Copper Canyon Porphyry Copper Deposit

Site Name

Primary: Copper Canyon Porphyry Copper Deposit
Secondary: Copper Canyon Mine (underground)
Secondary: Virgin deposit
Secondary: Superior deposit
Secondary: South Canyon deposit
Secondary: Galena Canyon Area Mines & Prospects
Secondary: Copper Canyon East orebody
Secondary: Copper Canyon West orebody
Secondary: Silver King Mine

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Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Iron

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Location

State: Nevada
County: Lander
District: Baattle Mountain District

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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.

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Holdings

Not available

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Workings

Not available

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Ownership

Owner Name: Copper Canyon Mining Co. (1940'S)

Owner Name: Newmont Mining Corp.
Info Year: 2006

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Porphyry Copper, skarn
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Year First Production: 1870
Year Last Production: 2006
Discovery Year: 1866
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: M

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Physiography

Not available

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu
Model Name: Skarn Cu

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Orebody

Name: dimensions are from the deleted Copper Canyon Underground record 10044003
Form: tabular, blanket, irregular

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Structure

Type: L
Description: The Virgin Fault, Hayden Fault, Estes, Superior Estes & Superior Faults were the loci of enriched-copper ore-bodies which yielded much of chalcocite ore stoped from upper levels. The Estes-trends NW, dips NE steeply to 35 degrees; The Superior; trends N30E, dips 55 to 70 NW. The West fault trends NW.

Type: R
Description: Dewitt, Golconda and Antler thrust faults at depth

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Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Strong sericitic, propylitic, phillic, pyritic alteration, especially of the granite porphyry; argillic, leaching. Wallrocks of the oxidized zone were strongly leached, argillized, and iron oxide stained.

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Rocks

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Description: limey
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Middle Pennsylvanian

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Description: siliceous
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Middle Pennsylvanian

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Description: calcareous
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Middle Pennsylvanian

Name: Sandstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Middle Pennsylvanian

Name: Granodiorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 38.230000+-0.800000
Dating Method: K-Ar
Material Analyzed: biotite
Age Young: Middle Eocene

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Analytical Data

Analytical Data: Oxidized ore ran 10% Cu. Hypogene ore averaged 0.5 to 1% Cu.

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Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Azurite
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Jarosite

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Comments

Comment (Geology): The Virgin Fault, Hayden Fault, Estes, Superior Estes & Superior Faults were the loci of enriched-copper ore-bodies which yielded much of chalcocite ore stoped from upper levels. The Estes-trends NW, dips NE steeply to 35 degrees; The Superior; trends N30E, dips 55 to 70 NW. The West fault trends NW. Dewitt, Golconda and Antler thrust faults at depth. Supergene-enriched copper ore was found primarily above the 300-foot level of the old Copper Canyon underground mine and was composed of primary copper-gold ore plus secondary chalcocite and minor native copper. The grade of this enriched ore averaged nearly 10% Cu, five times that of the primary ore. The copper-enriched zone characteristically carried very low silver-gold values. Oxidized ore was present mainly above the 200 foot level of old Copper Canyon underground mine and consisted of malachite with minor azurite, cuprite, and chrysocolla. Wallrocks of the oxidized zone were strongly leached, argillized, and iron oxide stained. The deposits are strongly oxidized to a depth of up to 200 feet. Strong sericitic, propylitic, phillic, pyritic alteration, especially of the granite porphyry; argillic, leaching. Wallrocks of the oxidized zone were strongly leached, argillized, and iron oxide stained. Mineral deposits related to the Copper Canyon porphyry copper mineralizing system show regional concentric metal zonation away from the intrusive center of the Copper Canyon granodiorite. Both copper and copper-gold deposits are present near the intrusive center, with gold-silver deposits outboard from these, and lead-zinc-silver deposits present in a distal concentric zone. The upper levels of the original underground Copper Canyon Mine, the West orebody, and the East orebody are of the central copper-gold skarn type. Copper-silver skarn deposits include the Fortitude and Tomboy-Minnie deposits, and the Sunshine, Bonanza, and South Canyon deposits of the Reona project. Distal lead-zinc-silver deposits include the mines & prospects of the Galena Canyon area and a lower-level deposit of the old Copper Canyon Mine. Mineralization in the Copper Canyon underground mine was characterized by veins in sub-parallel N-trending fractures, with chalcocite-enriched zones.There is a series of subparallel N-trending fractures and faults some of which controlled ore formation.

Comment (General): ******SEE Related Deposits- Copper Basin Open Pit Mine Area- Deposit ID 10310327 Battle Mountain Copper Basin (Plant)-Deposit ID 10295563 Battle Mountain (Plant)-Deposit ID 10125555 Battle Mountain Complex (Plant)-Deposit ID 10295443 Phoenix Project-Deposit ID 10310421 Copper Basin Skarn Deposits-Deposit ID 10310303 Fortitude Mine- Deposit ID 10310329

Comment (Geology): The Virgin Vein on west side of the main ore zone ranges from 4 to 10 feet wide, up to 40 ft. Locally. oxidized ore persists to greater depths along the Virgin Vein than along the Superior Vein, which is more often characterized by primary base-metal sulfides.

