Mineral Resources of the Blue Lakes 

Wilderness Study Area, 

Humboldt County, Nevada

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1726-D

Chapter D

Mineral Resources of the

Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area,

Humboldt County, Nevada

By JOEL R. BERGQUIST, DONALD PLOUFF,

BRENT D. TURRIN, JAMES G. SMITH, and ROBERT L. TURNER

U.S. Geological Survey

SPENCEE L. WILLETT 

U.S. Bureau of Mines

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1726

MINERAL RESOURCES OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS: 

HUMBOLDT AND PERSHING COUNTIES, NEVADA
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

DONALD PAUL MODEL, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1987

For sale by the

Books and Open-File Reports Section

U.S. Geological Survey

Federal Center, Box 25425

Denver, CO 80225

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mineral resources of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study 

Area, Humboldt County, Nevada.

U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1726-D

Bibliography

Supt. of Docs. No.:I 19.3:1726-D

1. Mines and mineral resources Nevada Blue Lakes

Wilderness. 2. Geology Nevada Blue Lakes Wilderness.

3. Blue Lake Wilderness (Nev.) I. Bergquist, Joel R. II.

Series.

QE75.B9 No. 7126-D 557.3 s 87-600089

[TN24.Ne] [553'.09793'54]
STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS

Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Area

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21, 

1976) requires the U.S Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to conduct 

mineral surveys on certain areas to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be 

present. Results must be made available to the public and be submitted to the President 

and the Congress. This report presents the results of a mineral survey of part of the Blue 

Lakes Wilderness Study Area (NV-020-600), Humboldt County, Nevada.

CONTENTS

Summary Dl

Abstract 1

Character and setting 1

Identified resources 1

Mineral resource potential 2 

Introduction 3

Area description 3

Previous investigations 3

Present investigations 3 

Appraisal of identified resources 5

Mining history and production 5

Mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites 6 

Assessment of mineral resource potential 6

Geology 6

Geochemical studies 7

Geophysical studies 8 

Conclusions 8 

References cited 9 

Appendixes

Definition of levels of mineral resource potential and certainty of assessment 13

Resource/Reserve classification 14

Geologic time chart 15

FIGURES

1. Index map showing location of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area, Humboldt 

County, Nevada D2

2. Map showing mineral resource potential and generalized geology of the Blue Lakes 

Wilderness Study Area, Humboldt County, Nevada 4

TABLES

1. Mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites in and adjacent to the Blue Lakes 

Wilderness Study Area DIG

MINERAL RESOURCES OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS: 

HUMBOLDT AND PERSHINC COUNTIES, NEVADA

Mineral Resources of the

Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area,

Humboldt County, Nevada

By Joel R. Bergquist, Donald Plouff, Brent D. Turrin, 

James G. Smith, and Robert L. Turner 

U.S. Geological Survey

Spencee L. Willett 

U.S. Bureau of Mines

SUMMARY

Abstract

The part of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study 

Area (NV-020-600) requested for mineral surveys 

encompasses 16,400 acres in the southern part of the 

Pine Forest Range, Humboldt County, Nev. Field work 

for this report was done in 1984. No resources were 

identified within the wilderness study area. There is 

low potential for undiscovered gold and silver 

resources and associated antimony, copper, lead, 

mercury, molybdenum, zinc, and uranium throughout 

the study area. A low potential exists for 

undiscovered tungsten resources in skarn in three small 

areas of limestone in the northern part of the study 

area. In this report, references to the Blue Lakes 

Wilderness Study Area refer only to that part of the 

wilderness study area requested by the U.S. Bureau of 

Land Management for mineral surveys.

Character and Setting

The Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area is in the 

southern part of the Pine Forest Range in northwest 

Nevada near the Oregon border (fig. 1). These 

mountains are in the Basin and Range physiographic 

province, which is characterized by north-trending 

fault-bounded ranges separated by broad alluviated 

valleys. Relief in the area is rugged; elevations range 

from about 5,100 ft in the Big Creek drainage on the 

east side of the study area to 9,397 ft at Duffer Peak

in the center. From Nevada Highway 140 west of 

Denio Junction, access to the study area is provided by 

gravel roads from the north, west, and south. The 

eastern part of the area is accessible by roads leading 

from Nevada Highway 140, south of Denio Junction.

The study area is underlain mostly by granitic 

rocks of Jurassic and Cretaceous age (205 to 66 million 

years before present (Ma); see appendix for geologic 

time chart). The northeastern part of the study area is 

underlain by folded and faulted marine 

metasedimentary rocks of Permian(?) and Triassic age 

that are intruded by the younger granitic rocks.

No mines have been developed within the study 

area. Mining in the Pine Forest Range outside the 

study area began in the latter half of the nineteenth 

century and has continued intermittently. The 

Ashdown mine, about 7 mi north of the study area (fig. 

1), is the largest mine in the region and has produced 

gold, silver, lead, molybdenum(?), and copper. The 

mine was again being developed in 1985 for gold in 

quartz veins and byproduct molybdenum. The Adams 

gold mine (Homer Verne mine) is less than 0.5 mi 

northeast of the study area (fig. 2). The Nevada King 

mine, about 1 mi southeast of the study area (fig. 2), 

produced small amounts of gold, silver, and antimony.

Identified Resources

No resources were identified within the Blue 

Lakes Wilderness Study Area. Field observations and 

analyses of samples from sites within the study area 

indicate the presence of small amounts of gold, silver,

D1
42°00

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

\ OF

BLUE LAKES WILDERNESS 

STUDY AREA (NV-020-600)

Figure 1. Index map showing location of Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area, Humboldt County, Nevada.

copper, antimony, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and 

uranium in discontinuous quartz veins and associated 

altered zones. Very fine grained gold is present at the 

Arriba No. 1 placer claim 0.5 mi southwest of the 

study area but in quantities too small to be considered 

a resource (table 1). No promising exploration targets 

are recognized.

Mineral Resource Potential

There is low potential in the study area for 

undiscovered gold and silver resources with associated 

antimony, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, zinc, 

and uranium in small epithermal-vein deposits (fig. 

2). Mines were developed elsewhere in the Pine Forest

D2
Range primarily for gold and silver (table 1). The 

quartz veins that contain the ore typically have minor 

amounts of base metals (for example, copper, lead, and 

zinc) and uranium. The vein systems are believed to 

be related to the granitic plutons in the area. Veins 

are found in both the granitic rocks and the older 

metamorphic rocks. The Tertiary volcanic rocks in the 

area are younger that the granitic and metamorphic 

rocks, and hence have no potential for vein deposits of 

this type.

There is a low potential for undiscovered 

tungsten resources in skarn in the areas of carbonate 

rock that are intruded by granitic rocks (fig. 2). A 

small area of limestone (part of the sedimentary rocks 

of Bishop Canyon) is present on the ridge between the 

upper parts of Wood and Big Creek Canyons (fig. 2). 

This is the only sizeable area of carbonate rock in the 

study area.

