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Hollister gold Deposit

Producer in Elko county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Mercury, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Antimony
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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. Links to other databases
  21. Bibliographic references
  22. General comments
  23. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10310531
MRDS ID W700379
Record type Site
Current site name Hollister gold Deposit
Alternate or previous names Ivanhoe deposit, USX Mine, USX West, USX East, Butte #1, Butte #2, Clementine, Velvet, Rowena

Comments on the site identification

  • This record supersedes MRDS record # W700379, which should be deleted, as this record contains all information in W700379 plus additional updates.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -116.56177, 41.1149 (WGS84)
Elevation 1850
Relative position Approximately 38 airmiles NE of Battle Mountain, NV.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Elko(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Willow Creek Reservoir SE(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Tuscarora(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

McDermitt(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Rock(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 Elko

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo O37N 048E O4 05 Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • The mine is located in the Little Antelope Creek area. UTM is to shaft of historic Clementine mercury mine, at the northeastern extremity of the Clementine bulk-mineable orebody.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Mercury Primary
Copper Tertiary
Zinc Critical Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Antimony Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Ore Materials: native gold grains. quartz, chalcedony, kaolinite, adularia, alunite, montmorillonite, nontronite, chlorite, calcite, sulfosalts, very fine-grained pyrite
  • Gangue Materials: quartz, chalcedony, kaolinite, adularia, alunite, montmorillonite, nontronite, chlorite, calcite, sulfosalts, very fine-grained pyrite

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Chalcedony Ore
Kaolinite Ore
Adularia Ore
Alunite Ore
Montmorillonite Ore
Nontronite Ore
Chlorite Ore
Calcite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Chalcedony Ore
Kaolinite Ore
Adularia Ore
Alunite Ore
Montmorillonite Ore
Nontronite Ore
Chlorite Ore
Calcite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) The deposit is affected by silicification, argillization, and propylitization. The ore is generally argillized beneath a barren near surface silica cap. The ore is also locally silicified. Tuffaceous rocks are altered to quartz, chalcedony, kaolinite, adularia, and alunite. The andesite is altered to montmorillonite, nontronite, and chlorite, and is crosscut by fractures which contain silica, pyrite, and adularia.

Analytical data

Result In the sulfide zone, Au is associated with pyrite, marcasite, and trace amounts of chalcopyrite, cinnabar, stibnite, realgar, tetrahedrite-tennantite, and sphalerite. Arsenopyrite, covellite, galena, millerite, and pyrrhotite have also been tentatively identified. In the oxidized zone, Au is associated with goethite and limonite. Gold occurs as discrete native gold particles attached to or included in pyrite and marcasite or their oxidized equivalents. Gold is not encapsulated by silica.
Result As, Sb, Tl, Ba, Mn, Te, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mo, Zn, Ni.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 104
USGS model code 25a
Deposit model name Hot-spring Au-Ag
Mark3 model number 45

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Mixed Clastic/Volcanic Rock
    Rock type qualifier sinter
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Tuff
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Vinnini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Argillite
    Rock unit name Vinnini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Tuff
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Middle Miocene
    Chronological age 13.8
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Miocene
    Chronological age 16.3
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Middle Miocene
    Chronological age 13.8
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Miocene
    Chronological age 16.3

Nearby scientific data

(1) -116.56177, 41.1149
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description The deposit occurs along the northern projection of the Carlin Trend, just south of the Midas Trough.

Ore body information

  • General form bedded
    Thickness 18.29M
    Depth to top 54.86M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • The gold is closely related to mercury-bearing sinter and associated silicification that resulted from hot spring activity. The ore is semi-concordant and favors the disconformity between the Valmy Formation and the overlying tuffs and andesite in the lower portion of the volcanic sequence, and fractures in quartzite and argillite of the Valmy Formation. Local gold concentrations are controlled by the intersections of prominent northeast, northwest, and minor east-west striking structures.

Comments on the geologic information

  • The south boundary of known ore is controlled by an arcuate east-trending, near-vertical fault. Siliceous lake bed sinter occurs only north of this fault (probably a caldera margin fault). Alteration is best developed on N-S trending faults. Hg, As, Sb, and Tl all form geochemical haloes that extend above the gold deposit.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1915
Discoverer United States Steel Corp.
Year of first production 1915
Production years 1915-1917; 1929-1943; 1990-PRESENT (1/92)

Mining district

District name Ivanhoe District
District name Carlin trend
District name Ivanhoe-Carlin trend

Land status

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

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Galactic Resources, Ltd.
    Interest 50
  • Type Owner
    Owner Cornucopia Resources, Ltd.
    Interest 50
  • Type Operator
    Owner Touchstone Resources, Ltd., (a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornucopia Resources.)
    Home office Box 250, Battle Mountain, Nv 89820

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Total resources 37000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.96 g/mt Gold Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.988 g/mt Gold Major 1989

Comments on the workings information

  • Ore will be mined from four pits. These pits encompass several historic underground mercury mines, including Clementine, Velvet, Butte #1, and Butte #2 mines. Pits and heap leach operation will occupy at least 350 acres, including the mine waste dump, roads, crusher, plant, etc. Construction began during the fall of 1988, continuing for four years.

