Contact District Copper Project

Site Name

Primary: Contact District Copper Project
Secondary: Brooklyn Zone
Secondary: Banner Fissure Zone
Secondary: Helen B. Smith
Secondary: old Marshall (Nevada-Bellevue) Mine Area
Secondary: Marshall Group
Secondary: Phase 1 Area
Secondary: Phase 2 Area
Secondary: Helen Smith
Secondary: Bluebird
Secondary: Nevada-Belleview

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Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Barium-Barite

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Location

State: Nevada
County: Elko
District: Contact 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.
Administrative Organization: Wells BLM Administrative District

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Holdings

Type: Patented

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Workings

Not available

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Ownership

Owner Name: Golden Phoenix as managing partner until the end of 2004
Info Year: 2004

Owner Name: International Enexco Ltd.
Home Office: Vancouver, Canada
Info Year: 2004

Owner Name: F.W. Lewis, Inc.
Info Year: 2004

Owner Name: Seattle-Contact Copper Co
Percent: 100.0
Years: 1912 -

Owner Name: Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Co
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Nevada

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Production

Year: 1965
Time Period: 1908-1965
Year: 1949
Time Period: 1918-1949
Mined: 31211.000 mt
Material type: Hagen & Requa (1970) as reported in Lane's 2010 NI 43-101 report.

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Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: skarn-related porphyry copper; Disseminated, replacement, and vein
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Open Pit
Milling Method: Leach-Solvent-Extract-Electrowin
Year First Production: 1913
Discovery Year: 1885
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

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Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Snake River Plain

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu, skarn-related

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Orebody

Form: Disseminated, replacement, and vein

Form: Tabular

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Structure

Type: L
Description: Regular sets of joints, fractures, and faults cut the granodiorite stock.

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Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: 2 Ft. Of Kaolin Gauge On Either Side Of Vein

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Oxidation

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicification generally accompanies mineralization.

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Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Jurassic

Name: Granodiorite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Age Old: Jurassic

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Age Old: Jurassic

Name: Chert
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Age Old: Jurassic

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Age Old: Jurassic

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Description: meta-
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Age Old: Jurassic

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Barite
Ore: Malachite
Gangue: Quartz

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Comments

Comment (Commodity): Ore Materials: chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, chrysocolla, copper oxides

Comment (Commodity): Gangue Materials: abundant quartz, occasional barite

Comment (Deposit): The deposit consists of four 4 or more veins, paralleling the granodiorite contact the veins range from 1 to 10 ft. thick. These four or more of the veins yielded most of the ore. They trend generally east paralleling the granodiorite contact, but one of them cuts across the contact. The copper content of the ore ranged from 3% to 50%, but was generally less than 10% Cu. Mineralization os associated with the igneous intrusion and accompanying contact metamorphism and replacement of the limestone intruded by the granodiorite.

Comment (Development): Claims were discovered and located in the Contact District in the late 1880s, but no production was recorded until 1913. The Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Co. was organized about 1917, and encompassed 10 claims on which there were 12 small mines and prospects. Major production occurred during the years 1913-30, but nearly half of the Contact District production was made during 1952-57. Most of the district production was from the Marshall (Nevada-Bellevue) Mine, which is located on the Delano and Copper King groups of claims, specifically on the Copper King No. 1 claim. Contact Project. Drilling during 2004 at Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc.?s Contact copper project focused on the poorly explored North Vein zone, where earlier drilling identified intercepts of 22 feet of 4.35% Cu (including 4 feet of 11% Cu) and 41 feet of 3.03% Cu (including 2 feet of 20% Cu) in two separate holes. 2004 drill holes were placed to confirm and extend this mineralization. Golden Phoenix Minerals learned from this drilling effort that the North Vein becomes absorbed in a large mineralized body that is hosted in highly altered skarn above the granodiorite-limestone contact, identifying a potentially new zone of copper mineralization. Drilling in this zone and the previously identified Brooklyn zone continued in 2005. A resource evaluation of all drill holes and trenches on the property found that the Contact copper deposit holds a mineralized material inventory of 97,427,000 tons averaging 0.54% Cu at a 0.1% cutoff grade. At a 3% Cu cutoff, the mineralized material inventory is 1,777,000 tons averaging 7.17% Cu. Contact features an estimated 61.5 million tons of copper/gold mineralized material at 0.77% Cu and 0.029% Ag. On December 23, 2004, Golden Phoenix terminated the Joint Venture Agreement dated January 28, 1998, by and between the Company and International Enexco, Ltd., and also terminated the Exploration License and Option to Purchase Agreement, dated July 10, 1998, by and between the Company and F.W. Lewis, Inc. The Board of Directors of Golden Phoenix determined that it was in the best interests of the Company to relinquish the Joint Venture Agreement and Exploration License Agreement due to the cost structures of the arrangements and the Company's current financial condition.