INTRODUCTION

Area Description

The part of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study 

Area (NV-020-600) requested for mineral surveys 

covers 16,400 acres on the crest of the Pine Forest 

Range, south of Denio in Humboldt County, Nev. (fig. 

1). The rugged terrain is characterized by cirques, 

ridges, steep slopes, and boulder-strewn basins. 

Partially eroded moraines are common in the higher 

parts of the study area. Elevations range from about 

5,100 ft on the east side of the study area near Big 

Creek to 9,397 ft at Duffer Peak, the highest point in 

the Pine Forest Range. Blue Lake, a small cirque lake, 

is about 1 mi northeast of Duffer Peak; other small 

cirque lakes are also present in the study area. Three 

reservoirs are close to the west boundary outside the 

study area. More than 16 in. of precipitation fall 

annually in the Pine Forest Range (Houghton and 

others, 1975), and several perennial streams drain the 

study area. Vegetation at the lower elevations 

consists mostly of grasses, sagebrush, pinyon, and 

juniper. Higher elevations support scattered thick 

stands of pine, and aspen trees grow in the drainages. 

Other plants of the higher elevations include willow, 

snowberry, serviceberry, and mountain mahogany. The 

area also supports a rich fauna including antelope, 

mule deer, sage grouse, chukars, and raptorial birds.

Previous Investigations

The Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area includes 

parts of the Duffer Peak, and Idaho Canyon 15-minute 

quadrangles. The geologic map of the Duffer Peak 

quadrangle by Smith (1973) served as the basis for 

most of the geologic map for this study. Smith (1966) 

discussed the geology of the area in detail and mapped 

an area that includes most of the study area. The 

geology of the northern part of the Pine Forest Range 

is discussed by Bryant (1970) and Graichen (1972). 

Willden (1964) reported on the geology and mineral 

deposits of Humboldt County, Nev. The west side of 

the Pine Forest Range and parts of the Idaho Canyon

quadrangle were mapped by Donald C. Noble (unpub. 

data, 1985). Bergquist and others (1987) compiled a 

geologic map of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area. 

The mining districts and mineral production in 

Nevada, including information on the Pine Forest 

Range, are discussed in Raymond (1875), Hill (1912), 

Lincoln (1923), Couch and Carpenter (1943), Koschman 

and Bergandahl (1968), and Johnson (1973). 

Information on the mining districts and mineral 

resources of Humboldt County is given in Vanderberg 

(1938). Barringer Resources, Inc. (1982), published a 

report on their geochemical and geostatistical 

evaluations of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) Winnemucca District. The U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management (1983) published a wilderness technical 

report that includes a section on the Blue Lakes 

Wilderness Study Area. The mineral resources, mines, 

and prospects in and around the Blue Lakes Wilderness 

Study Area are discussed in Willett (1985).

Present Investigations

This mineral resource study is a joint effort by 

the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Bureau 

of Mines (USBM). Mineral assessment methodology 

and terminology are discussed by Goudarzi (1984). 

Studies by the USGS are designed to provide a 

reasonable scientific basis for assessing the potential 

for undiscovered mineral resources by determining 

geologic units and structures, possible environments of 

mineral deposition, and presence of geochemical and 

geophysical anomalies. The USBM evaluates identified 

resources at individual mines and known mineralized 

areas by collecting data on current and past mining 

activities and through field examination of mines, 

prospects, and mineralized areas.

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted field 

investigations in 1984. Work consisted of geologic 

mapping in the western part of the area, field checking 

existing mapping, geochemical sampling, and taking 

gravity measurements. Geochemical samples were 

analyzed by semiquantitative spectrographic methods 

to reveal areas having anomalous concentrations of 

elements.

The U.S. Bureau of Mines collected information 

relating to current and past mining activities within 

and adjacent to the study area. Geological libraries, 

U.S. Bureau of Mines production records, and the 

Mineral Industry Location System (MILS) were 

searched for data pertaining to the area. Bureau of 

Land Management records of mining claims, land 

status records, and county claim records were 

examined. Claim owners and lessees were contacted, 

when possible, for permission to examine properties 

and publish the results.

Field work by the U.S. Bureau of Mines was 

completed during 1984 and involved searches for all 

prospects and claims indicated by preliminary studies 

to be within the study area. Those found were 

examined and, if warranted, mapped and sampled. 

Properties and claims within 1 mi of the study area 

boundary were also studied to determine whether 

mineralized zones extend into the study area. In 

addition, areas of obvious rock alteration were

D3
118°45' 118°40'

41°40'

BLUE LAKES 

ILDERNESS STUDY AREA

Figure 2. Mineral resource potential and generalized geology of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area, Humboldt County, 

Nevada.

checked for mining-related activities that may not Chip samples were taken across mineralized

have been recorded. structures, and grab samples were collected from

The U.S. Bureau of Mines collected samples from dumps at prospect sites where no outcrops were

mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites within present or where underground workings were

or adjacent to the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area. inaccessible. Samples were analyzed using a variety of

D4
EXPLANATION

Area with low mineral resource potential See 

appendix for definition of levels of mineral resource 

potential and certainty of assessment

laboratory techniques including fire assay, inductively 

coupled plasma, atomic absorption, colorimetic, and 

X-ray fluorescence. Descriptions of methods and 

analytical limits are given in Willett (1985).

Ag 

Au 

Cu

Hg

Mo

[] 

1

Qs 

TV 

Mzg

"RIs

 RPm

22

Commodities

Silver Pb Lead

Gold Sb Antimony

Copper U Uranium

Mercury W Tungsten

Molybdenum Zn Zinc

Types of deposits

Hydrothermal veins in granitic and metamorphic 

rocks

Skarn deposits in carbonate rocks near contact 

with granitic rocks

Description of Map Units

Surficial deposits (Quaternary) Includes moraines, 

alluvium, and landslide deposits

Volcanic rocks (Tertiary) Consists of andesite 

flows, basalt flows, and tuff

Granitic rocks (Mesozoic) Consists of Theodore 

Quartz Diorite (Jurassic). Duffer Peak Granodiorite 

(Cretaceous), and dikes and plugs of alaskite and 

aplite

Massive limestone (Triassic) Consists of 

massive white to buff pure limestone at the base 

grading upward into quartz-sand-bearing 

limestone, limy sandstone, pebble conglomerate, 

carbonaceous limestone, and fine-grained 

metapelite beds. Part of the sedimentary rocks of 

Bishop Canyon (Smith, 1973)

Limestone (Triassic) Consists of white to gray, 

quartz-sand-bearing to pure limestone, with a white 

limestone-pebble conglomerate at the base. Part of 

the sedimentary rocks of Bishop Canyon (Smith, 

1973)

Metasedimentary rocks (Triassic and Permian?) 

