Buckskin National Project

Site Name

Primary: Buckskin National Project

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Commodity

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

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Location

State: Nevada
County: Humboldt
District: National 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: Romarco Minerals Inc.
Info Year: 2004

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: vein
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1912
Year Last Production: 1941
Discovery Year: 1907
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

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Physiography

Not available

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Epithermal vein, Comstock
Model Name: Hot-spring Au-Ag

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Orebody

Form: tabular

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Structure

Type: L
Description: Two approximately orthogonal fault sets running approximately N-S and E-W have influenced hydrothermal mineralization.

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Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Alteration consists predominantly of silicification and intense clay alteration. Alteration outward from the pyritic zone enveloping the Bell vein is kaolinite, followed by illite/montmorillonite, then by quartz-chlorite-quartz-calcite, then fresh rock. The kaolinite zone is more extensive in the hanging wall of the veins. There is little unaltered rock under Buckskin Mountain. Magnetite in the calcite-quartz-chlorite zone goes to pyrite in the illite-montmorillonite zone. Vertical alteration zoning is: top of Buckskin mtn.= silica cap, Hg and silicification; 20- m down (vertically) rhyolite is altered to alunite + quartz; -then to depths of several hundred meters selvages of kaolinitic alteration border the veins to depths of several hundred meters; then at depths below the level of the workings (core-drilled by ASARCO), K-mica alteration reportedly occurs in and around the veins.

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Rocks

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Description: basaltic
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Description: basaltic
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Mixed Clastic/Volcanic Rock
Role: Host
Description: volcaniclastic sediments with pool sinter
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Mixed Clastic/Volcanic Rock
Role: Host
Description: volcaniclastic sediments with pool sinter
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Pyroclastic Rock
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Pyroclastic Rock
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Host
Description: basaltic
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

Name: Andesite
Role: Host
Description: basaltic
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 16.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Early Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 14.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Age Young: Middle Miocene

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Silver
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Naumannite
Ore: Miargyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Pyrargyrite
Ore: Electrum
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Stibnite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Opal

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Comments

Comment (Location): The deposit is located in the National Mining District on the north-east flank of Buckskin Mountain and is covered by 103 unpatented lode mining claims.

Comment (Workings): The historic deposit was developed by a shaft, 3 adits, and other underground workings totalling over 6500 feet. A mill burned in 1937. Recent surface exploration work includes core drill holes

Comment (Commodity): Ore Materials: silver, stibnite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, electrum, pyrargyrite, miargyrite, naumannite, tetrahedrite plus an approximatey equal amount of base metal sulf-ides including galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bornite

Comment (Commodity): Gangue Materials: quartz, opal, chalcedony

Comment (Deposit): Buckskin-National is a volcanic-hosted gold-silver exploration project that exhibits exceptional discovery potential for high grade, bonanza gold and silver vein systems that are analogous to ore deposits at the nearby Ken Snyder Mine. Bonanza gold/silver ores mined during the early 1900's from underground workings along the Bell Vein in the eastern portion of the project area yielded a recorded production of approximately 24,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver from ore averaging approximately of 0.7 ounces gold and 8.8 ounces silver per ton. Mineralization consists of a complete hot springs gold system from surface sinter deposits to antimony-rich upper portions of veins to deeper ruby silver and gold-bearing quartz veins. The mines explore two N15W, 75SW-trending veins which are parallel to and on strike with the National and Birthday veins 7 km to the NW. The eastern vein is the Lawry and the western vein is the Bell vein, the latter of which is on the current Buckskin National property. The tops of the vein system can be seen at the surface in pits and stopes. The veins are on a 3m wide silicified zone with veins and stockworks of fine-grained chalcedonic quartz with fine laminated crustification. Stibnite occurs in the upper parts of these veins; it is absent or late-stage in deeper veins. There are 4 stages of vein mineralization: stage IV (latest, highest in system) stibnite and Ag sulfosalts and fine crustiform chalcedony; stage III strong pyrite and marcasite; stage II rhythmically crustified quartz-chalcedony veins with Ag sulfosalts and native gold (electrum); stage I (deepest) silver minerals associated with white K-mica and feldspar- stable alteration. The tops of these veins "apex" about 200 m below the paleosurface (pool sinters, etc.). Fluid inclusions from these veins indicate temperatures of approx 175 degrees C with some indications of overpressure. Hydrothermal breccias have been noted. The Bell Vein underground consists of a strong iron sulfide zone several meters wide with a 2060 cm crustified quartz vein in center.

