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Meikle Mine

Producer in Elko county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Mercury, Zinc, Barium-Barite, 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. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Links to other databases
  21. Bibliographic references
  22. General comments
  23. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10310532
MRDS ID RE00043
Record type Site
Current site name Meikle Mine
Alternate or previous names Purple Vein deposit

Comments on the site identification

  • This record supersedes MRDS record RE00043, which should be deleted, as this record contains all information in RE00043 plus additional updates.

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -116.36, 41.01111 (WGS84)
Relative position 1.5 miles NW of Post-Betze; latitude and longitude to deposit centroid Jan/94), supplied by mine staff

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Elko(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Beaver Peak(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Tuscarora(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

McDermitt(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Middle 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 Elko

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 036N 050E 13 Nevada

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary
Mercury Secondary
Zinc Critical Tertiary
Barium-Barite Critical Tertiary
Antimony Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Ore Materials: gold
  • Gangue Materials: pyrite, silica, dolomite,cinnabar, metacinnabar, barite, sphalerite, stibnite, calcite

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Silica Ore
Dolomite Ore
Cinnabar Ore
Metacinnabar Ore
Barite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Stibnite Ore
Calcite Ore
Pyrite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) silicification, argillization, pyritization, dolomitization

Analytical data

Result Geochemical anomalies are offset. Soil gechem: as gave best signature
Result Sb and Au values usually low
Result Hg values too widespread.

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 Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sedimentary Breccia
    Rock type qualifier collapse and hydrothermal
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Silurian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Mudstone
    Rock type qualifier micritic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Silurian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Silurian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock
    Rock type qualifier debris flow
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Silurian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Roberts Mountains Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Wenlock
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Popovich Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Porphyry
    Rock type qualifier monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Jurassic
    Chronological age 147
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Middle Jurassic
    Chronological age 162
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Monzonite
    Rock type qualifier porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Jurassic
    Chronological age 147
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Middle Jurassic
    Chronological age 162
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Chert
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Siltstone
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Argillite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock type qualifier silty dolomitic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Mixed Clastic/Volcanic Rock
    Rock type qualifier volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Tertiary
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Vinini Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Ordovician
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Roberts Mountains Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Devonian
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Wenlock
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Carlin Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Late Miocene

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -116.36, 41.01111
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure description N30-35W folding in Late Triassic to Late Jurassic, was important to concentrating mineralization
Type of structure Regional
Structure description Roberts Mountain Thrust. Separate NNE, NW, and NE fault trends.

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Lower plate of Roberts Mountain Thrust and hanging wall of monzonite porphyry; NNW and NW trending faults were possible feeders

Comments on the geologic information

  • Mineralization could be associated with monzonite intrusive (147-162 my). Perhaps due to increased permeability and porosity, best ore in collapse/hydrothermal breccias which are well developed in areas of debris flows. Separate surficial mercury mineralization was probably emplaced by a different (much later) event, using the same conduits. Huge solution/collapse cavities and vugs lined with collector-quality barite and calcite crystals have been encountered in the underground workings of the mine.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1989
Discoverer Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc.
Mining method Combined Methods
Year of first production 1996
Year of last production 2000
Plant type Leach
Milling method Autoclave-Carbon-In-Leach-Electrowin
Production years 1996-present

Mining district

District name Lynn (Elko County part)

Land status

Ownership category BLM Administrative Area
Area name Elko Resource area, BLM

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc.
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Barrick Gold Corp. (American Barrick Resources Corp.)
    Interest 100
    Home office Nevada
    Year 1994
    First year 1994
    Last year 1994

Production statistics

  • Year 1996
    Material ore milled
    Ore mined 145300mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ore Milled @ 0.527 Oz/St 160200 St/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary metal recovered Gold Gold 2.44mt 18g/mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 7596000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 23.42 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Inferred 1225000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 22.29 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 7596000mt ore
    Inferred 1225000mt ore
    Total resources 8821000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 23.26 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 7682000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 24.55 g/mt Gold Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 1255000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 24.58 g/mt Gold Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 8942000mt ore
    Total resources 8942000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 24.55 g/mt Gold Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 17.788 g/mt Gold Major 1992

Comments on the workings information

  • The Meikle Mine is the largest active underground mine in North America.