Consists of quartzite and biotite-hornblende schist 

(unit "E q of Smith, 1973), phyllite, sandy hornfels, 

and chert-pebble conglomerate (unit T p of Smith, 

1973), and chert, phyllite, and sandy hornfels (unit "E 

c, a part of the Sedimentary Rocks of Bishop 

Canyon of Smith, 1973)

Contact Dotted where concealed

Fault Dashed where approximately located-, dotted 

where concealed

Mine See table 1 for description

Prospect

Mineralized outcrop See table 1 for description

Figure 2. Continued.

APPRAISAL OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES

By_Spencee L. Willett 

U.S. Bureau of Mines

Mining History and Production

The earliest mining in the Pine Forest Range 

began in 1863 at the Ashdown mine (fig. 1) in the 

Warm Springs mining district, 7 mi north of the study 

area (Graichen, 1972). A small mill was constructed at 

the mine in 1864 but was subsequently burned by 

hostile Bannock Indians (Vanderburg, 1938). The 

Ashdown mine, the largest in the Warm Springs mining 

district, eventually produced 10,287 oz (troy ounces) of 

gold (Couch and Carpenter, 1943, p. 68). Total 

production from the district was approximately 22,870 

oz of gold and silver between 1888 and 1981 (Couch 

and Carpenter, 1943; U.S. Bureau of Mines unpub. 

data, 1985).

The Varyville mining district, in the Pine Forest 

Range approximately 6 mi south of the study area, was 

first prospected in the 1870's. Couch and Carpenter 

(1943) recorded gold production on 184 oz in 1875 and 

926 oz in 1936. U.S. Bureau of Mines records indicate 

1,704 oz of lode and placer gold were produced from 

1935 through 1956.

Placer gold was first discovered about 1914 in 

the Leonard Creek mining district, 3 mi southsoutheast of the study area (Vanderburg, 1938). Lode 

gold was also mined in this district. U.S. Bureau of 

Mines records indicate total placer production of 175 

oz of gold from 9,200 yd3 of gravel from 1933 to 1941, 

and lode production of 1,176 oz of gold from 1936 

through 1939.

Earliest recorded production in the Pine Forest 

(Boyd Basin) mining district was from the Adams mine 

(fig. 2) in 1933. The district abuts the study area on 

the northeast (fig. 2). The mine produced 

approximately 324 oz of gold between 1933 and 1935 

and 469 oz of gold and 223 oz of silver in 1936. U.S. 

Bureau of Mines records show 1,305 oz of gold and 418 

oz of silver were produced from the mine between 

1939 and 1941.

U.S. Bureau of Mines records indicate the 

Nevada King mine (Pass Creek mine, American 

antimony mine), located about 1 mi east of the study 

area (fig. 2), produced 22 oz of gold and 1 oz of silver 

in 1910 and 1911.

In 1979, Exxon Minerals Company staked 551 

claims for uranium adjacent to and near the southern 

part of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area. 

Subsequently several holes were drilled to evaluate 

uranium potential. Conoco also staked 21 claims for 

uranium in 1979 within a mile of the south boundary of 

the study area. According to Humboldt County 

records, both companies performed final assessment 

work in 1980 and dropped their claims, presumably

D5
because of the depressed uranium market, low uranium 

values, or both.

Humboldt County claim records show the earliest 

placer and lode activity within or adjacent to the Blue 

Lakes Wilderness Study Area as having occurred in the 

Snow Creek drainage (fig. 2) in 1916 and 1924 

respectively. U.S. Bureau of Mines records indicate a 

total production of 7.28 oz of gold from the Snow 

Creek area in 1935 and 1936. Approximately 351 lode 

claims and 5 placer claims were located between 1916 

and 1980 inside or adjacent to the study area according 

to Humboldt County records. As of March 1985, there 

were 49 lode and 2 placer claims in and near the study 

area.

Mines, Prospects, Claims, and Mineralized Sites

Mineral deposits and occurrences in the Big 

Creek area (fig. 2) are mostly related to discontinuous 

quartz veins that cut Triassic metasedimentary 

rocks. The veins are typically in or near contacts 

between different metasedimentary units (amphibolite, 

quartzite, and phyllite) or are near the contact 

between metasedimentary rocks and Jurassic or 

Cretaceous granitic intrusive rocks (Smith, 1973).

Willden (1964) described the Adams mine (fig. 2, 

table 1) as consisting of quartz veins that cut hornfels, 

schistose sedimentary rocks, quartzite, and slate. The 

quartz veins generally trend northwest and appear to 

be controlled by fault zones. Most veins contain gold, 

silver, copper, lead, zinc, or molybdenum. 

Silicification is the predominant type of alteration 

observed around the mine. The deposits do not extend 

into the study area.

The Nevada King mine (fig. 2, table 1) is about 1 

mi east of the study area. According to U.S. Bureau of 

Mines files, antimony is found there in discontinuous 

veins along fault zones that parallel the bedding and 

foliation of phyllite and interbedded quartzite. Highgrade pockets are rare. The Triassic metasedimentary 

host rocks appear to constitute a large roof pendant 

surrounded by plutonic rock (Smith, 1973).

Prospects and mineralized sites in the 

northeastern part of the study area consist mainly of 

small quartz veins (fig. 2, table 1) that contain minor 

amounts of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and 

molybdenum. No mineral resources were identified.

Mineralized and altered zones in the vicinity of 

Snow Creek southwest of the study area are on or near 

the contact between the Cretaceous Duffer Peak 

Granodiorite and Triassic(?) and Jurassic rocks of the 

Happy Creek Volcanic Complex (formerly Happy Creek 

Volcanic Series), which are not found in the study area 

(Olander, 1980). The Happy Creek Volcanic Complex 

(Sorensen, 1986) is now considered to be Triassic(?) and 

Jurassic on the basis of rubidium-strontium 

radiometric dating by Russell (1981) and stratigraphic 

relations. Smith (1973) showed the Happy Creek as 

older than the sedimentary rocks of Bishop Canyon, 

which contain Triassic fossils (N.J. Silberling, oral 

commun., 1986), but newer evidence indicates reverse 

stratigraphic relations (Silberling and others, 1984). 

However, to be consistent with Smith's (1973) geologic 

map, this paper continues to use his descriptions of 

units. Molybdenum, uranium, and precious-metal

minerals are present along this contact in and around 

altered alaskite and aplite dikes that cut rocks of the 

Happy Creek Volcanic Complex, and in quartz veins 

within the granodiorite (Olander, 1980, p. 42). Olander 

(1980) proposed that the altered zones and mineralized 

areas were formed from late stage hydrothermal 

solutions from the Duffer Peak Granodiorite. 

Molybdenite is present locally in the Snow Creek area 

as rosettes, but is more commonly disseminated in 

quartz veins and locally accompanied by hematite, 

chalcocite, chalcopyrite, malachite, and azurite. 

Several altered aplite dikes in the volcanic rocks about 

650 to 1500 ft from the contact with the granodiorite 

also contain anomalous concentrations of molybdenum 

(Olander, 1980, p. 44).

