Description
Tenneco Minerals Co.
Commodities
PrimaryGold
SecondarySilver
TertiaryMercury, Thallium, Antimony, Barium-Barite
Commodity typeB
Deposit
Deposit typeSediment-hosted disseminated gold
Model172: Carbonate-hosted Au-Ag
Deposit sizeS
Ore controlThe Nighthawk Fault strikes northeast, dips 80 degrees west and serves as the primary conduit for mineralizing fluids. The ore is thickest where the Nighthawk Fault is offset by WNW-trending en echelon faulting, as a result of secondary porosity tat developed in the Chainman Shale at the fault intersections. The Joana Limestone acted as a porous host since gold mineralization appears stratabound and closely emulates the fold pattern.
Materials
Ore mineralsGold
GangueHematite, Limonite, Opal, Barite, Scorodite
Geology
Host rockShale,Limestone · "Chainman Shale", "Joana Limestone"
StructureNighthawk Fault, Rocks in the mine area have been affected by low amplitude, open folds with axes that strike between N-S and N15E.
AlterationSilicification is the most common alteration within the orebody. Jasperization, argillization, and decarbonization have also affected the rocks. Chainman Shale and Pilot Shale are argillized and silicified adjacent to the Nighthawk Fault.
Economic & production
Development statusProducer
First production1989
Discovery year1986
Identification
Deposit ID10310554
Alternate namesNighthawk Ridge Mine
RegionNA
Data scoreB
Coordinates39.18104, -115.67422
References
Carden, J.R., 1991, The Discovery and Geology of the Nighthawk Ridge Deposit at Easy Junior, White Pine County, Nevada, in Geology and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin, Raines, G.L., et al., eds., The Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, p. 665-676.NBMG, 1991, The Nevada Mineral Industry 1990, NBMG Special Publication MI-1990, p.25.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.