The Silk Worm Mine is a lead, zinc, and silver mine located in Elko county, Nevada at an elevation of 7,119 feet.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Elevation: 7,119 Feet (2,170 Meters)
Commodity: Lead, Zinc, Silver
Lat, Long: 41.60528, -114.65750
Map: View on Google Maps
Satelite View
MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.
Silk Worm Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Silk Worm Mine
Commodity
Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Location
State: Nevada
County: Elko
District: Contact (48)
Land Status
Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1930
Discovery Year: 1926
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Snake River Plain
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Polymetallic replacement
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Type: L
Description: Grandiorite Stock With Assoc. Faults, Fractures Replacement
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation, Replacement
Rocks
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Cerargyrite
Ore: Zincite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT WAS DISCOVERED BY GLEN MOORE ABOUT 1926. BY 1930 40 TONS OF GOOD GRADE PB-AG ORE HAD BEEN SHIPPED. THE SILKWORM GROUP COMPRISES 13 CLAIMS IN A COMPACT AREA. IT IS DEVELOPED BY A 400-FT. CROSSCUT TUNNEL AND A 50-FT SHAFT (250 FT. ABOVE THE FACE OF THE TUNNEL.) THE SHAFT IS SUNK ON THE VEIN, WHICH IS ABOUT 2 FEETWIDE AND DIPS 80 DEG NW. TO THE RIGHT OF THE TUNNEL IS A SECOND VEIN WHICH STRIKES N. AND DIPS STEEPLY E. GANGUE MATERIAL IS QUARTZ AND JASPER. THE ORE SHIPPED ASSAYED: 20% PB, 20% ZN, 20 OZ/TON AG (SCHRADER, 1935, P-40-41) ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT
Comment (Location): 3 MI. SW OF SILVER KING MINE
Comment (Production): 40 TONS ORE BY 1930, AVERAGED 20% PB, 20% ZN, 20 OZ/TON AG. PRODUCTION LESS THAN$5,000.
Comment (Development): BY 1930, 40 TONS OF GOOD-GRADE PB-AG ORE HAD BEEN SHIPPED FROM THE 13 CLAIMS
Comment (Deposit): VEIN
Comment (Workings): 400-FT CROSSCUT TUNNEL; 50 FT. SHAFT
Comment (Geology): ORE IS MOSTLY OXIDIZED AND STAINED RED-BROWN WITH IRON OXIDE AND LEAD CARBONATE
References
Reference (Deposit): SMITH, R.M.(1976) MINERAL RESOURCES OF ELKO CO., NEV: USGS OFR 76-56, P 39-45.
Reference (Deposit): HOPE, R.A.: COATS, R.R. (1976) PRELIM. GEOLOGIC MAP OF ELKO CO., NEV: USGS OFR 76-779
Reference (Deposit): SCHRADER, F.C. (1935) THE CONTACT MINING DISTRICT, NEVADA: USGS BUL. 847-A. SILK WORM MINE
Nevada Gold
Nevada has a total of 368 distinct gold districts. Of the of those, just 36 are major producers with production and/or reserves of over 1,000,000 ounces, 49 have production and/or reserves of over 100,000 ounces, with the rest having less than 100,000 ounces. Read more: Gold Districts of Nevada.