Comment (Commodity): Gangue Materials: limonite, siderite, calcite, quartz, jarosite

Comment (Commodity): Ore Materials: chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, copper carbonated, cuprite, iron oxides, native cu, chrysocolla, malachite, chalcocite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, azurite.

Comment (Deposit): Mineral deposits related to the Copper Canyon porphyry copper mineralizing system show regional concentric metal zonation away from the intrusive center of the Copper Canyon granodiorite. Both copper and copper-gold deposits are present near the intrusive center, with gold-silver deposits outboard from these, and lead-zinc-silver deposits present in a distal concentric zone. The upper levels of the original underground Copper Canyon Mine, the West orebody, and the East orebody are of the central copper-gold skarn type. Copper-silver skarn deposits include the Fortitude and Tomboy-Minnie deposits, and the Sunshine, Bonanza, and South Canyon deposits of the Reona project. Distal lead-zinc-silver deposits include the mines & prospects of the Galena Canyon area and a lower-level deposit of the old Copper Canyon Mine. Mineralization in the Copper Canyon underground mine was characterized by veins in sub-parallel N-trending fractures, with chalcocite-enriched zones. Supergene-enriched copper ore was found primarily above the 300-foot level of the old Copper Canyon underground mine and was composed of primary copper-gold ore plus secondary chalcocite and minor native copper. The grade of this enriched ore averaged nearly 10% Cu, five times that of the primary ore. The copper-enriched zone characteristically carried very low silver-gold values.Oxidized ore was present mainly above the 200 foot level of old Copper Canyon underground mine and consisted of malachite with minor azurite, cuprite, and chrysocolla. Wallrocks of the oxidized zone were strongly leached, argillized, and iron oxide stained. All dated Tertiary intrusive rocks in the Battle Mountain mining district are late Eocene to early Oligocene in age (41 to 31 Ma) and mostly monzogranitic to granodioritic in composition. Although Tertiary intrusive rocks are scattered throughout the mining district as small stocks and dikes, the main exposed Tertiary intrusive centers are in the Copper Canyon, Copper Basin, Elder Creek and Buffalo Valley gold mine areas. Associated with each of these intrusive centers are porphyry-style (Cu-Au and/or Mo-Cu) alteration assemblages, mineralized zones, and related base and precious metal deposits (Doebrich and Theodore, 1996).

Comment (Economic Factors): Between 1871 and 1954, the Copper Canyon Mine produced more than 680,000 short tons of ore yielding more than 9.6 million pounds of copper, 6.3 million pounds of lead, 3.3 million pounds of zinc, 48,000 ounces of gold, and 860,000 ounces of silver.

Comment (Workings): Open pit mining since the 1970s obliterated most of the original underground workings, which totaled several miles of shafts and drifts.

Comment (Identification): This record encompasses the historic mines and surrounding areas involved mainly in the Copper Canyon porphyry copper deposit, described in earlier MRDS records #M231317, M234137, and M234145 and MRDS # D011062 from which material has been incorporated into this record and additional new material has been added.

Comment (Location): The mine area is on the east side of Copper Canyon, 2.25 miles south of Galena Canyon, on Battle Mountain.

Comment (Development): In 1863, silver was discovered in Galena Canyon and shortly thereafter in 1864; copper and silver were discovered in Copper Canyon with the first development in the district on the Virgin copper vein. The predominantly underground mines produced hand-sorted ore from 1868 through 1875 that was shipped via rail to San Francisco, and thence to smelters in Swansea, Wales. There was a decline in district mining from 1875 to 1900, but in 1909, gold was discovered in Philadelphia Canyon, prompting a rejuvenation of the district. 1916 saw the formation of the Copper Canyon Mining Company, which obtained the main property, discovered new orebodies in the footwall of the Virgin vein and became a major producer of copper from both Copper Canyon and Copper Basin during World War I. In 1936, Copper Canyon Mining Co. discovered a large tonnage of gold-copper orebodies from the surface down to the 300-ft. level. There was intermittent production until World War II when there was another production boom. While the property was under lease to International Smelting and Refining Company in 1941, a 50-ton mill and a 3-compartment vertical shaft were constructed. Copper Canyon Mining Co. later resumed work until a declining copper market forced them to switch to lead-zinc operations in the late 1940s to 1950s. ASARCO did exploration work in the district from 1959 to 1961, when Duval acquired the properties and continued the exploration and development that culminated in the opening of both Copper Canyon and Copper Basin open pit mines in 1967, placing Battle Mountain on the map as one of the largest copper producers in Nevada and the U.S. In 1977, Duval announced plans to phase out copper production in Copper Canyon milling operations because of a severely depressed copper market, while at the same time converting to a gold-producing facility, with the increase in gold prices. Battle Mountain Gold Company took over operations in 1985 and gold took precedence over copper as the primary commodity produced from the district mines through the 1980s and 1990s. The East and West copper-gold skarn orebodies were mined in the 1970s and the world-class Fortitude gold-silver skarn deposit was discovered north of the West orebody in late 1980. After three years of stripping and mining of the lower grade Upper Fortitude ore zone, production from the larger and richer lower Fortitude ore zone began in late 1984, ending in 1993 when reserves were depleted. In 1992, Battle Mountain Gold Company announced that it had outlined a low-grade millable orebody of about 500,000 ounces of gold between the Fortitude and the West orebodies, called the Fortitude Extension. In 2001, Newmont acquired Battle Mountain Gold Company, giving Newmont ownership of the Phoenix property where historic mining has left a halo of lower-grade gold and copper reserves. Gold and copper production is expected to begin at Phoenix in the first half of 2006. The skarn deposits at and near the Fortitude orebody are now part of Newmont?s Phoenix Mine deposit.

