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Gold Quarry Mine Area

Producer in Eureka county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Arsenic, Antimony, Mercury, Thallium, Barium-Barite, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Nickel
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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. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10310465
MRDS ID M232287
Record type Site
Current site name Gold Quarry Mine Area
Alternate or previous names Maggie Claims, Mac, Tusc, Chukar, Maggie Creek, Maggie Creek Extension, North Main Zone, South Main Zone, West of West (WOW), Deep Sulfide Feeder Zone Deep West Zone, South Layback, McPod, Voodoo, Dos Equis
Related records 10044714, 10222664, 10310452

Comments on the site identification

  • This record encompasses the former Maggie Creek mine and deposits described individually by earlier records M232287, M242253, RE00036, as well as adjacent orebodies without earlier MRDS records.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -116.20925, 40.79158 (WGS84)
Elevation 1710
Relative position The Gold Quarry Mine area is located about 7 miles northwest of Carlin, Nevada.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Eureka(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Schroeder Mountain(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Battle Mountain(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Winnemucca(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Humboldt(hydrologic unit)

Humboldt(hydrologic accounting unit)

Black Rock Desert-Humboldt(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Nevada Eureka

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 033N 051E 02 03 Nevada
Mount Diablo 034N 051E 27 28 34 35 Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • The Gold Quarry open pit adjoins the Maggie Creek open pit. UTM is to approximate center of open pit.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary
Arsenic Critical Tertiary
Antimony Critical Tertiary
Mercury Tertiary
Thallium Tertiary
Barium-Barite Critical Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Zinc Critical Tertiary
Copper Tertiary
Manganese Critical Tertiary
Nickel Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Commodity Info: Gold grains range from <0.1 to 10.0 microns in size and usually occur associated with microfractures or disseminated in microcrystalline cherty matrix. Au:Ag ratio ranges from about 2:1 in mill grade ores to 1:3 in leach grade ores.
  • Ore Materials: free gold
  • Gangue Materials: silica, iron oxides, kaolinite, barite, alunite, pyrite, illite, montmorillonite

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Kaolinite Ore
Barite Ore
Alunite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Illite Ore
Montmorillonite Ore
Silica Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Alteration types consist of silicification and clay alteration.
    At the Gold Quarry deposit, in the central Carlin trend, Heitt (1992) reported K/Ar dates ranging from 28 to 27 Ma from supergene alunite veins that crosscut and postdate gold mineralization.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 173
USGS model code 26a.1
Deposit model name Sediment-hosted Au
Mark3 model number 17

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Chert
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Siltstone
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate
    Rock type qualifier impure
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock
    Rock type qualifier jasperoid
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock
    Rock type qualifier igneous dikes

Nearby scientific data

(1) -116.20925, 40.79158
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description The deposit is located at the SE corner of the Carlin Window in the Roberts Mountains thrust. The NW-striking Snowbird anticline and Alta anticline have folded host rocks in the pit area.
Type of structure Local
Structure description The Roberts Mountains Thrust, Good Hope Fault System, Gold Quarry Fault, and other fauls created a pervasive fracture system at Gold Quarry. Isoclinal folding of bedding is common. Fissures, fractures zones, faulting, folding all controlled ore deposition. The Less fault, a high-angle NE-striking structure was an ore-controlling structure in the original Maggie Creek pit.

Ore body information

  • General form tabular

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Steeply dipping faults and fractures at the margins of the Carlin window are the primary control of gold deposition in the Maggie Creek subdistrict. The Gold Quarry Main ore zone occurs at the intersection of two such faults: the Gold Quarry fault which strikes N40E, dips 75 SE and the Good Hope fault system which strikes N40W, dips steeply SW. The 90 degree intersection of these two faults was marked by a prominent outcrop of jasperoid breccia. The outcrop was sheared, brecciated, and contained open-space, silica-coated fractures. Many smaller faults which parallel the Good Hope and Gold Quarry trends occur within the deposit, creating a pervasive fracture system. This fracture system controls gold deposition at all scales from preferential localization along faults up to 15 ft. Wide to microfractures 50 microns apart. The Deep West orebody is controlled by the sedimentary/structural contact between footwall carbonate rocks and hanging wall siliciclastic rocks. The primary feeder conduit for mineralizing fluids is a steeply-dipping breccia pipe formed at the intersection of the Grey/Challenger structural system and the NW-striking Hangfire fault. Fissures, fractures zones, faulting, folding all controlled ore deposition. The Less fault, a high-angle NE-striking structure was an ore-controlling structure in the original Maggie Creek pit.

