Paradise Peak Mine

Site Name

Primary: Paradise Peak Mine
Secondary: Granny Goose
Secondary: Paradise
Secondary: FMC Deposit
Secondary: NBMG Sample Sites 1472
Secondary: 1473
Secondary: Goose Claims
Secondary: Gabbs Mine
Secondary: Nody Prospect
Secondary: Finger Rock Prospect
Secondary: County Line
Secondary: Ketchup Flat
Secondary: Paradise Peak/Sullivan Mine

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Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Mercury
Tertiary: Bismuth
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Thallium
Tertiary: Iron
Tertiary: Barium-Barite
Tertiary: Antimony
Tertiary: Titanium
Tertiary: Tin
Tertiary: Molybdenum

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Location

State: Nevada
County: Nye
District: Fairplay District

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Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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.
Administrative Organization: Battle Mountain Administrative District

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Holdings

Not available

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Workings

Not available

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Ownership

Owner Name: Arimetco International, Inc.
Info Year: 1997

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: volcanic-hosted hot-springs type
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Year First Production: 1986
Year Last Production: 1994
Discovery Year: 1934
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: Epithermal quartz-alunite Au

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Orebody

Form: disseminated; stratiform

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Structure

Type: R
Description: Walker Lane structiral zone

Type: L
Description: Three major orientations of faults are exposed in the Paradise Peak Mine: 1) NW to WNW, 2) N to NNE, 3) E-W. All faults may have been active during the hydrothermal system and acted as conduits for hydrothermal fluids. Many of the NNE-trending faults appear to have post-mineralization movement. In addition, "ring faults" down-drop the central ore zone. Hydrothermal breccias are abundant in all levels of the deposit mined to date and are a major influence on ore grades. Three major types are recognized: 1) early white silica matrix breccias primarily developed in quartz-feldspar porphyry, 2) heterolithic black matrix breccia primarily developed in the ore-hosting tuff, and 3) heterolithic opal-jarosite matrix breccias. Types 1 and 3 are generally barren; black matrix breccias (type 2) formed during a major period of au mineralization and commonly constitute high grade gold-silver ore. Matrix of black matrix breccias is composed of fine-grained sugary quartz (<0.05 mm), anatase, and locally, fine-grained sulfide minerals (mostly pyrite or marcasite); vugs are common and are filled by coarser-grained quartz, barite, sulfides, and occasionally visible gold. The deposit is overlain by a black matrix hydrothermal breccia that was the discovery outcrop.

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Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Alteration comments: propylitization, alunite-jarosite alteration, argillization, dense silicification, powdery silicification (acid leaching?). Oligocene andesite and Oligo-Miocene tuff underlying the principal ore host rocks are weakly to strongly propylitized, which probably reflects deuteric alteration that predates the main hydrothermal system at paradise peak. Hypogene alunite-jarosite alteration primarily occurs as a crudely stratiform layer 20-40 m thick below hydrothermal breccias that cap the deposit and above the main silicified ore zone. Argillic alteration consists dominantly of smectite, opal-ct, quartz and leucoxene, with minor mixed layer illite-smectite and/or kaolinite present. Unoxidized argillized rocks also contain 5-15% disseminated fine grained pyrite and/or marcasite. Argillization is well developed in the upper andesites that overlie the main silicified zone and in the dacite porphyry below the main silicified zone. Both alunite-jarosite alteration and argillization possibly occurred during the early stages of dense silicification. Two types of silicification, dense and powdery, are distinguished on cross sections and bench maps and are the two dominant textural types of silicification present in the deposit, although all gradations exist. Dense silicification consists of very fine-grained quartz (0.01-0.05 mm) and/or opal, 5-20% fine grained diseminated marcasite and/or pyrite (typically <0.025 mm), and a TiO2 phase (anatase or leucoxene) that totally replace the rock except for quartz and zircon phenocrysts. Dense silicification is associated with au-ag deposition. Relict textures in powdery silicified rocks suggest that many of these rocks were first densely silicified (+ fine-grained sulfide minerals) and were later oxidized, partially leached, and recrystallized to powdery silica (acid leaching by ascending fluids?). Powdery silica alteration is associated with mercury deposition.

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Rocks

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Description: unaltered flow
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
Role: Associated
Description: rhyolitic pyroclastic tuff
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Dacite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Host
Description: intrusive
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 22.000000+-
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)
Role: Host
Description: black matrix hydrothermal breccias
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 22.000000+-
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Welded Tuff
Role: Host
Description: rhyolitic pyroclastic
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 22.000000+-
Age Young: Early Miocene

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Barite
Ore: Stibnite
Ore: Jarosite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Marcasite
Ore: Plumbojarosite
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Sulfur
Ore: Metacinnabar
Ore: Corderoite
Ore: Montroydite
Ore: Realgar
Ore: Orpiment
Ore: Limonite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Cerargyrite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Acanthite
Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Embolite
Ore: Iodyrite
Ore: Calomel
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Alunite
Ore: Chalcedony
Ore: Opal
Ore: Leucoxene
Ore: Illite
Ore: Kaolinite
Gangue: Quartz

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Comments

Comment (Economic Factors): The mine produced a total of 1,614,084 ounces of gold and 24.1 million ounces of silver from 1986 through 1994. Pre-mining ore reserves in 1986 were reported as 12 million tons of ore grading 0.097 ounces per ton gold and 3.53 ounces per ton silver. Reserves in 1996 remaining at the Ketchup Flats deposit were 5 million tons of ore grading 0.022 opt Au, and 0.2 opt Ag.

