Geochemical Signatures of Silver and Gold Depo~its, Tonopah.l,0 X,2° Qu.adrangle, Nevada~ Description and Applications to Exploration ~ U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 2077 Geochemical Signatures of Silver and Gold Deposits, Tonopah 1 °X 2 o Quadrangle, Nevada- Description and Applications to Exploration By J. Thomas Nash U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 2077 Geochemical signatures of six geologically defined deposit types are distinctive and pennit classification ofprospects and estimation of likely grade and tonnage UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1994 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For Sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribution Box 25286, MS 306, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Nash, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1941- Geochemical signatures of silver and gold deposits, Tonopah 1° x 2° quadrangle, Nevada: description and applications to exploration I by J. Thomas Nash. p. cm.-(U.S. Geological Survey bulletin: 2077) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). Supt. of Docs. no. :I 19.3:2077 1. Gold mines and mining-Nevada-Tonopah region. 2. Gold mines and mining-Nevada-Tonopah region. I. Title. II. Series. QE75.B9 no. 2077 557.3 s-dc20 93-44201 [553.4'1'09793] CIP CONTENTS Abstract. ................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Silver and Gold Deposits in the Tonopah Quadrangle ......................................................... 3 Classification and Models of Silver-Gold Deposits ............................................................. 4 Geochemical Studies ............................................................................................................ 6 Saillpling ....................................................................................................................... 6 Saillple Preparation and Analysis ................................................................................ .. 6 Sediment-Hosted Deposits ................................................................................................... 8 Northumberland Mine .................................................................................................. 8 Wall Canyon Mine ....................................................................................................... 9 Green Monster Canyon Area ........................................................................................ 9 Titus Prospect .............................................................................................................. .. 9 Grantsville Ridge Area ................................................................................................. 9 Teton Prospect ............................................................................................................. .. 10 Fandango Area .............................................................................................................. 10 White Caps Mine .......................................................................................................... 10 Deposits Associated with Volcanic Rocks .......................................................................... .. 11 Volcanic-Associated Deposits Having Low Base-Metal Content.. ............................. .. 11 Round Mountain District ...................................................................................... 11 Divide District ...................................................................................................... 14 Manhattan District ................................................................................................ 15 San Antone District .............................................................................................. 15 Hannapah District ................................................................................................. 16 Longstreet Area .................................................................................................... 16 Bellehelen and Clifford Areas .............................................................................. 16 Gilbert District. ..................................................................................................... 16 Black Rock Prospect. ............................................................................................ 17 Athens District. ..................................................................................................... 17 OMCOMine ......................................................................................................... 17 Goldyke District ................................................................................................... 17 Return Mine .......................................................................................................... 18 Paradise Peak Mine .............................................................................................. 18 Other Prospects .................................................................................................... .. 19 Volcanic-Associated Deposits Having High Base-Metal Content.. ............................ .. 19 Tonopah District ................................................................................................... 19 Reveille District. ................................................................................................... 20 Morey District ...................................................................................................... 20 Tybo District. ........................................................................................................ 20 Ellendale District .................................................................................................. 21 Danville District ................................................................................................... 21 Simon Mine .......................................................................................................... 22 Deposits Associated with Plutonic Rocks ........................................................................... .. 22 Polymetallic Vein and Replacement Deposits ............................................................. 23 Belmont District ................................................................................................... 23 Grantsville District ............................................................................................... 24 Marble Falls Area ................................................................................................. 24 Murphy (Ophir) Mine ........................................................................................... 24 Rays District ......................................................................................................... 25 Skarn Deposits .............................................................................................................. 25 Barcelona District ................................................................................................. 25 Carrie Mine ........................................................................................................... 25 III IV CONTENTS Gunmetal Mine . .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Sullivan Mine........................................................................................................ 26 Scheebar Mine . .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Deposits in Metamorphic Rocks . .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Fluid-Inclusion Studies......................................................................................................... 28 Discussion . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 Effective Sampling and Analytical Techniques............................................................ 30 Element Suites and Associations .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 Compositional Differences Between Deposit Types .......... .. ... ....... ... ......... .... ....... ..... .. 33 Spatial Differences in Deposit Compositions............................................................... 36 Mineralogical Differences............................................................................................. 36 Applications to Drainage Geochemistry....................................................................... 37 Origins of Precious-Metal Suites.................................................................................. 38 Sources.................................................................................................................. 38 Transport............................................................................................................... 38 Magmatic Gases.................................................................................................... 39 Depth..................................................................................................................... 39 Deposition............................................................................................................