Sterling Mine

The Sterling Mine is a gold mine located in Nye county, Nevada at an elevation of 4,396 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

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Site Name

Primary: Sterling Mine
Secondary: Panama Mine
Secondary: 144 Zone
Secondary: Mary-Goldspar claim block (to the north (2004))
Secondary: Ambrose Open Pit
Secondary: Stirling Mine
Secondary: NBMG sample sites 1013, 1014
Secondary: Sterling

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite

Location

State: Nevada
County: Nye
District: Fluorine District

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: Tonopah BLM District

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Panama Nev. Mines Co.
Years: 1931 -

Owner Name: Geomex Devrlopment, Inc.
Company ID: 2601503
Percent: 47.00
Home Office: Canada
Info Year: 1984
Years: 1984 -

Owner Name: Saga Exploration Co. 2.5% Nsr
Company ID: 2601503
Home Office: Nevada
Info Year: 1996
Years: 1992 -

Owner Name: Imperial Metals Corp. (Owns 56.2% of Cathedral)
Percent: 10.00
Home Office: Canada
Info Year: 1996
Years: 1992 -

Owner Name: Cathedral Gold Corp.
Percent: 90.00
Home Office: Canada
Info Year: 1996
Years: 1992 -

Owner Name: Dejour in part. Cathedral Gold Corp. 52% Owned .
Years: 1985 -

Owner Name: Imperial Metals Corporation
Percent: 100.0
Info Year: 2002

Production

Year: 1983
Description: Annual Production: 280-370 Kg Au 2890 Kg Au
Year: 1994
Description: Gold Production 13290 Oz/Yr
Year: 1995
Description: Gold Production (Est) 13000 T Oz/Yr Gold
Year: 1996
Description: Recoverable Au In Heap Inventory 1673 Oz. Au
Year: 1997
Description: Gold Rec. Of Low Grade Stock Pile 6500 T Oz/Yr
Year: 1984
Material type: ORE AU
Description: Ap_Grade: ^0.215 Oz Au/Ton

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: disseminated: fault zone: breccia pipe
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Milling Method: Heap Leach-Agglomerate-Carbon Column-Merrill-Crowe
Year First Production: 1980
Year Last Production: 1997
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Sediment-hosted Au

Orebody

Form: tabular

Structure

Type: L
Description: thrust fault, high angle faults

Type: R
Description: Basin and Range style normal faulting

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Host roacks in the mineralized area exhibit clay alteration and bleaching.

Rocks

Name: Quartz Latite
Role: Associated
Description: dikes
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Early Miocene
Age Old: Miocene

Name: Dolomite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cambrian
Age Old: Middle Cambrian

Name: Siltstone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Early Cambrian
Age Old: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Alunite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Jarosite
Gangue: Clay

Comments

Comment (Development): E and B Exploration had the Sterling Mine in 1984 with Gexa owning a 46.5% share of the property . Dejour Mines acquired a 6% interest in 1985 from International Gold and Minerals. A transition from 50% underground to 100% underground mining was completed in 1990. Cathewdral Gold Corporation had a 47% interest in the property in 1991. Sterling was operated as an open-pit and underground mine from 1980 to 1997. With the rebound in gold prices in the 2000s, interest in the property was renewed. In 2002, Imperial Metals Corp. reported that all six holes drilled in a recently completed exploration program on the 144 Zone at Sterling returned significant gold intercepts. The 144 Zone was discovered in 2001 by two holes that intersected 110 feet of 0.15 opt Au and 45 feet of 0.57 opt Au respectively. The drill holes were vertical and were drilled with a combination of rotary drilling to just above the top of the target zone and diamond drilling through the zone. Using this technique, all drill holes reached the target depths and had satisfactory core recoveries. In 2002 a surface rotary and diamond drill program further tested the target area. This work was followed by a geophysical survey using Natural Source Audio-Frequency Tellurics to detect low and high-angle discontinuities as well as alteration mineralogy associated with brecciation and gold mineralization in the 144 Zone. Results were used to focus exploration efforts aimed at expanding the 144 Zone and discovering additional zones of the same type. In 2003, 30 holes totaling 9,000 feet (2,743 metres) were completed. All holes which penetrated the zone intersected elevated gold values enlarging the 144 Zone to 500 feet by 750 feet (152 metres by 228 metres). Also in 2003, an additional 29 claims were acquired under lease to secure the potential northerly extension of the 144 Zone gold bearing structure. In 2004, planning and permitting of an underground exploration program was begun. This program will include a 3,840 foot (1,170 metre) ramp down to the 144 Zone followed by 20,000 (6,098 metres) of definition and exploration drilling. Planning was underway for an additional 12 to 16 combination rotary/diamond drill holes. Permitting was underway in 2003 for reopening of mining operations.

Comment (Economic Factors): Sterling was operated as an open-pit and underground mine from 1980 to 1997, producing a total of 194,996 oz of gold from 941,341 tons of ore with an average grade of 0.217 opt Au. The mine produced 7,499 oz of gold in 1989 at a cash production cost of $232/oz. Production in 1990 was expected to be 11,000 oz of gold at a cost of $230/oz. In 1991 as an underground heap leach, the mine produced 12,626 oz of gold,with an average cost per oz of $197 when average price per oz. was $381 . Reserves in 1992 were reported at 403 kilotonnes of ore grading 0.24 opt Au, with a geologic resource of 765 kilotonnes of ore grading 0.178 opt Au. In 1996 reserves were reported at 129 kilotonnes of ore grading 0.245 opt Au. No recent reserve estimates are available.

Comment (Identification): This record is an updated version iof record # M242959 including duplicate information from W700427 which has been deleted.

