Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
40° 36' 22'' North , 117° 1' 45'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:60284:7
Sec 11 T31N R43E Copper
Structure: NE-trending faults ad the Dewitt Thrust Fault Dewitt Thrust Fault
Alteration: Predominant alteration types affecting host rocks are silicification, pyritization, argillization, and sericitization. Gold mineralization is associated with fine-grained silica (locally chalcedonic) and pyrite replacing formerly calcareous siltstone and sandstone of the Harmony Formation. Extensive bleaching and argillization are believed to be caused by the breakdown of pyrite and liberation of sulfur as sulfate to form acid-leach type conditions. Monzonite-granodiorite porphyritic sills exhibit strong argillization and, locally, sericitization.
Commodity: Ore Materials: free gold, copper minerals Gangue Materials: quartz, chalcedony, goethite, jarosite, hematite
Deposit: The Northern Lights deposit occurs in the interbedded siltstones and sandstones of the Harmony Formation. The higher grade ore is localized by north-northeast and west-northwest steeply dipping structures. Several sub-horizontal monzonite-granodiorite porphyritic sills occur within the deposit. Gold mineralization is associated with fine-grained silica (locally chalcedonic) and pyrite replacing formerly calcareous siltstone and sandstone of the Harmony Formation. The intersections of two steeply dippng, mineralized structures which trend NNW and WNW have acted to localize higher grade ore. Distal disseminated silver-gold ore associated with silica-pyrite alteration at the Empire Mine (approximately 1.5 million tonnes averaging 1.8 g Au/t) and at the Northern Lights Mine (approximately 390,000 tonnes averaging 1.6 g Au/t) may be associated genetically with the Buckingham porphyry molybdenum system.
Deposit type: Carbonate-hosted Au-Ag
Development: Some copper ore was produced here in the early days of the district, and a few tons of sorted ore from the dumps was shipped in 1918. The principal shaft, reported to be about 300 feet deep, is now caved.
Ore(s): The intersections of two steeply dippng, mineralized structures which trend NNW and WNW have acted to localize higher grade ore.
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5 valid minerals.
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References
Schmidt, K. W., Wotruba, P. R., and Johnson, S. D., (1988), Gold-Silver and Related Mineralization at Copper Basin, Nevada, in Gold Deposits Of North Central Nevada, Special Publication #8, the Geological Society of Nevada, Reno. 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.
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