Comment (Environment): Oxidized subduction-related continental-margin arc along western North America.

Comment (Commodity): Ore Materials: free gold, auriferous pyrite, cerargyrite, native silver, acanthite, cinnabar, embolite, iodyrite

Comment (Commodity): Gangue Materials: quartz, pyrite, alunite, chalcedony, smectite, opal-ct, leucoxene, illite, kaolinite, limonite; minor orpiment, realgar, barite, stibnite, jarosite; trace chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, plumbojarosite, specular hematite, native sulfur, horobesuite, metacinnabar, corderoite, montroydite, calomel.

Comment (Deposit): Studies to date suggest at least 3 stages of hypogene gold deposition formed an ore zone that is elliptical, about 200 by 450 m in plan and elongated in a NW direction. Some host rock is brecciated with quartz-sulfide matrix. Breccia exhibits hydrothermal replacement texture. Bottom of ore zone is not yet defined, but it dips 15 SE, and thins out on the SE edge, to 15-20 ft thick. Mineralization is bounded on the west side by a fault that was active before mineralization event, acting as a dam to mineralizing fluids. Faults offset ore zone on north and east sides. Curvilinear faults encircle ore zone and drop the center down. Ore zone is nearly stratiform confined largely to the felsic volcanics although there is some gold-silver mineralization in the underlying dacites. Gold-silver mineralization is mainly confined to the silicified rhyolitic tuffs. Ore zone is about 100 ft thick. Ore zone boundaries are sharp.

Comment (Geology): Geology comments: six major episodes of hydrothermal activity are recognized within ore zones: early silica-sulfide alteration, 2) early hydrothermal brecciation, 3) early oxidation and leaching, 4) black matrix hydrothermal alteration, 5) opal-jarosite matrix hydrothermal brecciation, and 6) late oxidation and leaching. Several other hydrothermal events are evident in surrounding wallrocks. Mineralogy, alteration, textural and structural features, and limited fluid inclusion and stable isotope data indicate that the Paradise Peak deposit formed at very shallow depths (<200m) and low temperatures (150-200 degrees c) from acidic, low salinity, periodically boiling fluids. Although it is classified as an acid-sulfate type hydrothermal system, types and distribution of hydrothermal alteration, intensity of hydrothermal brecciation, and the geochemical suite of elements in the deposit differ from both typical hot spring gold deposits and deeper level acid-sulfate systems. Initially, 46 of 77 test holes averaged 0.14 oz/t Au, 4.7 oz/t Ag. Gold occurs as native gold with negligible silver content. Silver is present as cerargyrite, embolite, acanthite, native silver, and iodyrite. Cinnabar is found in vugs in silicified rock. Mercury deposition apparently post-dates the main deposition of gold and silver. The Ag:Au ratio ranges from 4:1 in the upper portions to >500:1 in the lowest portions of the ore zone. The Ag:Au ratio varies with Ag content since Au content commonly stays high throughout the ore zone. The overall Ag:Au ratio is approx. 33:1. The anomalous geochemical suite associated with Ag-Au ore is Bi + Sb + Hg + Ba + Pb + Ti + As Fe Mo Sn Tl. This suite appears to be a hybrid of some elements common in hot springs systems and other elements typical of deeper, generally higher temperature systems. Highly elevated levels of Mo and Sn in some samples may indicate a close genetic relationship to a shallow felsic intrusion. Base metals tend to increase with depth, but Cu and Zn remain extremely low throughout the ore zone, and thus far base-metal rich veins have not been discovered beneath the gold-silver ore zone.

Comment (Identification): This record contains information from MRDS record W700600, which has been deleted, and incorporates all information in earlier MRDS record MP90065 for the Paradise Peak Mine plus additional updated material.

Comment (Location): The mine is located in the SW foothills of the Paradise Range.

Comment (Workings): Historic workings at the Nody prospect consisted of a 40 ft. shaft and several surface trenches. Modern facility consists of open pits, a 4000 tpd mill, and heap leach facilities.

