Mine detail: Mount Hope Molybdenum Deposit

Previously called ''

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Location

Lat / long:

39.79159, -116.17591

Resource(M)

Primary:	Molybdenum, Copper
Secondary:	Silver, Gold, Zinc, Lead
Tertiary:	Cadmium
Ore:	Molybdenite, Bornite, Marmatite, Sphalerite, Galena, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite
Gangue:	Garnet, Diopside, Quartz, Tremolite, Calcite, Pyrite, Magnetite, Hematite
Orebody form:	irregular
Discovery year:	1870

Production

Operation type:	Surface-Underground
Deposit type:	pluton-related porphyry molybdenum
Production size:	Large
Development status:	Past Producer
First production started:	1880
Last production ended:	1940

Geology

Host rock:	Vinini Formation, Garden Valley Limestone
Host type:	Limestone,Granite
Associated rock:	Mount Hope Igneous Complex, Mt Hope Rhyolite Dome
Associated type:	Alkali-Granite (Alaskite),Rhyolite,Shale,Chert,Argillite
Structure:	Roberts Mountains Thrust fault, Host rocks in the deposit area are cut by several faults: the N35W-trending Ravine Fault, the N60W-trending Bisoni Fault, the N80W-trending Tia Fault, and the N75W-trending South Fault. The Mount hope Fault is arcuate, changing orientation dramatically from about N30E north of the mine area to N75W south of the mine area, with the ?bend? in the fault occurring in the vicinity of the molybdenum deposit.
Alteration processes:	Skarn development, tactite-hornfels at the historic lead zinc deposits. The porphyry molybdenum deposit is characterized by a variety of alteration assembages attendant upon the mineralization.These include argillic-propylitic, argillic, potassic-phyllic, potassic, silica-flooded, and bioite zones, roughly concentrically zoned outward from the core of the hydrothermal system.

References

MRDS	M232308
DEP	10310475
Reference	{Deposit:: Roberts, R. J., et al. (1967) Geology and Mineral Resources of Eureka Co., Nev., NBMG Bull. 64}{Deposit:: Matson, E. J. (1946) Exploration of the Mount Hope Mine, Eureka Co. Nev., U.S. Bureau of Mines R. I. 3928}{Deposit:: U.S. Bureau of Mines (Millett) MILS No. 132, Ref. No. 3201100037, Mineral Property File 79.004}{Deposit:: Vanderburg, W. O. (1938) Reconnaissance of the Mining Districts in Eureka Co., USBM Inf. Cir. 7022}{Deposit:: Numerous unpublished items in NBMG mining district files available online at www.nbmg.unr.edu}{Deposit:: Idaho General Mines, Inc. website, Feb. 2005; http://www.idahogeneralmines.com/igmidir/news/news111504.htm}{Deposit:: Felix E. Mutschler, Steve Ludington, and Arthur A. Bookstrom, 1999, Giant Porphyry-Related Metal Camps of the World-A Database; USGS Open-File Report 99-556.}
Reporter	LaPointe,D.D., Schruben, Paul G.