The presence of uranium and zones of anomalous 

radioactivity are associated with altered aplite dikes 

exposed in the Happy Creek Volcanic Complex 

immediately adjacent to Duffer Peak Granodiorite 

(Olander, 1980). Both the dikes and the surrounding 

host rocks have undergone moderate to intense 

alteration, which varies from incipient development of 

clay minerals to total replacement of aplite and 

alaskite by secondary silica (Olander, 1980). Thirteen 

lode prospects, claims, and mineralized sites in the 

Snow Creek area (fig. 2; table 1), all outside the study 

area, are vein-type deposits that contain anomalous 

amounts of gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, and 

uranium. No mineral resources were identified at any 

of the prospects or at a mineralized site near the study 

area.

Very fine grained placer gold in alluvium is found 

at the Arriba No. 1 placer claim (table 1). Prospect 

pits and trenches cover approximately 14 acres, and 

alluvium ranges from 2.0 ft to 6.5 ft deep. Quartz 

float in the prospect area suggests the gold was 

probably derived from vein deposits. Gold content of 

alluvial samples averages $3.58/yd at a gold price of 

$350/oz (0.01 oz/yd). Due to the small size of the 

deposits, limited water supply, poor access, and 

randomly distributed gold values, the deposit is not 

considered a resource.

Two lode samples were collected from a quartz 

vein and an aplite dike in granitic rock west of the 

study area near Knott Creek Reservoir (fig. 2; table 

1). The samples contain only minor amounts of silver, 

molybdenum, and uranium.

ASSESSMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL

By Joel R. Bergquist, Donald Plouff, Brent D. Turrin, 

James G. Smith, and Robert L. Turner 

U.S. Geological Survey

Geology

Rocks of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area 

consist of an older group of metamorphic and granitic 

rocks overlain by younger volcanic flows and welded 

tuffs. Sedimentary rocks of late Paleozoic(?) and 

early Mesozoic age were metamorphosed, folded, and 

faulted prior to emplacement of the granitic plutons 

during the Mesozoic. A long period of erosion followed

D6
before Tertiary lavas and tuffs were deposited on 

erosion surfaces of both the granitic and metamorphic 

rocks.

The Triassic sedimentary rocks of Bishop Canyon 

(Smith, 1973), which crop out in the northern part of 

the area, are the oldest rocks exposed within the study 

area. Older metamorphic rocks found elsewhere in the 

Pine Forest Range are absent in the study area. The 

sedimentary rocks of Bishop Canyon were divided by 

Smith (1973) into four units a lowermost limestone, 

graywacke, and pebble conglomerate unit, a lower 

limestone unit, a chert, phyllite, and sandy hornfels 

unit, and an upper limestone unit. Three of the units 

are exposed in the study area. The lower limestone 

unit is about 450 ft thick and consists of a white to 

gray, quartz-sand-bearing to pure limestone, with a 

basal, white limestone-pebble conglomerate. The 

chert, phyllite, and sandy hornfels unit is about 300 ft 

thick. The upper limestone unit is about 1,000 ft thick 

and consists of massive, white to buff limestone that 

grades upward into quartz-sand-bearing limestone, 

limy sandstone, sandstone, pebble conglomerate, 

carbonaceous limestone, and fine-grained metapelite 

beds.

About 1,000 ft of Triassic phyllite and sandy 

hornfels gradationally overlie the sedimentary rocks of 

Bishop Canyon. Beds of chert-pebble conglomerate 

are found throughout the section, but are especially 

common near the bottom.

A sequence of Triassic rocks overlies the 

phyllite, and upwardly comprises: amphibolite and 

schist, white massive crystalline marble (not present 

within the study area), and quartzite.

The Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks in 

northwestern Nevada, including those in the Pine 

Forest Range, were deformed and regionally 

metamorphosed before emplacement of the Mesozoic 

plutons (Smith and others, 1971).

Granitic rocks of Jurassic and Cretaceous age 

intruded the older metamorphic rocks. The Jurassic 

Theodore Quartz Diorite, the oldest granitic rock in 

the study area, is exposed in the northern part of the 

study area. The quartz diorite is typically dark, 

massive, medium grained, and equigranular. Within 

the quartz diorite are small bodies of hornblendite that 

probably represent a mafic phase of the pluton (Smith, 

1973). The Cretaceous Duffer Peak Granodiorite 

underlies most of the study area. The granodiorite is 

typically light colored, massive, medium grained, and 

equigranular to inequigranular porphyritic.

Dikes and plugs of Cretaceous alaskite and aplite 

intrude the Duffer Peak Granodiorite and older rocks. 

The alaskite is light colored and fine to medium 

grained; the aplite is light colored and everywhere fine 

grained.

Tertiary volcanic rocks are present only in small, 

isolated patches within the study area, although they 

crop out extensively elsewhere in the range. Small 

outcrops of black, platy andesite and the vesicular 

Steens Basalt, both of Miocene age, are present 

adjacent to the study area on the northwest side.

The Pine Forest Range was uplifted and tilted 

along north-trending high-angle normal faults on either 

side of the range after intrusion of the granitic rocks. 

Uplift and tilting of the range has continued through 

the late Tertiary, as seen by the successively greater

tilting of the bedded volcanic rocks downward in the 

section.

The surficial deposits in the study area include 

Pleistocene moraines and Holocene alluvium. The 

moraines, which are partly eroded, are present in the 

higher parts of the range and consist of 

unconsolidated, unsorted debris ranging from silt to 

boulders. The youngest surficial deposits are small 

patches of alluvium along drainages and around lakes 

and marshes.

Geochemical Studies

The U.S. Geological Survey collected and 

analyzed rock samples. Previously, Barringer 

Resources, Inc., of Golden, Colo., was contracted by 

the BLM to collect and analyze stream-sediment 

samples.

Fifty-three rock samples were taken, 

representing all of the major rock types within the 

study area. Analysis of unaltered rock samples 

establishes background levels of elements. No 

anomalous concentrations of metals were detected in 

the rock samples.

Stream-sediment samples were taken at 48 sites 

along the range front at elevations high enough to 

avoid being contaminated with material from older 

alluvium or other drainage basins. The sizes of 

drainage basins that were sampled range from about 

0.5 to 3 mi , and the sampling density was 

approximately one/mi . Descriptions of the sampling 

and analytical techniques used for stream-sediment 

samples are given in Barringer Resources, Inc. (1982).

Relatively low uranium anomalies were found in 

stream sediments at 22 sites, with values ranging from 

3 to 76 part per million (ppm) (Barringer Resources, 

Inc., 1982). The anomalies were found at sites around 

the perimeter of the study area and appear to 

correlate with the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitic 

rocks. These rocks are not particularly favorable for 

concentrations of uranium, although minor amounts 

are present in veins.

Low-level anomalies were also found for copper 

(5 sites) and arsenic (5 sites). Other low-level 

anomalies were found for cadmium, lithium, nickel, 

and mercury. However, none of these anomalies are 

high enough to indicate a mineral deposit.