Comment (Economic Factors): From 1908 to 1965, the Contact mines produced 0.038 tonnes of gold, 3.95 tonnes of silver, and 2.6 kilotonnes of copper, from an unknown tonnage of ore. In 1973, the Contact deposit was estimated to contain a remaining resource of 7260 kilotonnes of ore containing 167 kilotonnes of copper, and an unknown amount of gold and silver (Long and others, 1998). In 2000: Proven resource: 39.5 Mt, 0.952% Cu (752,080,000 lbs), 0.29 opt Ag (11,467,000 oz). A 2004 resource evaluation of all drill holes and trenches on the property found that the Contact copper deposit holds a mineralized material inventory of 97,427,000 tons averaging 0.54% Cu at a 0.1% cutoff grade. At a 3% Cu cutoff, the mineralized material inventory is 1,777,000 tons averaging 7.17% Cu.

Comment (Location): The Contact Mine is made up of 152 patented claims and 8 unpatented claims covering 4.8 square miles of land along the northern border of Nevada in Elko County.

Comment (Deposit): The Sporadic Mineralization Seems To Be A Replacement Of The Glassy Quartz By Siliceous, Red-Brown Hematite, Associated With The Secondary Copper Mineralization (Schrader, 1912, P.122). The Mineralized Zone Consists Of Discontinuous Veins In White Limestone, Perhaps Marking Extensions Of Fissuring Along The Granodiorite Contact. Site Study Is Part Of Minerlal Survey No. 38547. ; Info.Src : 1 Pub Lit

Comment (Deposit): Veins; In Vicinity Of Delano No. 1 Claim Veins Are Approx. 5 Ft.Wide And Average 3.5% (Up To 50%) Copper (Schrader, 1935, P.25).

Comment (Location): Approximately 1 Mile NE Of Table Top Mountain (Left Center Of Sect. 24, T.45n., R.64e.). Location Information Based On Nbmg'S Unpublished Files And Maps (Joe Tingley Collection); Site Location On Map (Contact, Nv 15' Topo) Represents Center Of 'Group'.

Comment (Workings): The Allen No. 2 And Delano No. 1 Comprise The North Tier Of The Claims. The Delano No. 2 And Copper King Nos. 1 & 2 Are In The Middle Tier Of Claims Yielding 2 Veins. The Delano And Copper King Groups Of Claims Host The Bellevue And Nevada-Bellevue Mines. Delano No. 1 And 2 Are Claims Of The Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Company. The Vein(S) (Mostly Pinched And Interrupted By Slate?) Are Discontinuous And Adjacent To Granodiorite Contact; Veins Are Regarded As Eastern And Western Extensions Of Veins From The Nevada-Bellevue Mine, And The Palo Alto And Blue Bird Claims, Respectively (Schrader, 1912, P.121-122).

