Log InRegister

AboutSupport UsPhotosDiscussionsSearchLearnMore

Majuba Hill Mine, Antelope Mining District, Pershing County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
Majuba Hill Mine	Mine
Antelope Mining District	Mining District
Pershing County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

A former Cu-As-Au-Pb-Mo-Ag-Sn-U mine located in sec. 2, T32N, R31E, MDM, 0.6 km (0.37 mi) S of Majuba Mountain (coordinates of record), about 50 miles (ca. 80 km) NNW of Lovelock, on private land. Operated by the Greenan-Kerr Tin Company owned by the Jumbo Mining Company, Seabrook, Texas.

MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 metres.

The mine is located at an elevation of approximately 1,860 metres.
Cassiterite float was discovered in 1907, but tin was not found underground until 1914.

The Majuba Hill Mine was operated by Mason Valley Mines Company, which shipped 4,000 tons of 12% copper ore between 1916-1919.

In 1943 the Majuba Mine was reactivated by the Greenan-Kerr Tin Mine Company, which mined 350 tons of ore with 2-4% Sn.

Between 1943 and 1945, the mine produced Cu and Sn containing Au, Ag, and Pb valued at more than $275,000 (period value).

Only a small quantity of Cu has been mined since then. Only very small reserves of known Cu and Sn ore remain. Recent exploratory drilling indicates possible additional reserves.

Production data are found in MacKenzie and Bookstrom (1976) and Johnson, M.G. (1977).

The mine was not operating when examined in 1984, although it appeared to be in fair condition.

Mineralization is essentially a Cu-Sn-As deposit (Deposit Model code: 50; USGS model code 16; deposit model name: Climax Mo). The orebody is tabular, strikes N30W and dips 54-84SW, at a thickness of 3.05 meters. Controls for ore emplacement included fault zones.

The Cu orebodies were formed by the enrichment in Cu of a relatively narrow zone beneath the oxidized zone, localized along the Majuba Fault. Cassiterite occurs widely and unevenly in many rock types in the mine but is economically concentrated in some rubbly, vuggy breccia (about 20 x 20 x 10 feet (ca. 6 x 6 x 3 m)), near the Majuba Fault, in the zone of supergene enrichment of Cu. It is suggested (by Smith and Gianella, 1942) that the Sn & Cu deposits were formed either during two separate periods of mineralization, or during two distinct phases of a single period of mineralization. The U deposit (metazeunerite) occurs in a 3 feet (ca. 91 cm) wide Cu- and Sn-bearing vein in the southern portion of the Cu stope. Trites and Thurston (1958) believe the metazeunerite was derived from the oxidation of a primary U mineral, either uraninite or coffinite. This would have been deposited with the primary sulphide minerals and subsequently moved down to combine with the Cu to create the secondary U mineral in the zone of supergene enrichment. The wall rocks are tourmalinized and cut by chalcopyrite-bearing tourmaline stockwork veinlets. The main Cu stope contains chalcocite-rich pods 1 inch (2.54 cm) to 10 inches (25.4 cm) across, with centers of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and minor enargite, surrounded by digenite and chalcocite. The Nure report on the Lovelock Quadrangle reported a U occurrence on the second level adit on the S face of Majuba Hill, about 600 feet (ca. 183 m) to 800 feet (ca. 244 m) from the mouth of the second level adit. They also reported a 3 feet (ca. 91 cm) wide zone of 0.30% U3O8 in a Cu chute area, which was mined out earlier with the Cu. Two of their samples from the second level adit ran 1-65 and 179 ppm U3O8, respectively (samples MEX 073 & MEX 074).

Local alteration includes tourmalinization, sericitization, and argillization.

Local rocks include Pliocene rhyolitic intrusive rocks and shale, mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, and carbonate rock; sparse volcanic rock.

Local geologic structures include the Majuba Fault.

Workings include underground openings with a length of 621.79 meters and an overall depth of 106.68 meters and comprised of 3 tunnels.

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10042468
Link to USGS MRDS:	10198550

Mindat Articles

Copper Arsenates at Majuba Hill by Richard Gunter

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References