Comment (Development): On the basis of visible hydrothermal alteration and presence of old mercury workings in the area, prospectors Mr. and Mrs. William Arnell brought the Paradise Peak property to the attention of FMC geologists in 1982. The first samples from the deposit collected by FMC geologists in early 1983 were highly anomalous in gold and silver. Following a detailed surface sampling program, drilling began in June, 1983. The first drill hole intercepted over 80 feet of altered rock containing 0.35 opt Au, and 7 of the first 18 holes encountered ore. Drilling on 60 m centers was completed in December, 1983 and was immediately followed by drilling on 30m centers over the ore zone. Paradise Peak was the 7th largest gold discovery in recent U.S. history at the time it was announced in Jan. 1984. Mill construction began on January 1, 1985, mining began in December, 1985, and the first dore was poured in April, 1986. Full operation was accomplished just six days after processing began. Paradise Peak had one of the fastest start-up times of its kind in mining history, with production beginning just 33 months after the first exploration hole was drilled. Mining was at the rate of 100,000 oz Au/yr and 3.5 million oz Ag/yr production, as well as 200,000 lb Hg per year, with ore production capacity: 1-3 million tonnes/yr. Paradise Peak was expected to have a 10-yr life. Dore is 96 weight % Ag, 3.5 weight % Au. A total of 185 persons were employed by FMC at Paradise Peak in 1986. Mining ceased at the main pit in April 1993; at the County Line orebody in April 1992;and at Ketchup Flat in August 1993. The deposit and orebodies were mined out and milling ceased in May 1993 with production from ore on leach pads to cease in 1994. . FMC Gold sold the Paradise Peak facility and property to Arimetco International, Inc. in October of 1995. Arimetco planned to process copper ore from nearby property and to recover additional gold from the heap leach stockpiles under the name of the Paradise Peak/Sullivan Mine.

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References

Reference (Deposit): Dobak, P., 1988, Alteration and Paragenesis of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit, unpublished M.S. Thesis, Colorado State University, 141 p.

Reference (Deposit): John, D., Nash, J., Clark, C., and Wulftange, W., 1991, Geology, Hydrothermal Alteration, and Mineralization at the Paradise Peak Gold-Silver-Mercury Deposit, Nye County, Nevada, in Raines, G.L., et al, eds., Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin, The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 1020-1050.

Reference (Deposit): Thomason, Robert, E., F.M.C., 1986, G.S.N. Lecture On Paradise Peak Gold Deposit.

Reference (Deposit): John, D., Thomason, R., and Mckee, E., 1989, Geology and K-Ar Geochronology of the Paradise Peak Mine and the Relationship of Pre-Basin And Range Extension to Early Miocene Precious Metal Mineralization in West-Central Nevada: Economic Geology, vol. 84, p. 631-649.

Reference (Deposit): Bonham, H.F., Jr., 11 Sep 84, NBMG Field Examination Report and Sample Analysis

Reference (Deposit): Reno Gazette-Journal, Oct 1985, "Big Gold, Silver Deposit Discovered Near Gabbs.

Reference (Deposit): Nevada Mineral Reserves and Resources Data Base, Nevada Bureau Of Mines And Geology Db7

Reference (Deposit): FMC Gold, Annual Reports, 1987,88,89

Reference (Deposit): NBMG, 1994, MI-1993

Reference (Deposit): Nevada Division of Minerals, 1994

Reference (Deposit): NBMG, 1991, The Nevada Mineral Industry - 1990, NBMG Special Publication MI-1990.

Reference (Deposit): Read, Mike, 1993, Oral Communication on Status of Paradise Peak Operations From FMC Gold's Paradise Peak Mine, 4 August, 1993

Reference (Deposit): Mining Magazine, January 1989, p44

Reference (Deposit): Skillings, D., 1986, FM's Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Mine Officially Dedicated June 28, Skillings' Mining Review, August 9, p. 4-7.

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): Bonham, H.F. and Hess, R.H., 1990, Bulk-Mineable Precious Metal Deposits in Nevada, NBMG MI-89

Reference (Deposit): Rocky Mountain Pay Dirt, April 1988, p. 124

Reference (Deposit): Meridian Gold's website, 2004: http://www.meridiangold.com/operations_past.cfm#paradise
URL: http://www.meridiangold.com/operations_past.cfm#paradise

Reference (Deposit): NBMG MI-1985, 1986, 1989.

Reference (Deposit): NBMG Mining District File 227, many press clippings, 1984-1986, Items 19, 20

Reference (Deposit): John, D. A., Nash, J.T., Clark, C.W.,Wulftange,W.H., 1990, Geology of the Paradise Peak Deposit, in Buffa, R. Ed, Guidebook For Field Trips: Geological Society Of Nevada Symposium, Bulk Mineable Precious Deposits of the Western U.S., Fieldtrip 11, Reno

Reference (Deposit): Thomason, R.E., 1987, Geology of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit in Johnson, J.L. Ed, Guidebook for Field Trips: Geological Society of Nevada Symposium, Bulk Mineable Precious Deposits of the Western U.S., Reno, p. 250-253

Reference (Deposit): Thomason, R. E., 1986, Geology of the Paradise Peak Gold/Silver Deposit in Tingley , J.V. and Bonham, H. F., Precious Metal Mineralization in Hot-Springs Systems, Nevada-California, NBMG Report 41, P. 90-92

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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.