Comments on other economic factors

  • In 1995, the Meikle deposit was estimated to contain a remaining resource of 8412 kilotonnes of ore containing 187.47 tonnes of gold (Long and others, 1998).By the end of 1998, the mine had produced more than 1.5 million troy ounces of gold and more than 426,000 ounces of silver.
    1996 proven and probable reserves were reported at 8.5 Mt grading 0.716 opt Au; with an additional1.4 Mt of mineralized material ggrading 0.717 opt Au.
    Production 1996-98: 1,500,063 oz Au; 1997-1998: 426,030 oz Ag
    Capital costs estimated to be $180 million; operating costs est. $125/oz.

Comments on development

  • The Purple Vein was originally a mercury prospect in the 1930s. Gold was found by drilling; discovery hole EX89-4 intersected 540' of 0.406 oz/ton Au from 1305' to 1845'. The shaft was developed in 1994-5. Production began in late 1996 and full production was achieved in 1997, and has continued to present.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    The Northern Miner, 1992, Barrick's Latest; Deep But Rich, Feb. 10, 1992, P.1, 2

  • Deposit

    Lauha, Eric, 1992, The geology and exploration of the Purple Vein deposit (Abstract), Geological Society of Nevada Newsletter, May 1992

  • Deposit

    Lauha, Eric, 1992, The geology and exploration of the Purple Vein deposit (Abstract), Geological Society of Nevada, Oral Presentation, May 1992 meeting

  • Deposit

    Volk, Jeff, 1994, oral communication, American Barrick Resources Meikle Mine staff, 7 January, 1994

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1994, MI-1993

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1999, MI-1998

  • Deposit

    American Barrick, 1993 Annual Report

  • Deposit

    Volk and others, Structural Geology of the Betze-Post and Meikle deposits, Elko and Eureka Counties, Nevada, in Green and Struhsacker, editors, 1996, Geology and Ore Deposits of the American Cordillera, Field Trip Guidebook Compendium, Geological Society of Nevada.

  • 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.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P30.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, 1995 FORM 40-F REPORT, P29.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, P36.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BARRICK GOLD CORP., 1996 FORM 40-F REPORT, PP. 14, 16, 32.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL GUIDE 1993/1994, P. 274.

  • Deposit

    BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, 1994 ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Deposit

    ROCKY MOUNTAIN PAY DIRT, APRIL 1994, #175, P10A.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, "AMERICAN BARRICK", L. WHITE, S. KRAL, NOV. 1994, PP. 1231 - 1242.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL. 106, #23, JUNE 7, 1995.

  • Deposit

    MINING WORLD NEWS, VOL., 2, #7, 10/96, PP.8, 9.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAYDIRT, OCT. 1996, #688, P14.

  • Deposit

    THE DENVER POST, 10/23/96, P8C.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METALS MARKET, VOL., 104, #191, 10/2/96, P5.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, VOL 82, #31, SEPT., 30, 1996, PP. 1, 2.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN MINES HANDBOOK 1996, PP. 21, 38.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL, 1996/97, MINING DIRECTORY, U.S. MINES & MINING COMPANIES, PP. 257, 258.

  • Deposit

    1995/96, NEVADA MINES DIRECTORY, PP. 5, 22.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL 107, #36, 09/04/96, PP. 1, 6.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit This is an unusually high-grade deposit. Deposit is divided into a "flat sector," just below the Vinini Fm/Roberts Mtn. Thrust; a "dipping sector" that strikes NW, dips 70 degrees NE; and a south flat-lying orebody.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-92 Marcus, Susan U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-FEB-94 Marcus, S. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-SEP-94 Li, Zhiping (Moyer, Lorre A.) U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 24-SEP-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 01-JAN-00 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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