Comment (Deposit): Nearly 1/2 Of The Production From The Contact M.D. Was Made During 1952-57, Most Of It From The Marshall (Nevada-Belleville) Mine (Smith, 1976). Copper Content Of Ore Ranges From 3% To 50%, But Generally Containslt10% Cu. The Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Co. (Organized Around 1917) Comprised 10 Claims, On Which There Were 12 Small Mines And Prospects. Major Production Was During The Years 1913-30 (Schrader, 1935, P 23) The Nevada-Bellevue Mine Is Located On The Delano And Copper King Groups Of Claims Specifically On The Copper King No 1 Claim. The Claims Were Discovered And Located In The Late 1880'S, But No Production Was Recorded Until 1913. 4 Or More Of The Veins Yielded Most Of The Ore. They Trend East Paralleling The Granodiorite Contact, But One Of Them Cuts Across The Contact. The Veins Range From 1-10 Ft. Thick, (Granger, A.E., Et. Al., 1957, P 37-8). Mineral Survey No 3854 ; Info.Src : 1 Pub Lit

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1880'S

Comment (Development): Patented Claim, Nearly 1/2 The District'S Production Came From This Mine In 1952-1957. Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Co., Organized About 1917, Comprised 10 Claims On Which There Were 12 Small Mines And Prospects. Major Production Was From 1913 To 1930

Comment (Production): Nearly 1/2 The District'S Production Came From This Mine Alone, 1952-1957, With Copper Content Of The Ore Ranging From 3% To 50%, Generally Averaging Lt10%Cu. Major Production Occurred 1913 To 1930. Total Production Worth Over $2 1/2 Million.

Comment (Deposit): This Is One Of The Nevada-Bellevue Copper Mining Company'S Claims, Which Includes The Nevada-Bellevue Mine (Schrader, 1935) The Two Veins On This Property, Situated About 150 Feet Apart And Parallel, Are Regarded As Western Extensions Of The Palo Alto And Blue Bird Veins, At The East End Of The Property An Upper And A Lower Tunnel (70 Feet Apart) Develop The 6-Foot Wide Vein Westward. The Copper Ore Is Best On The Hanging-Wall Side Of The Vein (Schrader, 1912, P 122) Mineral Survey 3854 The Nevada Bellevue (Marshall) Mine Is On This Claim ; Info.Src : 1 Pub Lit

Comment (Deposit): Associated Minerals: actinolite, axinite, azurite/malachite, bornite, cerargyrite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, cuprite, garnet, hematite, pyrite

Comment (Deposit): Associated Rocks: aplite, breccia, hornfels, monzonite porphyry, skarn, syenite porphyry;rhyolite flow, rhyolite tuff;chert, granodiorite, limestone, quartz monzonite, quartzite, shale, siltstone

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References

Reference (Deposit): Schrader, F.C. (1912) A Reconn. Of The Jarbidge, Contact, And Elk Mt. Mining Districts, Elko Co., Nevada: USGS Bul 497

Reference (Deposit): Steininger, R. C., 2000, Western United States; SEG Newsletter, April issue, p. 38.

Reference (Deposit): Wendt, C.J., and Albino, G.V., 1992, Porphyry copper and related occurrences in Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Map 100, 8 p. and 1 plate.

Reference (Deposit): Coats, R.R., 1987, Geology of Elko County Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 101, 112 p.

Reference (Deposit): Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. press release, 12/7/2004.

Reference (Deposit): Hope, R.A. & Coats, R.R. (1976) Prelim. Geologic Map of Elko Co., Nev: USGS OFR 76-779

Reference (Deposit): Lane, T.A. et al, 2010, Pre-feasibility Study Update for the Contact Copper Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA: NI 43-101 Technical Report, October 1, 2010, 161 pages.

Reference (Deposit): Long, K.R., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Ludington, S.D., 1998, Significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-206A, 33 p.; 98-206B. one 3.5 inch diskette.

Reference (Deposit): LaPointe, D.D., Tingley, J.V., and Jones, R.B., 1991, Mineral resources of Elko County: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 106, 236 p.

Reference (Deposit): Granger, A.E., et. al. (1957) Geology and Mineral Resources of Elko Co., Nevada: Nevada Bur. Mines Bull. 54.

Reference (Deposit): Schrader, F.C. (1935) The Contact Mining District, Nevada: USGS Bull. 847-A.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, R.M. (1976) Mineral Resources of Elko Co., Nev: USGS OFR 76-56, P 39-45

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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.