Considered as a suite, anomalous arsenic, 

mercury, copper, and uranium in stream-sediment 

samples may be derived from epithermal base- and 

precious- metal veins (Rose and others, 1979; Berger, 

1983). Gold was mined from quartz veins at several 

locations close to the study area, and placer gold was 

recovered near the southern parts of the area (Willden, 

1964). Outside the study area, on the flank of New 

York Peak (fig. 1), a small prospect pit dug along a 

small fault zone contains chrysocolla. The observed 

anomalies are interpreted to reflect local epithermal 

base- and precious-metal (gold, silver, copper, lead, 

zinc, molybdenum) vein-type mineralization similar to 

other known vein-type deposits that have been 

prospected and mined in the Pine Forest Range. The 

anomalies, however, are not high enough to-indicate 

mineral deposits.

D7
Geophysical Studies

Radioelement concentrations of potassium, 

equivalent uranium, and equivalent thorium were 

estimated by J.S. Duval (written commun., 1985) by 

examining unpublished composite-color maps of 

gamma-ray spectrometric data. The maps were 

prepared at a scale of 1:1,000,000 from radiometric 

data acquired in regional surveys contracted by the 

U.S. Department of Energy as part of the National 

Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) program. Eastwest flightlines were flown at altitudes of about 400 ft 

above mean terrain at spacings of about 3 mi (Geodata 

International, Inc., 1979). The following estimates of 

radioelement concentrations were based on criteria 

discussed by Duval (1983). The area has low 

radioactivity with values of 1.0 to 1.5 percent 

potassium, 0 to 2 ppm equivalent uranium, and 4 to 7 

ppm equivalant thorium. There is no indication of 

anomalous concentrations of radioelements.

An aero magnetic survey of the region was flown 

at a constant barometric elevation of 9,000 ft above 

sea level with east-west flightlines spaced at 2-mi 

intervals (U.S. Geological Survey, 1972). Blue Lake 

and Duffer Peak lie along the axis of a narrow 

magnetic high, which follows the trend of the Pine 

Forest Range for about 20 mi. The width of the 

magnetic high is about 4 mi in the study area, and its 

amplitude is about 200 nanoTeslas. Two smaller closed 

magnetic highs within the elongated magnetic high 

overlie outcrops of Theodore Quartz Diorite. The 

Duffer Peak Granodiorite apparently has low 

magnetization, because magnetic intensities over that 

unit do not correlate with topography. Neither 

Tertiary volcanic rocks nor the older metamorphic 

rocks correlate with the magnetic high. Therefore, 

the elongated magnetic high may reflect large 

unexposed masses of Theodore Quartz Diorite at 

shallow depths beneath the study area.

The gravity map of Plouff (1984) supplemented 

by gravity data from Plouff (1977) shows a northtrending gravity high with an amplitude greater than 

10 milligal (mGal), which nearly coincides with the 

elongated magnetic high. The crest of the gravity high 

also is correlated with exposures of the Theodore 

Quartz Diorite. Both gravity and magnetic studies 

suggest that the Theodore Quartz Diorite or a 

basement ridge with similar physical properties 

underlies the Pine Forest Range. Steep gravity 

gradients, near the longitude of Duffer Peak along the 

west flank of the anomalies, indicate that the edge of 

the basement ridge is steep and perhaps fault 

controlled. These gradients were interpreted by Plouff 

(1984) as a reflection of a major boundary between a 

core of pre-Tertiary rocks beneath the Pine Forest 

Range and a thick section of Tertiary rocks to the 

west.

CONCLUSIONS

The evaluation of mineral resource potential is 

based on a variety of data that include the geologic, 

geochemical, and geophysical features, a survey of 

mines and prospects, and the mineral resources present 

in the surrounding regions. Mineral resource potential

was classified using the system of Goudarzi (1984) 

(appendix this report).

There is potential for two types of mineral 

deposits in the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area as 

revealed by the geology, geochemistry, geophysics, an 

examination of mines and prospects, and the 

production records of mines.

The first type of mineral deposit with potential 

in the study area is epithermal-vein deposits that 

contain precious metals (gold and silver), base metals 

(copper, lead, zinc, and associated metals), and 

uranium (fig. 2). The granitic and metamorphic rocks 

have a low potential, certainty level C, for gold, 

silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, molybdenum, 

antimony, and uranium in veins (see Appendix for 

definition of certainty levels). This type of deposit is 

the more important in terms of past production in the 

Pine Forest Range; however, total production has been 

small. Locally, gold-quartz veins have been mined, as 

for example at the Adams mine, northeast of the study 

area.

The geologic setting of the study area is typical 

of that with precious-metal vein-type mineralization. 

The mineralizing fluids were probably derived from the 

magma that formed the Jurassic and Cretaceous 

granitic rocks that are now the core of the Pine Forest 

Range. These fluids migrated along fractures of zones 

of weakness and deposited elements including some 

metals to form the present vein system in the granitic 

and surrounding metamorphic rocks. The potential for 

vein-type deposits exists in all of the Mesozoic 

granitic rocks and the older metamorphic rocks. The 

Tertiary volcanic rocks do not have potential for these 

vein-type deposits. There is no evidence of mineral 

resource potential in the surficial deposits.

If vein-type deposits are found within the study 

area, they are likely to be small and to contain only 

small quantities of mineral resources. This conclusion 

is based on the size and character of known veins in 

the area.

The second type of deposit with potential in the 

area is tungsten-bearing skarns. These deposits can 

form where felsic plutonic rocks intrude limestones 

that become metasomatically altered and enriched in a 

variety of elements. The geologic setting of the Pine 

Forest Range is favorable for the existence of 

tungsten-bearing skarns, because Triassic carbonate 

rocks are locally in contact with intrusive granitic 

rocks. However, no tungsten mineralization is known 

in the vicinity, and there is no evident geochemical 

signature of tungsten skarns. The nearest known 

tungsten prospect is about 6.5 mi southeast of Duffer 

Peak (Willden, 1964). However, because of the 

favorable geologic environment, the contacts between 

limestone and granitic rock within the study area have 

a low potential, certainty level C, for tungsten in 

skarn (fig. 2).

The alluvial and glacial deposits within the study 

area contain sand and gravel, but other sources are 

closer to existing markets.

A large area a few miles southeast of the study 

area that is favorable for local sources of lowtemperature (less than 194°F) geothermal water was 

outlined by Muffler (1979). Bliss (1983) lists a number 

of geothermal springs in the valleys outside the study 

area. However, there are no known hot springs within

D8
the study area and the geologic setting is not 

conducive for deep circulation of ground water. There 

is no evidence of geothermal resources within the 

study area.

There is no potential for oil and gas within the 

study area. The core of the area consists of granitic 

rocks, and any hydrocarbons in the older sedimentary 

rocks would have been driven of during 

metamorphism.

REFERENCES CITED

Barringer Resources, Inc., 1982, Geochemical and 

geostatistical evaluation of study areas, 

Winnemucca District, northwest Nevada, prepared 

for Untied States Bureau of Land Management: 

Golden, Colo. 5 v., 24 pi., scale 1:250,000.

