.

  • Deposit

    U.S. GEOL. SURV. PROF. PAPER 216, 1949, 55 PP.

  • Deposit

    ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY. GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER TECHNICAL REPORT. PREPARED FOR ANACONDA COPPER COMPANY BY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, INC., FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, 1980.

  • Deposit

    ERVINE, WARREN BASIL. THE GEOLOGY AND MINERAL ZONING OF THE SPANISH BELT MINING DISTRICT, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. DISS. ABSTR. INT., 1973, V. 34, NO. 3, P. 1150B-1151B

  • Deposit

    FERGUSON, H.G. AND S. W. MULLER STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY OF THE HAWTHORNE AND TONOPAH QUADRANGLES, NEVADA. U. S. GEOL. SURVEY PROF. PAPER 216, 1949, 55 PGS.

  • Deposit

    INTERMOUNTAIN PAYDIRT (BISBEE, AZ). ANACONDA TO GAMBLE, PLANS TO RESTART TONOPAH MOLY OPERATION. NO. 45, JUNE 1983, P. 16A.

  • Deposit

    HORTON, F.W. MOLYBDENUM; ITS ORES AND THEIR CONCENTRATION. U. S. BUMINES BULL. III, 1916, P 1-132.

  • Deposit

    INVESTIGATIONS OF MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITS IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES, 1942-1960. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1182-E, 1965, PP. E73-E78.

  • Deposit

    KIRKEMO, H., C. A. ANDERSON, AND S. C. CREASEY. INVESTIGATIONS OF MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITS IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES, 1942-60. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 1182-E, 1965, P. E73-E78.

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGIC MAP OF NORTHERN NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. U.S. GEOL. SURV. OPEN-FILE MAP, 1967, SCALE 1:200,000.

  • Deposit

    LOWE, NATHAN T. YERRINGTON COPPER MINE LYON COUNTY, NEVADA. MAS DEPOSIT SUMMARY REPORT, U.S. BUMINES, 1978, PP. 29.

  • Deposit

    LOWE, NATHAN T. AND WILLIAM L. RICE. NEW RUTH AND OTHER COPPER RESOURCES ROBINSON MINING DISTRICT WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEVADA. MAS DEPOSIT SUMMARY REPORT, U.S. BUMINES, 1979, PP. 61.

  • Deposit

    IC 7784, 1957, PP. 1-77.

  • Deposit

    LOWE, NATHAN T. AND WILLIAM L. RICE. VICTORIA COPPER MINE ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA. MAS DEPOSIT SUMMARY REPORT, U. S. BUMINES, 1978, PP. 42.

  • Deposit

    MC INNIS, WILMER. MOLYBDENUM A MATERIALS SURVEY. U. S. BUMINES INF. CIRC. 7784, P. 1-77.

  • Deposit

    NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION (RENO). ANACONDA'S MOLY PROPERTY GETS ANOTHER EVALUATION. NV MIN. ASSOC. BULL., V.

  • Deposit

    MERWIN, R.W. FIELD TRIP TO NORTHEASTERN NEVADA, MARCH 15-21 MINERAL DEPOSIT INVESTIGATIONS. U. S. BUMINES INTRA-OFFICE MEMORANDUM. APRIL 16, 1970, 3 PGS.

  • Deposit

    NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION (RENO). U.V. INDUSTRIES, COLBY MINES DRILL FOR MOLY MINERALIZATION. NV MIN. ASSOC. BULL., V. 2, NO. 10, Oct. 1978, PP. 12-13.

  • Deposit

    NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION. FTC MOVE HUGE NEVADA 'MOLY' MINE CLOSER TO REALITY. NEV. MINING ASSOC. BULL. VOL. 3, NO. 7, JULY 1979, P 3-4.

  • Deposit

    SHAVER, S. A. ELEMENTAL DISPERSION AT THE HALL (NEVADA MOLY) PORPHYRY MOLYBDENUM DEPOSIT, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA MINING ASSOCIATION. ANACONDA'S MOLY PROPERTY GETS ANOTHER EVALUATION. NEV. MINING ASSOC. BULL. VOL. 2, NO. 6, JULY 1978, P 11.

  • Deposit

    MINERALIZATION. ABSTR. IN EXPLORATION FOR ORE DEPOSITS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CORDILLERA. SYMP. OF ASSOC. EXPL. GEOCHEM., RENO, NV, MAR. 25-28, 1984, P. 28.

  • Deposit

    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. FORM S-14, ATLANTIC RICHFIELD COMPANY MERGER WITH THE ANACONDA COMPANY. SEPT. 1976, P 82-83.

  • Deposit

    SCHILLING, J. H. AN INVENTORY OF MOLYBDENUM OCCURANCES IN NEVADA. NEV. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. REPT. 2, 1962, P. 35.

  • Deposit

    STRAMM ENGINEERS, INC. CAPITAL AND OPERATING COST ESTIMATING SYSTEM HANDBOOK, U.S. BUMINES CONTRACT NO. J02550261

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING - UNITED STATES: NEVADA; NEVADA MAY BE THE NEXT BIG MOLYBDENUM PRODUCER. V.34, NO.12, 1981, P.77.*

  • Deposit

    THE WALLACE MINER. DEVELOPMENT OF BIG MOLY MINE IN NEVADA NEARS REALITY. THE WALLACE MINER. VOL. 73, NO. 25, JULY 12, 1979, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING - UNITED STATES: NEVADA; DUVAL DISCOVERS SILVER AND GOLD NEAR BATTLE MOUNTAIN. V. 35, NO. 1, 1982, P. 35.

