Rio Tinto Mine

Elko County, Nevada, United States

CopperSilverGoldZincLead

⌖ Show on map USGS source ↗

Description

Samuel Franklin Hunt

Commodities

PrimaryCopper

SecondarySilver, Gold

TertiaryZinc, Lead

Commodity typeM

Deposit

Deposit typemassive sulfide

Model91: Massive sulfide, Besshi (Japanese deposits)

Deposit sizeL

WorkingsUnderground

Orebody formtabular to irregular

Ore controlbedding

Materials

Ore mineralsChalcopyrite, Bornite, Chalcocite, Covellite, Sphalerite, Galena, Malachite, Cuprite, Azurite, Copper

GangueQuartz, Pyrite

Geology

Host rockShale,Quartzite · Valmy Formation

Associated rockPlutonic Rock

StructureThe Roberts Mountains Thrust fault is exposed at the surface less than 3 miles from the mine., faults

AlterationAlteration types affecting the host rocks are chloritic, argillic, and silicic.

Economic & production

Development statusPast Producer

First production1932

Discovery year1919

Identification

Deposit ID10310316

MRDS IDM233366

Alternate namesMountain City Copper Mine, Golden Copper, Mountain City Silver Mine, Rio Grande Copper, Rio Grande Extension Nos. 1-7, Golden Copper Nos. 1-3, Rio Grande NorthRio Grande Extension, Mountain City Consolidated., Mountain City Mercur

RegionNA

Data scoreA

Coordinates41.81242, -115.98172

References

Coats, R.R., and E.C. Stephens, 1968, Mountain City Copper Mine, Elko County, Nevada, in Ridge, J.D., Ed., Ore Deposits of The United States, 1933-1967 (Graton-Sales Volume), v.2: New York, Am. Inst, Mining Metall. Petroleum Engineers, p. 1074-1101.Smith, R.M., 1976, Mineral Resources of Elko County, Nevada, U.S.G.S. Open File Rept. 1976-56LaPointe and others, 1991, Mineral resources of Elko County, Nevada; NBMG Bull. 106Long, 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.Rio Tinto website:http://nvghosttowns.topcities.com/pastpro/riotinto.htmNBMG Mining District file mine maps #MD71, #M15Basanez, 1979U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 17-92, 1992, PLATE 1, NO. 21; PLATE 3, NO. 4. (Rio Grande Copper claims)EMMONS, W.H., (1910) (Mountain City mine)KIRKEMO, HAROLD, 1964, COPPER, IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF NEVADA: NEVADA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 65, P. 81-87 (Mountain City mine)NEV. BUR. OF MINES BULL. 54, 1957, PP. 120-122RIDGE, JOHN D, 1972, ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, GSA MEMOIR 131, P 417-9.USBM WAR MINERALS REPORT (UNPUBLISHED) OF THE RIO GRANDE COPPER (RIO TINTO) MINE, 1945, PROJECT 42 (ON FILE AT IFOC, DENVER FEDERAL CENTER)U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 17-92, 1992, PLATE 1, NO. 20; PLATE 3, NO. 5.