Comments on other economic factors

  • Production from 1990 through 1995 for the Hollister deposit was 3.5 tonnes of gold and an unknown amount of silver from 2968 kilotonnes of ore. In 1995, the remaining resource in the Hollister deposit was estimated to be about 38,000 kilotonnes of ore containing 40.5 tonnes gold and an unknown amount of silver.
    In 2006, the resource at Hollister was reportedly 717,200 tons of material grading 1.295 ounces f gold per ton and 7.03 ounces of silver per ton.

Comments on development

  • The opalite at the mine site has been used for toolmaking by native Americans for some 8000 years. Prospecting of the surface mercury showings began at the turn of the century. Between 50 and 150 flasks of mercury were produced from 1915 to 1917. The district was idle from 1918 to 1929. From 1929 to 1943, 1032 flasks were produced from the Butte #1, Butte #2, and Clementine mines. Other mines in the district produced a total of less than 1000 flasks. Auric Metals drilled 100 shallow rotary holes around the Velvet Mine for mercury in 1969-70. APCO Oil drilled a porphyry molybdenum target during the 1970's. Noranda drilled a core hole in 1980 on a uranium target. Homestake explored for a McLaughlin-type gold deposit in 1979-80. Placer Amex drilled several rotary holes in 1982 for Au, Ag, and Hg. In 1984, Kennecott drilled 13 rotary holes for gold in the area. From 1980-86, United States Steel Corp. Completed detailed geologic mapping, rock chip and soil geochemical grids, and geophysical surveys over the Hollister deposit area. Anomalous surface rock chip assays at the extreme southwestern end of the deposit led to drill intercepts of ore grade gold in 1982. USSC completed 123,031 ft. of drilling (195 rotary and 33 core holes), then sought a JV partner or buyer for the property in 1986. Touchstone acquired the property in 1987 and a JV with Galactic was formed later that year. By the end of 1987, Touchstone had completed 240 holes for 127,950 ft. of drilling. A feasibility study was initiated in 1987. Continued drilling identified four mineralized zones that correspond closely with historic mercury mines.
    Mining commenced in 1990 and continued through 1995.

    In 2005, Great Basin Gold Ltd.(50%) announced that the access decline at the Ivanhoe Project has now intersected the Gweniver Vein system at a depth of roughly 2,720 feet from the portal.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Mining Magazine, March 1988, p. 166.

  • Deposit

    Mining Magazine, January 1989, p. 44.

  • Deposit

    Mining database, November 1991, Mining Journal/Montagu Mining Finance.

  • Deposit

    ERT, an engineering company, 1988, Proposed Ivanhoe/USX Project Environmental Assessment Report.

  • Deposit

    Bonham, 1989, Bulk-mineable Precious-Metal Deposits and Prospects in Nevada, NBMG Map M91.

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1987, The Nevada Mineral Industry - 1986, NMBG Special Publication MI-1986.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    Hollister, V.F., 1986, unpublished report on the Ivanhoe District.Hollister, V., Hruska,D., Moore, R., 1992, A mine-exposed hot spring deposit and related epithermal gold resources, Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, vol. 87,No. 2, Pages 421-424

  • Deposit

    Putnam, Borden, 1990, Fall 1990 field trip guidebook; the Carlin and Cortez trends; comparisons and contrasts; Cortez, Gold Acres and Buckhorn vs Carlin, Post and Ivanhoe, Geological Society of Nevada. Special Publication No.12, 1990

  • Deposit

    Tingley, J.V., and Bentz, J., 1983, NBMG Open File Report 83-10 (includes field reports for Ivanhoe District).

  • Deposit

    Granger, et al., 1957, NBMG Bulletin 54.

  • Deposit

    Bartlett, M.W., et al., 1991, Geology of the Hollister Gold Deposit, Ivanhoe District, Elko County, Nevada, in Raines, G.L., et al., eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin, the Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 957-978.

  • Deposit

    NBMG,1994, MI-1993.

  • Deposit

    Long, K.R., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Ludington, S.D., 1998, Significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-206A, 33 p.; 98-206B. one 3.5 inch diskette.

  • Deposit

    Great Basin Gold Ltd.,Press Release: December 12, 2005.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit In the sulfide zone, gold is associated with pyrite, marcasite, and trace amounts of chalcopyrite, cinnabar, stibnite, realgar, tetrahedrite-tennantite, and sphalerite. Arsenopyrite, covellite, galena, millerite, and pyrrhotite have also been tentatively identified. In the oxidized zone, gold is associated with goethite and limonite. Gold occurs as discrete native gold particles attached to or included in pyrite and marcasite or their oxidized equivalents. Gold is not encapsulated by silica.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-88 Paidakovich, Matthew E. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-SEP-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-JAN-92 Phinisey, J. D. (Marcus, S.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-SEP-94 Li, Zhiping (Moyer, Lorre A.) U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 01-JUN-03 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.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Nevada resources

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