Berger, B.R., 1983, Epithermal gold, silver, quartz 

adularia type, model 5.4, in D.P. Cox, ed., U.S. 

Geological Survey Ingeominas mineral resource 

assessment of Colombia: Ore deposit models: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 83-423, 

p. 39-40.

Bergquist, J.R., Smith, J.G., and Turrin, B.D., 1987, 

Geologic map of the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study 

Area, Humboldt County, Nevada: U.S. Geological 

Survey, Miscellaneous Field Investigations Map 

MF-1936, scale 1:48,000 in press .

Bliss, J.D., 1983, Nevada basic data for thermal 

springs and wells as recorded in GEOTHERM, part 

A: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 83- 

433A, 102 p.

Bryant, G.T., 1970, The general geology of the 

northernmost part of the Pine Forest Mountains, 

Humboldt County, Nevada: Corvallis, Oregon 

State University, M.S. thesis, 75 p.

Couch, B.F., and Carpenter, J.A., 1943, Nevada's 

metal and mineral production (1859-1940 

inclusive): Nevada University Bulletin, v. 37, no. 

4, Geology and Mining Series no. 38, p. 65-70.

Duval, J.S., 1983, Composite color images of aerial 

gamma-ray spectrometric data: Geophysics, v. 

48, no. 6, p. 722-735.

Geodata International, Inc., 1979, Aerial radiometric 

and magnetic survey national topographic map, 

Vya, Nevada: U.S. Department of Energy OpenFile Report GJBX-136 (79), v. 2.

Goudarzi, G.H., 1984, Guide to preparation of mineral 

survey reports on public lands: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 84-787, 42 p.

Graichen, R.E., 1972, Geology of the northern part of 

the Pine Forest Mountains, Northwestern 

Nevada: Corvallis, Oregon State University, M.S. 

thesis, 121 p.

Hill, J.M., 1912, The mining districts of the western 

United States: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 

507, 215 p.

Houghton, J.G., Sakamoto, C.M., and Gifford, R.O., 

1975, Nevada's weather and climate: Nevada 

Bureau of Mines and Geology, Special Publication 

2, 78 p.

Johnson, M.G., 1973, Placer gold deposits of Nevada: 

U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1356, p. 29-36.

Koschmann, A.H., and Bergendahl, M.H., 1968, 

Principal gold-producing districts of the United

States: U.S. Geological Survey Prfoessional Paper 

610, 283 p.

Lincoln, F.C., 1923, Mining districts and mineral 

resources of Nevada: Nevada Newsletter 

Publishing Company, Reno, Nev., p. 104-105.

Muffler, L.J.P., ed., 1979, Assessment of geothermal 

resources of the United States 1978: U.S. 

Geological Survey Circular 790, 163 p.

Olander, P.R., 1980, Petrology and mineralization of 

the Snow Creek area, Humboldt County, Nevada: 

Spokane, Eastern Washington University, M.S. 

thesis, 68 p.

Plouff, Donald, 1977, List of principal facts and 

gravity anomalies for an area between Orovada, 

Nevada, and Adel, Oregon: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 77-683, 40 p.

___1984, Interpretation of aeromagnetic and gravity 

data, in U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of 

Mines, Mineral resources of the Charles Sheldon 

Wilderness Study Area, Humboldt and Washoe 

Counties, Nevada, and Lake and Harney Counties, 

Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1538-B, 

p. 35-50, 1 pi., scale 1:125,000.

Raymond, R.W., 1875, Statistics of mines and mining 

in the states and territories west of the Rocky 

Mountains: U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Washington, D.C., 263 p.

Rose, A.W., Hawkes, H.E., and Webb, J.S., 1979, 

Geochemistry in mineral exploration: New York, 

Academic Press, 657, p.

Russell, B.J., 1981, Pre-Tertiary paleogeography and 

tectonic history of the Jackson Mountains, 

northwestern Nevada: Evanston, Illinois, 

Northwestern University, Ph.D. dissertation, 206

PSilberling, N.J., Jones, D.L., Blake, M.C., Jr., and 

Howell, D.G., 1984, Lithotectonic terrane map of 

the western conterminous United States, in 

Silver ling, N.J., and Jones, D.L., eds., 

Lithotec tonic terrane maps of the 

American Cordillera: U.S. Geological 

Open-File Report 84-0523-C, 106 p., 

1:2,500,000.

Smith, J.G., 1966, Petrology of 

Forest Range, Humboldt 

Stanford, Calif., Stanford 

dissertation, 137 p.

___1973, Geologic map of the Duffer Peak quadrangle, Humboldt County, Nevada: U.S. 

Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic 

Investigations Map 1-606, scale 1:48,000.

Smith, J.G., McKee, E.H., Tatlock, D.B., and Marvin, 

R.F., 1971, Mesozoic granitic rocks in 

northwestern Nevada: A link between the Sierra 

Nevada and Idaho batholiths: Geological Society 

of America Bulletin, v. 82, p. 2933-2944.

Sorensen, M.L., 1986, Geologic map of the South 

Jackson Mountains Wilderness Study Area, 

Humboldt County, Nevada: U.S. Geological 

Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1829, 

scale 1:48,000.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1983, Wilderness 

technical report: Winnemucca District, Nev., U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 

Management, 408 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1972, Aeromagnetic map of

North

Survey

scale

the Southern Pine 

County, Nevada: 

University, Ph.D.

D9
the Vya and part of the McDermitt 1° by 2° Lakes and Alder Creek Wilderness Study Areas,

quadrangles, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Humboldt County, Nevada: U.S. Bureau of Mines

Open-File Report, 1 pi., scale 1:250,000. Mineral Land Assessment Open-File Report MLA

Willden, Ronald, 1964, Geology and mineral deposits of 33-86, 21 p.

Humboldt County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Vanderburg, W.O., 1938, Reconnaissance of mining

Mines and Geology Bulletin 59, 154 p. districts in Humboldt County, Nevada: U.S.

Willett, S.L., 1985, Mineral resources of the Blue Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6995, 54 p.

D10
APPENDIXES

DEFINITION OF LEVELS OF MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL 

AND CERTAINTY OF ASSESSMENT

Definitions of Mineral Resource Potential

LOW mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

characteristics define a geologic environment in which the existence of resources is permissive. This 

broad category embraces areas with dispersed but insignificantly mineralized rock as well as areas with 

few or no indications of having been mineralized.

MODERATE mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurrence, where interpretations 

of data indicate reasonable likelihood of resource accumulation, and (or) where an application of 

mineral-deposit models indicates favorable ground for the specified type(s) of deposits.

HIGH mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurence, where interpretations of 

data indicate a high degree of likelihood for resource accumulation, where data supports mineral-deposit 

models indicating presence of resources, and where evidence indicates that mineral concentration has 

taken place. Assignment of high resource potential to an area requires some positive knowledge that 

mineral-forming processes have been active in at least part of the area.