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References

Reference (Deposit): Theodore, T.G., Blake, D.W., Loucks, T.A., and Johnson G.A., 1992, Geology of the Buckingham stockwork molybdenum deposit and surrounding area, Lander County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 798?D, 24 p.

Reference (Deposit): Theodore, T.G., Blake, D.W., and Kretschmer, E.L., 1982, Geology and mineralization of the Copper Canyon deposits, Lander County, Nevada, in Titley, S.R., ed., Advances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: Tucson, Univ.

Reference (Deposit): Kotlyar, B.B., Theodore, T.G., Singer, D.A., Moss, K., Campo, A.M., and Johnson, S.D., 1998, Geochemistry of the Au-skarn environment at Copper Canyon, Battle Mountain mining district, Nevada, in Lentz, D.R., ed., Mineralized intrusion-related skarn systems

Reference (Deposit): Stewart, J.H., McKee, E.H., and Stager, H.K., 1977, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Lander County Nevada: NBMG Bull. 88.

Reference (Geology): Wotruba, P., Benson,R., and Schmidt,K., 1986, Battle Mountain describes the geology of it Fortitude gold-silver deposit at Copper Canyon: Mining Eng, SME, vol. 38 no. 7 pgs 495-499

Reference (Deposit): Sayers, R. W., Tippett, M. C., and Fields, E. D., 1968, The Ore Deposits at Copper Canyon and Copper Basin, Lander County, Nevada: AIME Annual Meeting Paper, N.Y.

Reference (Deposit): Wendt, Clancy, 2004, Technical Report on the ICBM/COPPER BASIN Property, Lander and Humboldt Counties, Nevada, Staccato Gold website: http://www.staccatogold.com/i/pdf/icbm-43-101.pdf
URL: http://www.staccatogold.com/i/pdf/icbm-43-101.pdf

Reference (Deposit): Roberts, R.J. and Arnold, D.C., 1965; Ore Deposits of the Antler Peak Quadrangle, Humboldt and Lander Counties, Nevada: U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 459-B.

Reference (Deposit): Hill, J.M., 1915, Some Mining Districts in Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada: USGS Bull 594

Reference (Deposit): Theodore, T.G., Silberman, M.L., and Blake, D.W., 1973, Geochemistry and potassium-argon ages of plutonic rocks in the Battle Mountain mining district, Lander County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 798-A, 24.

Reference (Deposit): Theodore and Blake, 1978, Geology and geochemistry of the West orebody and associated skarns, Copper Canyon porphyry copper deposits, Lander County, Nevada, USGS Prof Paper 798-C, 85 p.

Reference (Deposit): Blake, D.W., Theodore, T.G., Batchelder, J.N, and Kretschmer, E.L., 1979, Structural relations of igneous rocks and mineralization in the Battle Mountain mining district, Lander County, Nevada, in Ridge, J.D., ed., Papers on mineral deposits of western North America: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Report 33, p. 87-99.

Reference (Deposit): Doebrich, Jeff, 1995, Geology and Mineral Deposits of the Antler Peak 7.5-minute quadrangle, Lander County, Nevada, NBMG Bull 109, 44 p.

Reference (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.

Reference (Deposit): Blake, D. W., Kretschmer, E. L., 1980, Gold Deposits at Copper Canyon, Lander Co., Nev., Abstract, Precious Metals Symposium, AIME, Sparks, Nevada.

Reference (Deposit): Doebrich, J.L., Wotruba, P.R., Theodore, T.G., McGibbon, D.H., and Felder, R.P., 1995, Field guide for geology and ore deposits of the Battle Mountain mining district, Humboldt and Lander counties, Nevada, in Geology and ore deposits of the American Cordillera symposium: Geological Society of Nevada, U.S. Geological Survey and Sociedad Geologica de Chile, p. 327-376.

Reference (Deposit): Doebrich, J.L., and Theodore, T.G., 1996, Geologic history of the Battle Mountain mining district, Nevada, and regional controls on the distribution of mineral systems, in Coyner, A.R and Fahey, P.L., eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the American Cordillera: Geological Society of Nevada Symposium proceedings, Reno-Sparks, April 1995, p. 453-483, CD-ROM.

Reference (Deposit): Theodore, T.G., 1971, Geologic map of the Copper Canyon area, Battle Mountain mining district, Lander County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 71-282, 1:4,800.

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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.