Comstock Lode

Storey County, Nevada, United States

SilverGoldCopperLeadZincIronManganese

⌖ Show on map USGS source ↗

Commodities

PrimarySilver, Gold

SecondaryCopper, Lead

TertiaryZinc, Iron, Manganese

Commodity typeM

Deposit

Deposit typevein

Model150: Epithermal vein, Comstock

Deposit sizeL

Orebody formV-shaped at shallower depths; tabular at greater depths

Ore controlMineralization and hydrothermal alteration of the Comstock Lode are generally associated with the north-south trending Comstock, Silver City, and Occidental faults. The high-grade bonanza oresof the Comstock Lode were associated with the Comstock Fault.

Materials

Ore mineralsGold, Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Sphalerite, Pyrite, Polybasite, Stephanite, Pearceite, Covellite, Chalcocite

GangueQuartz, Albite, Adularia, Pyrite

Geology

Host rockAndesite,Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate),Ash-Flow Tuff · Alta Formation

Associated rockGranodiorite · Davidson Diorite (actually a granodiorite)

StructureNorth-south trending Comstock, Silver City and Occidental faults controlled alteration and mineralization., North-trending anticline; regional dip to west or northwest

AlterationDominant alteration assemblages affecting the host rocks in the district are summarized as follows: \n1. Early widespread propylitic alteration of host hocks, not spatially associated with ore\n2. Zeolite alteration superimposed on propylitic\n3. Quartz-alunite alteration (high sulfidation) - erratically distributed\n4. Quartz-sericite-montmorillonite-pyrite alteration peripheral to the gold-silver veins accompanying mineralization \n

Economic & production

Development statusPast Producer

First production1859

Discovery year1859

Identification

Deposit ID10310576

MRDS IDM231215

Alternate namesConsolidated Virginia, Chollar, Crown Point, Ophir, Savage, Potosi, Yellow Jacket, California, C & C, Challenge & Confidence, Hale & Norcross, Union, Mexican, Gould & Curry

RegionNA

Data scoreA

Coordinates39.31129, -119.64767

References

Stoddard, Carl, and Carpenter, J.A., 1950, Mineral Resources of Storey and Lyon Counties, Nevada: NBMG Bull. 49.Bonhan, H.F., 1969, Geology and Mineral Deposits of Washoe and Storey Counties, Nevada: NBMG Bull 70.Bastin, E.S., 1922, Bonanza Ores of the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nevada; USGS Bull 735-C.WPA State Writer's Project, 1940-41, Individual Histories of the Mines of The Comstock; unpublished NBMG Open File Report.Hudson, D. M.,1987, Summary of the Geology of the Comstock District, Nevada in Johnson, J.L. ed. Bulk Mineable Precious Metal Deposits of the Western United States. Guidebook for fieldtrips: Geological Society of Nevada, p.413-418.Hudson, D. M.,1986, Comstock Lode Fieldtrip. Geological Society of NevadaSpecial Publication No. 4Hutsinpiller, A. and Taranik, J.V. ,1988, Spectral Signatures at Virginia City. In Schafer et al. Bulk Mineable Precious Metal Deposits of the Western United States. Symposium Proceedings. Geological Society of Nevada, p. 545-551.Kruse, F. A., and Huntington, J. H., 1996, The 1995 Geology AVIRIS Group Shoot: in Proceedings, 6th JPL Airborne Earth Science Workshop: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Publication 96-4, v. 1, p. 155 - 166.Spatz, D. and Taranik, J. ,1988, Identification and mapping of volcanic lithologies genetically or spacially associated with the precious metal deposits of the western U.S. using Landsat TM imagery. In Schafer et al. Bulk Mineable Precious Metal Deposits of the Western United States, Symposium Proceedings. Geological Society of Nevada.Thompson, G.W. (1956) Geology of the Virginia City Quadrangle. USGS Special Paper 1024 C, p.64.Vikre, Peter G. ,1998, Quartz-Alunite alteration in the Western Part of the Virginia Range, Washoe and Storey Counties, Nevada. Econ. Geology V.93, p.338 - 343.Vikre, Peter G. ,1989, Fluid-mineral relations in the Comstock Lode. Economic Geology, V.84, p.1574-1613. http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/453/virginia-city/virginia-city.docTingley, Joseph and Tingley, Susan, 2000, Exploring East of the Summit, A Field Trip Guide to Steamboat Springs,Lake Tahoe, and the Comstock Area, NBMG ES-38.