Comments on the geologic information

  • Gold is present in a gossan in quartzite and chert. Many of the barite and base metal deposits in the Maggie Creek subdistricts are associated with the Good Hope fault system (e.g. Nevada Star mine, record #M232284). This fault system also appears to link Gold Quarry and Tusc deposits. The sense of movement on the Good Hope fault system is not established. North of the intersection of the Gold Quarry and Good Hope faults, an entire ridge of silicified Roberts Mountains Formation marks the margin of the Carlin Window. The jasperoid reportedly carries some gold. Gold Quarry and Maggie Creek mines are unusual in that ore is hosted at least in part by Paleozoic rocks of the upper plate of the Roberts Mountains Thrust.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1925
Discoverer A. Berning
Year of first production 1936
Year of last production 2004
Production years 1936; 1985-PRESENT (2004)

Mining district

District name Maggie Creek Subdistrict
District name Carlin Trend

Land status

Ownership category Private
Ownership category BLM Administrative Area
Area name Elko Administrative District

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Newmont, the Gold Company
    Year 2004

Comments on the workings information

  • Historic development consisted of a 40 ft. adit and other scattered open cuts. Subsequently, Maggie Creek was originally divided into the Main pit and the West pit. Mining rate in 1980 was 16,000 tpd ore and waste. In 1986, operations were transferred to the Gold Quarry Mine. The Maggie Creek Mine then formed the west and southwest portions of the Gold Quarry pit. The current operation consists of an open pit mine, two milling facilities, a leach crushing plant, and three heap leach pads. The dimensions of the ultimate pit will be 1 mile by 3/4 mile in size, 1200 feet in depth. The total material in the ultimate pit is estimated at 576.3 million tons, which reflects a 1.3:1 strip ratio. The Chukar Footwall Underground mine workings are collared in the Gold Quarry open pit.

Comments on other economic factors

  • Average annual gold production of Gold Quarry is 420,000 - 440,000 ounces; average recovery is 70% - 75% ; total cash cost is $250 - $260 per ounce.
    Reserves (2002) are 3.9 million ounces. Mineralized material not in reserves is 3.1 million tons at 0.049 opt. Refractory ore will be processed through the Carlin roaster or bio-mill facility. Flotation is a likely option to further improve the project economics. The oxide ore will be processed at the Carlin mills or on the leach pads depending on grade. Average mining rate is 90,000 tons of ore per day. The old Gold Quarry deposit contains a total endowment of 24 million ounces in past production and current reserves and resources.

Comments on development

  • The first claims in the mine area were staked in 1925 by A. Berning, who leased the property to Cuba Consolidated Mines Company. In 1936, Cuba Consolidated shipped 60 tons of ore averaging 0.417 ounces of gold per ton and 0.882 ounces of silver per ton. Newmont Corp.acquired the property in 1962 and conducted a drilling program in 1963-64 in the vicinity of what is now the northern limit of Gold Quarry. Drilling was centered SW of the jasperoid outcrop from which the 60 tons of ore was mined. Further drilling until 1970 delineated 340,000 tons grading 0.12 opt. The lease agreement was discontinued in 1970 due to low gold prices and discouraging metallurgical tests. The property was acquired by Roy Ash and Charles Thornton for $8000.00. After XRF-XRD studies of Gold Quarry drill cuttings suggested possible open ends of mineralization, the claims were reacquired by Newmont in 1972. After 1979, exploration drilling continued east of the Maggie Creek orebody and significant gold intercepts were encountered. Between 1979 and 1983, 550 conventional circulation holes were drilled on 100 ft. Centers to an average depth of 600 ft. Bulk metallurgical test samples of mill grade and leach grade material were mined in 1982-83. Pre-mining began in late 1983 and the first gold was poured in August 1985.
    After 5 years of intensive environmental analysis, the BLM in 2002 granted Newmont Mining Corp. permission to move ahead with its expansion of the Gold Quarry Mine. The Gold Quarry plan includes expanding the open pit 350 feet deeper, expanding heapleach facilities, and relocating old tailings and waste rock facilities. Newmont expected combined ore production for the expanded pit to be about 118 million tons, roughly 57 million tons of oxide ore and 61 million tons of low-grade sulfide ores. Gold Quarry ore will feed the roaster and Mill No. 5 at the Carlin Mine, and provide ore for leaching. Also, Newmont reports that there is new potential at the Gold Quarry expansion with the Dos Equis deposit. Another development project underway is the Gold Quarry South Layback (GQSL). GQSL was expected to begin production by year-end 2003 and ramp up to 420,000 to 440,000 ounces of gold per year at total cash costs of $250 to $260 per ounce. GQSL had reserves totaling 3.9 million ounces at year-end 2002. The current plan envisages a minimum six-year mine life.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Roberts, R.J. et al., 1967, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Eureka Co., Nevada, NBMG Bulletin 64

  • Deposit

    USBM (Winnemucca) MILS No. 266, Reference No. 3201100159.

