Commodities
PrimaryCopper
TertiaryZinc, Lead, Iron, Iron, Pig Iron, Arsenic
Commodity typeM
Deposit
Model91: Massive sulfide, Besshi (Japanese deposits)
Deposit sizeS
WorkingsSurface/Underground
Orebody formPOD/LENS
Ore controlLenticular Troughs
Materials
Ore mineralsChalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Covellite, Cubanite, Cuprite, Galena, Goethite, Malachite, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite
GangueChlorite, Muscovite, Quartz
Geology
Host rockSchist,Gneiss · Lynchburg Group, Ashe Formation
StructureBlue Ridge Anticlinorium, Fries Thrust, 3 Phases Of Regional Deformation, 2, Possibly 3, S Surfaces Visible In Rocks Near Main Portal
Tectonic settingOrogen
AlterationLow Grade Regional Metamorphism (Biotite Zone)
Economic & production
Development statusPast Producer
First production1855
Discovery year1861
Identification
Deposit ID10079971
MRDS IDW030841
RegionNA
Data scoreB
Coordinates36.79563, -80.79841
References
CURREY, R.O., 1859, A GEOLOGICAL VISIT TO THE VIRGINIA COPPER REGION: KNOXVILLE, TENN., BECKETT, HAWS AND CO.; REPRINTED IN PART UNDER COPPER AND IRON REGION OF THE FLOYD-CARROLL-GRAYSON PLATEAU OF THE BLUE RIDGE IN VIRGINIA, ETC.: THE VIRGINIAS, 1880, V. 1, P. 62-64, 69-71, 74-77, 80-81, 95.ROSS, C.S., 1935, ORIGIN OF THE COPPER DEPOSITS OF THE DUCKTOWN TYPE IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN STATES: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 179, 165 P.WEED, W.H., 1911, COPPER DEPOSITS OF THE APPALACHIAN STATES: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 455, 166 P.STOSE, A.J., AND STOSE, G.W., 1957, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE GOSSAN LEAD DISTRICT AND ADJACENT AREAS IN VIRGINIA: VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES BULLETIN 72, 233 P.CONLEY, JAMES F., 1985, GEOLOGY OF THE SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA PIEDMONT: VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES PUBLICATION 59, 33P.1855 DIREXPL TENN. & VA. MINING CO.: OPENED MINE.1911 RECON W.H. WEED: BULL. 455.1935 RECON C.S. ROSS: PROF. PAPER 179.1939 GEOLMAP VA. GEOL. SURV.: BULL. 72.1948 RECON R.J. WRIGHT & N.D. RAMAN: OPEN-FILE REPORT.CURREY (1859)