Mine detail: Blue Sphinx Property

Previously called 'Bovard - Rand PropertyBlue Sphinx MineBovard MineGolden Pen Mine'

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Location

Lat / long:

38.79992, -118.40096

Resource(M)

Primary:	Gold, Silver
Secondary:	Copper, Lead, Zinc
Tertiary:	Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum
Ore:	Gold, Cerargyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Jarosite, Argentite, Alunite, Silver, Electrum, Cerussite, Wulfenite
Gangue:	Quartz, Sericite, Kaolin, Alunite, Adularia
Orebody form:	shoots, stringers, irregular replacement bodies
Discovery year:	1907

Production

Operation type:	Surface-Underground
Deposit type:	vein/shear zone; epithermal
Production size:	Yes
Development status:	Past Producer
First production started:	1910

Geology

Host rock:	Luning Formation
Host type:	Felsic Volcanic Rock,Rhyolite,Tuff,Ash-Flow Tuff,Andesite,Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic),Limestone
Associated type:	Diorite,Granodiorite,Quartz Monzonite
Structure:	The area is structurally complex, with dominantly NW- to WNW- trending high angle faults, down to the north. In the western part of the district, faults appear antithetic, having their upthrown sides to the south, A NW-trending fault offsets ash-flow tuff sequence.
Alteration processes:	Advanced argillic type of alteration is prevalent with veins of alunite and quartz. Limonite, and kaolinite replacing wall rock minerals predominates in the vicinity of the Golden Pen and Lone Star claims. At the Nevada Rand area, alteration is sericitic or phyllic in nature. Intermediate lavas from both areas show propylitic alteration. Bleached andesite and development of jarosite due to oxidation of numerous small crystals of disseminated pyrite. Alunitization of host rock is present.

References

MRDS	M035744
DEP	10310399
Reference	{Deposit:: Ross, D. C., 1961 , Geology and Mineral Deposits of Mineral County, Nevada: NBMG Bull. 58 , P. 80 .}{Deposit:: Schrader, F. C., 1914 , Alunite at Bovard, Nev.: USGS Bull. 540 , p. 351 - 356 .}{Deposit:: Thoenen, J. R., 1941 , Alunite Resources of the United States: USBM R. I. 3561 , p. 19 - 20 .}{Deposit:: Vanderberg, W. O., 1937 , Reconnaissance of Mining Districts in Mineral County Nev.: USBM I. C. 6941 , p. 57 - 58 .}{Deposit:: Black, J.W., 1920, unpublished report}{Deposit:: Long, K.R., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Ludington, S.D., 1998, Database of significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the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:: http://www.goldsummitcorp.com/bluesphinx1.htm}{Deposit:: press releases}
Reporter	LaPointe, D.D., Schruben, Paul G.