Comment (Location): The mine is situated on the east flank of Bare Mountain, about a mile south of the Diamond Queen (Goldspar) Mine; just north of the Panama Mine.

Comment (Workings): The mine has been developed by open pits and drifting in approximately 20,000 ft of underground workings.A heap leach facility has been in operation on the property to process ore.

Comment (Deposit): Disseminated gold mineralization occurs along and in the upper plate of a thrust fault that juxtaposes late Proterozoic to Cambrian Wood Canyon Formation over Cambrian Bonanza King dolomite. Mineralization is concentrated where high-angle faults intersect the thrust fault. Hydrothermal brecciation is common in the ore zone. Breccia pipes occur in the Bonanza King dolomite and bedded dolomite of the Wood Canyon Formation.

Comment (Commodity): Commodity Info: Au: Ag ratio ranges from 10:1 to 30:1

Comment (Commodity): Ore Materials: free gold

Comment (Commodity): Gangue Materials: quartz, calcite, fluorite, sericite, alunite, limonite, jarosite, clays

References

Reference (Deposit): KRAL, V.E., 1951, MINERAL RESOURCES OF NYE CO.: NBMG BULL. 50, P. 63

Reference (Deposit): GSN Precious Metals Symposium, 1987, Field Trip Guidebook, p.76-77

Reference (Deposit): NBMG MI-1987 through MI-2002.

Reference (Deposit): Bonham, H.F, 1986, NBMG Map 91

Reference (Deposit): Smith P. 1982, NBMG Field Examination and Sample Analysis.

Reference (Deposit): Odt, D.A., 1983, Geology and Geochemistry of the Sterling Gold Deposit, Nye Co., NV: MS Thesis, UNR, 100p.

Reference (Deposit): Tingley, J.V., 1984, Trace Element Associations in Mineral Deposits, Bare Mtn-Fluorine Mining District, S. Nye County, Nev: NBMG Report 39

Reference (Deposit): NBMG Mining District File 228, Press Clippings

Reference (Deposit): Directory of Nevada Mine Operations Active During Calendar Year 1987: Nevada Div. Of Mine Inspection, 84p.

Reference (Deposit): Monsen, S.A., Carr, M. D. Et Al, 1990, Geologic Map Of Bare Mountain, Nye Co., NV.:USGS OFR 90-25.

Reference (Deposit): Mining Record 5/22/91 p.1.

Reference (Deposit): Mining Record 6/12/91.

Reference (Deposit): The Mining Record, 8/20/02

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): Nevada Division of Environmental Protection notice to renew a Water Pollution Control Permit for the Sterling Mine Project, Feb 2003.

Reference (Deposit): Imperial Metals Corporation website, 2002, 2004.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): RANDOL, MINING DIRECTORY, 1996/97, U.S. MINIS & MINING COMPANIES, P273, 274.

Reference (Deposit): GARSIDE, L. J. ROAD LOG/TRIP GUIDE: STERLING MINE, GOLDFIELD DISTRICT, HASBROUCK MOUNTAIN (DIVIDE DISTRICT), TONOPAH DISTRICT, AND BOREALIS MINE, FIELD TRIP 3, PRECIOUS METAL DISTRICTS IN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN NEVADA. PAPER IN EXPLORATION FOR ORE DEPOSITS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CORDILLERA, FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK, ED. BY J. L. JOHNSON. SYMP. OF ASSOC. EXPL. GEOCHEM., RENO, NV, MAR. 25-28, 1984, PP. FT3 1-31.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): MINES AND GEOL. OFR 82-9, 1982, 4 PP.

Reference (Deposit): CORNWALL, H. R. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. BULLETIN 77, 1972, 49 PP.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): CATHEDRAL GOLD CORPORATION, 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, PP. 6-8.

Reference (Deposit): THE MINING RECORD, VOL 108, #16, APRIL 16, 1997, P1.

Reference (Deposit): GARSIDE, L. J., AND J. V. TINGLEY. FIELD EXAMINATION OF STERLING MINE, NYE COUNTY, NEVADA. NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL, MAR. 25, 1982, 3 PP; AVAILABLE AT NV BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., RENO, NV.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): NORTHERN MINER (TORONTO). GEOMEX IMPRESSED BY NEVADA MINE BUT BRALORNE PLACED ON STANDBY. JULY 26, 1984, P. 12.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): 1995/96, NEVADA MINES DIRECTORY, P28.

Reference (Production): CATHEDRAL GOLD CORPORATION. 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P.7.

Reference (Deposit): THE NORTHERN MINER, JUNE 3, 1996, P B16.

Reference (Deposit): GOLDFIELD DISTRICT, HASBROUCK MOUNTAIN (DIVIDE DISTRICT),

Reference (Deposit): CORNWALL, H. R., AND F. J. KLEINHAMPL. GEOLOGY OF THE BARE MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE, NEVADA. U.S. GEOL. SURV. QUAD. MAP GQ-157, 1961, SCALE 1:62:500.

Reference (Deposit): ROCKY MOUNTAIN PAY DIRT, FEB. 94, P4A, "UNDERGROUND STERLING MINE BEEN GOING 13 YEARS; NEVADA MINE-FOR LEACH OPERATION AIDED BY GOOD GRADE, LOW CAPITAL COST".

Reference (Reserve-Resource): BONHAM, H. F., JR. RESERVES, HOST ROCKS, AND AGES OF BULK-MINEABLE PRECIOUS METAL DEPOSITS IN NEVADA. NV BUR. MINES AND GEOL. OFR 82-9, 1982, 4 PP.

Reference (Deposit): SMITH, A.M., & CARPENTER, J, 1931, INSPECTION TRIP NOTES: NBMG FILE 228, ITEM 8

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.