Comment (Geology): The fissure vein averages 4 ft wide, and was opened up for 3000 ft. along strike on the 10-ft level. The rhyolitic rocks are peraluminous.

Comment (Identification): This record describes the current Buckskin National prospect on the east side of the district, but includes descriptive material from MRDS record # M055027 which describes the historic Buckskin National Mine.

Comment (Development): Silver and gold claims were staked on Buckskin Peak prior to 1907. The Buckskin National Mine was worked intermittently from 1912 through 1940 and was initially covered by 2 patented and 9 unpatented claims. The Buckskin National Gold Mining Co. was incorporated in 1912. It was equipped with a 100-ton flotation mill, but the ore was found to be unsuitable for the flotation process. From about 1928 to 1938 the property was run by the Nevada Lucky Tiger Mining Co. under a lease. In June, 1937, 50 men were employed mining 50 tons of ore per day. The historic Buckskin National Mine last operated in the 1930s . MC CORMICK ET. AL. 1942. ASARCO was leasing property in 1983 from owners, the time Buckskin National Gold Mining Co. but there was no activity at that time. ASARCO drilled 1000 m or more of core holes in the property. In April 2004 Romarco Minerals Inc. announced the beginning of an exploration program on its newly acquired Buckskin-National Project. Romarco acquired a 100% operating interest in the 103 unpatented lode mining claims that comprise the project area, subject to terms and obligations of lease agreements between Romarco and three private parties. The planned 2004 exploration program will involve a comprehensive approach including mapping the surface and underground geology, logging all available existing drill cores, conducting a widespread systematic soil sampling program, and initiating diamond drilling of bonanza vein targets. Additionally, existing drill core that was never split, sampled, and assayed will be split and assayed for gold, silver, and associated elements. The logging and sampling of existing drill core is currently underway, and field activities will begin in late May or June.

Comment (Economic Factors): Bonanza gold/silver ores mined during the early 1900's from underground workings along the Bell Vein in the eastern portion of the project area yielded a recorded production of approximately 24,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver from ore averaging approximately of 0.7 ounces gold and 8.8 ounces silver per ton. Bulk mineable reserve reported in1990 was 138,251 tons of ore grading 0.363 oounces per ton Au and 3.37 ounces per ton Ag. In 1997 reserves of 50,221 Au and 466,243 ounces of Ag were reported.

Comment (Environment): Magmatism associated with continental extension under reducing conditions

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References

Reference (Deposit): National Au Min. Industry News, 1 Aug 1986

Reference (Deposit): Carper, 1920,MD133, I12

Reference (Deposit): NBMG Map 91, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Reference (Deposit): Amer. Mines (1990), 1990

Reference (Deposit): Amer. Mines (2000), 1999

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): Lawrence, E.F., 1963, Antimony Deposits of Nevada; NBMG Bull. 61.

Reference (Deposit): Garside, L. J. And Bonham, M. F., Jr., 18 Aug 83, Field examination and tour led by Peter Vikre of ASARCO Minerals, and sample analyses.

Reference (Deposit): Vikre, P. G., 1985, Precious metal vein systems in the National District, Humboldt County, Nevada: Econ. Geol., vol. 80, no. 2, p. 360-393.

Reference (Deposit): NBMG Staff, 1985, NBMG OFR 85-3.

Reference (Deposit): NBMG Map 88, 1986, Geology of Buckskin Mountain, by P. G. Vikre.

Reference (Deposit): Nevada Dept. of Minerals, 1993

Reference (Deposit): Miller and Rumpsey, USBM production figures

Reference (Deposit): NBMG MI-86; MI-97

Reference (Deposit): Romarco Minerals Inc. press releases, April, May, 2004.

Reference (Deposit): Vanderburg, W.O., 1938, Reconnaissance of Mining Districts in Humboldt County, Nevada; U.S. B. M. Inf. Circ. 6995

Reference (Deposit): Lindgren, W., 1915, Geology and Mineral Deposits of the National Mining District, Nevada: U.S.G.S. Bull 601.

Reference (Deposit): Willden, R., 1964, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Humboldt Co., Nev; NBMG Bull. 59.

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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.