Mine detail: Rio Tinto Mine

Previously called 'Mountain City Copper MineGolden CopperMountain City Silver MineRio Grande CopperRio Grande Extension Nos. 1-7Golden Copper Nos. 1-3Rio Grande NorthMountain City Consolidated.Mountain City Mercur'

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Location

Lat / long: 41.81242, -115.98172

Resource(M)

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver, Gold
Tertiary: Zinc, Lead
Ore: Chalcopyrite, Bornite, Chalcocite, Covellite, Sphalerite, Galena, Malachite, Cuprite, Azurite, Copper
Gangue: Quartz, Pyrite
Orebody form: tabular to irregular
Discovery year: 1919

Production

Operation type: Underground
Deposit type: massive sulfide
Production size: Large
Development status: Past Producer
First production started: 1932

Geology

Host rock:Valmy Formation
Host type:Shale,Quartzite
Associated type:Plutonic Rock
Structure:The Roberts Mountains Thrust fault is exposed at the surface less than 3 miles from the mine., faults
Alteration processes:Alteration types affecting the host rocks are chloritic, argillic, and silicic.

References

MRDSM233366
DEP10310316
Reference{Deposit:: 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.}{Deposit:: Smith, R.M., 1976, Mineral Resources of Elko County, Nevada, U.S.G.S. Open File Rept. 1976-56}{Deposit:: LaPointe and others, 1991, Mineral resources of Elko County, Nevada; NBMG Bull. 106}{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.}{Deposit:: Rio Tinto website:http://nvghosttowns.topcities.com/pastpro/riotinto.htm}{Deposit:: NBMG Mining District file mine maps #MD71, #M15}{Deposit:: Basanez, 1979}{Deposit:: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 17-92, 1992, PLATE 1, NO. 21; PLATE 3, NO. 4. (Rio Grande Copper claims)}{Deposit:: EMMONS, W.H., (1910) (Mountain City mine)}{Deposit:: KIRKEMO, HAROLD, 1964, COPPER, IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF NEVADA: NEVADA BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 65, P. 81-87 (Mountain City mine)}{Deposit:: NEV. BUR. OF MINES BULL. 54, 1957, PP. 120-122}{Deposit:: RIDGE, JOHN D, 1972, ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, GSA MEMOIR 131, P 417-9.}{Deposit:: USBM WAR MINERALS REPORT (UNPUBLISHED) OF THE RIO GRANDE COPPER (RIO TINTO) MINE, 1945, PROJECT 42 (ON FILE AT IFOC, DENVER FEDERAL CENTER)}{Deposit:: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 17-92, 1992, PLATE 1, NO. 20; PLATE 3, NO. 5.}
ReporterTaylor, J. K., LaPointe, D.D., Schruben, Paul G., Schmauch, Steven W.