  • Deposit

    WIMLER, NORMAN L. HALL MOLYBDENUM PROPERTY NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. WAR MINERALS MEMORANDUM. U. S. BUMINES, 1942, 11 PGS.

  • Deposit

    WRIGHT, W.A. MOLYBDENITE MINERALIZATION AT THE HALL PROPERTY, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. GEOL. SOC. AMER., ABSTRA., VOL. 8, NO. 6, 1976, P. 1176-1177.

  • Deposit

    WOODCOCK, J. R. MOLYBDENUM - A GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICA RESOURCES AND ONGOING PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT. ENG. AND MINING JOURN. VOL. 180, NO. 8, AUG. 1979, P. 86-89.

  • Reserve-Resource

    KEITH LONG'S NAT. ASSESSMENT, 1995 DEPOSIT DATA BASE, #242, PP. 70-72.

  • Deposit

    NEV. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. SPECIAL PUBLICATION 10, 1990, P. 21.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY, 1994/95, U.S. MINES AND MINING COMPANIES, P355.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY, 1996/97, U.S. MINES AND MINING COMPANIES, P275.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Ore minerals are disseminated in a massively developed irregular stockwork zone of quartz veins and pods enveloping the marginal zone of a quartz monzonite porphyry pluton, and, to some extent, including the adjacent country rocks. One high-grade portion of the deposit forms a tabular orebody 50-75 feet wide and 1500 feet long. The original quartz monzonite porphyry pluton has been highly altered to quartz-sericite-pyrite clay minerals assemblage. The top 100-250 feet of the deposit is an oxidized zone with copper carbonate mineralization. Molybdenite is disseminated throughout the altered quartz monzonite porphyry and occurring in two zones. The first is from the surface to 500 feet deep and the second is 900 to 1200 feet deep. The ore body is elliptical in shape and dips slightly east. Molybdenite occurs as rosettes, not evenly distributed throughout the intrusive, but concentrated in both horizontal and vertical zones. Copper occurs only in the shallower oxidized zones of the deposit. Gold and silver are present only in small amounts.
Deposit From the Anaconda Nevada Moly record - GENERAL LOC.:ABOUT 27 KM NW OF TONOPAH. MINING METHOD:OPEN PIT,CONVENTIONAL TRUCK AND SHOVEL WITH 14 M BENCHES. THE MILL IS LOCATED ON-SITE. MILLING METHOD:TWO PRODUCT BULK FLOATATION. PROCESS RATE:20,000 T/D (AT FULL CAPACITY). THE COPPER ORE OF THE UPPER ZONE WILL BE STRIPPED AND STOCKPILED PRIOR TO MINING THE MOLYBDENUM ORE. BECAUSE OF COMPLEX METALURGICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN PROCESSING COPPER ORE FROM THE OXIDIZED UPPER ZONE, IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE COPPER ORE WILL BE PROCESSED AT A LATER DATE. ELECTRICITY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE SITE BY CON- STRUCTING 138 KILOMETERS OF POWER LINES. WATER SUPPLY WILL COME FROM WELLS LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY. MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT WILL BE 936 EMPLOYEES AND WILL DECREASE TO 400 EMPLOYEES AT START-UP. LABOR IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE MINE-SITE AND A TOWNSITE OF 243 HECTARES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED CONTIGUOUS TO TONOPAH, NEVADA. THE LAND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS. ANACONDA OWNS 4228 HECTARES; 2193 HECTARES ARE HELD BY MINING CLAIMS OR PATENTS, 2034 HECTARES ARE HELD BY FEE OWNERSHIP. 1985 UPDATE MINE AD MILL CAME ON-LINE IN 1981. FULL PRODUCTION CAPACITY (20,000 T/D),ACHIEVED DEC. 1981. OPERATIONS SUSPENDED 3RD QUARTER 1982;REOPENED 4TH QUARTER. SUSPENDED OPERATIONS DEC. 1982.REOPENED OCT. 1983. PRODUCED FROM OCT. 1983 - JAN. 1985. OPERATIONS SUSPENDED JAN. 1985 FOR INDEFINITE PERIOD. ANACONDA MINERALS WENT OUT OF EXISTENCE IN JUNE 1985. ARCO CURRENTLY ( AUG.1985 ) LOOKING FOR BUYER FOR NEVADA MOLY PROPERTY.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-80 Wong, George (Roberts, Ralph) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-NOV-84 La Pointe, D.D. (Tingley, J.V.) Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Reporter 30-MAR-88 Western Field Operations Center (WFOC) U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-MAR-95 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 28-JUL-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-FEB-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.

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 03/10/1986
MSHA mine ID2601483
Mine name (MSHA)Nevada Molly Project
Current operatorAnaconda Minerals Company
Current controller (parent)Atlantic Richfield Company
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.

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:

  • Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. — now part of Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Formed by merger of Cyprus Minerals and AMAX in 1993; acquired by Phelps Dodge in 1999; Phelps Dodge acquired by Freeport-McMoRan in 2007.

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.