UNKNOWN mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where information is inadequate to assign low, 

moderate, or high levels of resource potential.

NO mineral resource potential is a category reserved for a specific type of resource in a well-defined area.

Levels of Certainty

U/A

UNKNOWN

POTENTIAL

H/B

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/B

MODERATE POTENTIAL

L/B

LOW

POTENTIAL

H/C

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/C 

MODERATE POTENTIAL

L/C

LOW

POTENTIAL

H/D

HIGH POTENTIAL

M/D 

MODERATE POTENTIAL

L/D

LOW POTENTIAL

N/D

NO POTENTIAL

B C 

LEVEL OF CERTAINTY

A. Available information is not adequate for determination of the level of mineral resource potential.

B. Available information suggests the level of mineral resource potential.

C. Available information gives a good indication of the level of mineral resource potential.

D. Available information clearly defines the level of mineral resource potential.

Abstracted with minor modifications from:

Taylor, R. B., and Steven, T. A., 1983, Definition of mineral resource potential: Economic Geology,

v. 78, no. 6, p. 1268-1270. 

Taylor, R. B., Stoneman, R. J., and Marsh, S. P., 1984, An assessment of the mineral resource potential

of the San Isabel National Forest, south-central Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1638, p.

40-42. 

Goudarzi, G. H., compiler, 1984, Guide to preparation of mineral survey reports on public lands: U.S.

Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-0787, p. 7, 8.

D13
RESOURCE/RESERVE CLASSIFICATION

ECONOMIC

MARGINALLY 

ECONOMIC

SUBECONOMIC

IDENTIFIED RESOURCES

Demonstrated

Measured Indicated

I

Reserves

I

~

I 

Marginal 

Reserves

I

I

Demonstrated

Subeconomic 

Resources

Inferred

Inferred 

Reserves

Inferred 

Marginal 

Reserves

Inferred

Subeconomic 

Resources

UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES

Probability Range

Hypothetical Speculative

Major elements of mineral resource classification, excluding reserve base and inferred reserve base. Modified from U.S. Bureau of Mines 

and U.S. Geological Survey, 1980, Principles of a resource/reserve classification for minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 831, p. 5.

D14
GEOLOGIC TIME CHART 

Terms and boundary ages used by the U.S. Geological Survey in this report

EON

Phanerozoic

Proterozoic

Archean

pre-Arc

ERA

Cenozoic

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Late Proterozoic

Middle Proterozoic

Early Proterozoic

Late Archean

Middle Archean

Early Archean 

:hean 2

PERIOD

Quaternary

Tertiary

Neogene 

Subperiod

Paleogene 

Subperiod

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Triassic

Permian

Carboniferous 

Periods

Pennsylvanian

Mississippian

Devonian

Silurian

Ordovician

Cambrian

 -(3800?)- -

EPOCH

Holocene

Pleistocene

Pliocene

Miocene

Oligocene

Eocene

Paleocene

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

Late 

Middle 

Early

_ _

AGE ESTIMATES 

OF BOUNDARIES 

(in Ma)

- 0.010

- 1.7

\j

f\M

Jo

_ crr-

_ cc

- 96

I OO

one

- -240

«£.«7U

OOv

ocn

- 410

- 435

- 500

o/u

i onn J\J\J

- 1600

L_ oenn

ouuis

O*TV/U

1 Rocks older than 570 Ma also called Precambrian, a time term without specific rank, 

informal time term without specific rank.

D15
o_t

o>

TABLE 1. Mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites in and adjacent to the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area 

I", outside the study area; ppm, parts per million]

Map No. 

(fig. 2) Name Geology Workings and production Sample and resource data

1 Adams mine Discontinuous quartz-filled fissures and shear Two main adits and several Of 26 samples collected of quartz vein and 

(Homer Verne mine) zones, which contain pervasive limonite, small caved adits, trenches, zone material and altered host rock, 19 ch

specular hematite, and some pyrolusite; strike and pits. Recorded production samples contained from 0.02 to 11.32 ppm g

N. 23° E. to N. 55° W., dip steeply to east or from 1935 to 1940 for Pine had 0.95 to 61.75 ppm silver; 6 yielded 8.

west, and cut Triassic metasedimentary rocks Forest mining district (Boyd 340 ppm copper and 230 to 3,700 ppm lead; 

that were intruded by Jurassic quartz diorite. basin) was 5,075 tons of ore 12 to 870 ppm zinc; 10 yielded 1.4 to 23 p

valued at $27,488 at $35/oz molybdenum; 1 had 6 ppm tungsten. Seven g

gold, or 0.15 oz/ton (Couch samples contained from 0.71 to 10.29 ppm s

and Carpenter, 1943). 6 had 0.04 to 11.96 ppm gold; 4 yielded 34 

4,200 ppm lead and 6.1 to 19 ppm molybdenu

had 22, 200, and 320 ppm zinc; 1 sample 

contained 6 ppm tungsten.

*2 Prospect Siliceously altered quartzite and amphibolite Two caved adits and three Three chip samples across silicified zones

schist cut by discontinuous milky quartz shallow pits. contained a trace to 0.47 ppm gold, 100 to 

veinlets measuring 0.25 to 3 in. in shear ppm copper, 140 to 1,900 ppm lead, and 140 

zones that strike N. 22°-45° W. and dip 700 ppm zinc; two contained 1.7 and 2.6 pp

vertically. silver and 9.1 and 16 ppm molybdenum. Thr

grab samples contained 0.37 to 5.99 ppm si

19.2 to 49 ppm copper, and 29.6 to 87 ppm 

3 Prospect Hydrothermally altered and fractured Four shallow pits Two chip samples contained 0.03 and 0.04 p

amphibolite schist containing discontinuous gold and 34 and 49 ppm zinc; 0.50 ppm silv

milky quartz veins that have moderate limonite one and 5.4 ppm molybdenum in the other. 

stains and a trace of pyrite. grab samples contained 0.02 and 0.05 ppm g

25.9 and 49 ppm copper, and 35 and 64 ppm 

one contained 12 ppm molybdenum and 6 ppm 

tungsten.

4 Prospect Siliceously and sericitically altered quartz- Three shallow pits Three grab samples contained 0.02 to 0.12 

mica schist moderatley bleached and limonite gold, 110 to 400 ppm copper, 58 to 96 ppm 

stained. and 8.3 to 16 ppm molybdenum; two assayed 

and 5.2 ppm silver; one contained 150 ppm 

and another had 280 ppm tungsten.

5 Prospect Clay-rich and Siliceously altered lensoid- One shallow pit One chip sample contained 0.03 ppm gold, 1

shaped zone with moderate limonite content copper, and 2.7 ppm molybdenum, 

strikes N. 70° E., dips 60° W., and is hosted 

in amphibolite schist.

6 Prospect Discontinuous, limonite-stained, bull quartz Five shallow pits One chip sample contained 0.02 ppm gold, 6

veinlets in fracture zone that strikes N. 30° copper, 140 ppm lead, 310 ppm zinc, and 40 

W. and dip 67° NE. molybdenum. One grab sample had 0.01 ppm 

and 16 ppm molybdenum.