  • Deposit

    Southern Pacific Co., 1964, Minerals for Industry.

  • Deposit

    Vanderburg, W.O., 1938, Reconnaissance of Mining Districts in Eureka County, N

  • Deposit

    , USBM Information Circular 7022.

  • Deposit

    Bentz, J., Brooks, S., McFarlane, 1982, Field Examination Report, 5/27/82.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    Dames and Moore, 1983(?), Environmental Assessment of the Carlin Gold Quarry Project...

  • Deposit

    Fortune, December 27, 1982, "The Huge Find in Roy Ash's Backyard".

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1988, The Nevada Minerals Industry - 1987, NBMG Special Publication MI-1987.

  • Deposit

    Bonham, H.F., 1986, NBMG Map 91.

  • Deposit

    NBMG Mining District File 116, numerous articles and news clippings.

  • Deposit

    Santti, S. and Soltani, A., 1989, Large Scale Open Pit Gold Mining at Gold Quarry, in Bhappu, R. and Harden, R., eds., Gold Forum on Technology and Practices, "World Gold '89", Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Co, p. 147-154.

  • Deposit

    Ekburg, C., Rota, J., and Arkell, B., 1991, Geology and Mineral Deposits of the Maggie Creek Subdistrict, Carlin Trend, Eureka County, Nevada, in Raines, G.L., et al., eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin, The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 625-633.

  • Deposit

    Mining Magazine, October, 1989, vol. 161, no. 4, P. 256-261.

  • Deposit

    Rota, J.C., 1988, The Gold Quarry Mine: History and General Geology, in Schafer, R., et al., Bulk Mineable Precious Metal Deposits of the Western United States, The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 49-56.

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1989, The Nevada Minerals Industry - 1988, NBMG Special Publication MI-1988-MI-2002.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    Ryneer, R., 1992, Economic History of The Carlin Trend, in Buffa, R. and Coyner, A., Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin - Field Trip Guidebook Compendium, The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 838-843.

  • Deposit

    Rota, J., 1987, Geology of Newmont Gold Company's Gold Quarry Deposit, Eureka County, Nevada, in Elliott, I. and Smee, B. eds. GeoExpo/86 - Exploration in the North American Cordillera, The Association of Exploration Geochemists, Rexdale, Ontario, p. 42-50.

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1994, MI-1993

  • 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.Newmont Gold website, 2004.

  • Deposit

    Adella Harding 2002, Elko Daily Free Press Mining Quarterly, 7/29/0210/21/02.

  • Deposit

    Lewis Teal and Mac Jackson, 2002, Geologic Overview of the Carlin Trend Gold Deposits, in NBMG Bull 111, Gold Deposits of the Carlin Trend.

  • Deposit

    Rota, J.C., 1995, Gold Quarry: a geologic update, in Green, S.M., and Struhsacker, E., eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the American Cordillera: Geological Society of Nevada Field Trip Guidebook Compendium, Reno-Sparks, Nevada, April 1995, p. 157-166.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Gold Quarry is one of the largest gold deposits in North America. It is comprised of two stacked orebodies: an upper structural stockwork and a lower stratabound replacement. Overall strike of the main (upper) ore zone is N45E. It is bounded on the west by the Gold Quarry Fault and on the east by the Grey/Challenger fault systems. Mineralization is continuous over 6000 feet of strike. Mill grade ore zones crosscut this trend on a N-S to NW strike. The Deep West orebody is a silica replacement zone at the contact of footwall carbonate rocks and hanging wall siliciclastic rocks. It averages 250 feet in thickness, strikes N20E, dips 30-35 SE, and as known strike length of 2500 feet. Gold grade is double that of the Main (upper) ore zone. The Deep West ore zone is the down dip extension of the Maggie Creek South ore zone. Gold Quarry is one example of a Carlin trend gold deposit that exhibits primary northwest structural control. Mineralization is localized where the N45W Good Hope fault intersects the NE-trending Chukar-Alunite faults.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-DEC-2004 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.

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