7 Prospect Bull quartz boulders as much as 3 ft in One shallow pit One chip sample contained 0.07 ppm gold, 7

diameter in float surrounded by bleached, ppm silver, 1,300 ppm copper, 94 ppm lead, 

limonite-stained, sericitically and ppm zinc, and 190 ppm molybdenum. One gra

Siliceously altered biotite schist. sample yielded 0.07 ppm gold, 1.71 ppm sil

380 ppm copper, and 8.8 ppm molybdenum.

8 Prospect Moderately limonite-stained, translucent to Two pits Of three chip samples, two contained 0.04 

white quartz veins strike N. 10° E. and dip 0.05 ppm gold, 42 and 47 ppm copper, 100 a

50° W. to vertically and cut biotite schist, ppm zinc, and 11 and 43 ppm molybdenum; on

which is altered to clay around veins. 120 ppm lead. Three grab samples containe

to 0.22 ppm gold and 15 to 20 ppm molybden

two had 71 and 700 ppm copper; one contain

3.78 ppm silver and 130 ppm zinc.

Quartz diorite with minor chloritic alteration None One random-chip sample collected across 4 

locally cut by aplite dikes as thick as 2 in. contained 0.05 ppm gold, 55 ppm copper, 69 

that strike N. 80° E. and dip 47° NW. lead, 95 ppm zinc, and 21 ppm molybdenum.

Prospect Moderately limonite-stained, clear to white Five shallow pits One chip sample contained 0.06 ppm gold, 

quartz veins are hosted by amphibolite and copper, 100 ppm zinc, and 13 ppm molybdenu

biotite schist that show siliceous and four grab samples, one had 0.02 ppm gold a

sericitic alteration. another had 1.22 ppm silver; one contained 

copper; three had 4.1 to 37 ppm zinc and 

contained 2.6 to 23 ppm molybdenum.
TABLE 1. Mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites in and adjacent to the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area Continue

Map No. 

(fig. 2) Name Geology

*11

*12

*13

*14

*15

*16

*17

schist on dumps.

present as float in area underlain by quartz 

diorite.

Prospect Fractured bull quartz and moderately altered,

measures 2.5 ft wide and 4 ft long, and is

hosted by quartz diorite.

Prospect Weakly to moderately iron-stained white quartz

veins 2 to 4 ft thick, strike N. 45°-60° W. ,

dip vertically, and hosted by quartz diorite.

36° NE., and range in width from 10 in. to 3 . 5

ft within a distance of 10 ft.

American antimony elated shear zones that strike N. 23° E. to N. 

mine, Stybo claims) 71° W. , dip steeply to the NE, and He near

phyllite.

Workings and production

One shallow bulldozer cut 90

ft long and one shallow pit.

One pit

One shallow pit

Two shallow pits

Two shallow pits

One shallow pit

Two caved adits, one shaft,

and 14 shallow pits and 

trenches. U.S. Bureau of 

Mines production records show

22 oz of gold and 1 oz silver 

produced in 1910 and 1911. In

1927, 30 tons of 50 percent

grade antimony ore were

produced and in 1941 and 1942,

13 tons averaging 50 percent

grade antimony ore were

produced.

Sample and resource dat

Two grab samples yielded 0.06 and 0

0.70 and 1.20 ppm silver, and 11 an

molybdenum; one also contained 47 p

56 ppm zinc.

One grab sample contained 0.15 ppm 

ppm silver, and 18 ppm molybdenum.

One grab sample had 0.05 ppm gold, 

silver, 50 ppm copper, and 19 ppm m

ppm molybdenum. One grab sample yi

ppm gold, 83 ppm copper, 47 ppm lea

zinc, and 13 ppm molybdenum.

Two chip samples contained 0.03 and 

gold, 75 and 100 ppm copper, and 22 

molybdenum.

One chip sample contained 0.05 ppm 

ppm silver, 49 ppm copper, and 13 p

molybdenum.

Of 19 chip samples collected, 11 yi

to 0.72 ppm gold and 4 contained 0.

silver; 17 had 10.6 to 9,800 ppm an

contained 2.0 and 3.1 ppm uranium; 

6.8 ppm zinc and 50 ppm molybdenum. 

samples yielded 0.06 to 0.12 ppm go

contained 3.0, 16.7, and 2,500 ppm 

two had 1.5 to 50 ppm molybdenum.

between phyllite and grano- One shallow pit Of three chip samples, two containe

by garnet-bearing pegmatite, silver and one had 10.3 ppm silver; 

ous and argillic alteration. 1.3 and 7.4 ppm molybdenum; one had 

uranium. One grab sample contained 

silver, 43 ppm copper, and 12 ppm m

Three moderately iron oxide-stained, parallel None One chip sample across quartz veins 

quartz veins range from 3 to 12 in. thick, ppm zinc, 59 ppm molybdenum, and 0.

strike N. 70° W. and dip 40° N., and are uranium, 

hosted by slightly altered granodiorite.

Discontinuous quartz veins in grandiorite Five shallow pits and four Ten chip samples of contact zone ma

range in thickness from 1 to 6 in., strike N. shallow trenches. discontinuous quartz veins, and apl

10° E. to N. 85° E., and dip vertically or alaskite dikes: two yielded 0.01 a

steeply to east and west. Discontinuous, gold and eight yielded 0.53 to 20.5

podiform, and lensoid aplite and alaskite four contained 150 to 1,500 copper; 

dikes cut Happy Creek Volcanic Series in 5.5 ppm to 270 ppm molybdenum; one 

contact with Duffer Peak Granodiorite. ppm zinc, five had 6.1 to 58 ppm ur

Molybdenum, uranium, and tungsten minerals two contained 6 ppm tungsten. Of s

associated with quartz veins and aplite and samples collected from dumps and hi

alaskite dikes. piles, two yielded 0.03 and 0.08 pp

contained 0.77, 6.73, and 20.57 ppm 

had 9.5 to 400 ppm molybdenum; one 

ppm lead and another had 1.4 ppm ur

Discontinuous, 3.5-ft-thick quartz vein Two shallow pits Two chip samples contained 0.05 ppm 

strikes N. 45° E., dips 25 ° NW. and cuts and 2.96 ppm silver, 46 and 81 ppm 

granodiorite host rock. 70 ppm zinc. 16 and 43 ppm molybden

and 14 ppm uranium. One grab sampl

ppm gold, 2.58 ppm silver, 93 ppm 

zinc, 66 ppm molybdenum, and 8 ppm 

26 ppm uranium.
o

oo

TABLE 1. Mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized sites in and adjacent to the Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area Continued

Map No. 

(fig. 2) Geology

Fine- to medium-grained granodiorite float 

contains quartz veinlets.

aplite dikes.

granodiorite cut by aplite dikes and local 

smokey quartz veins.

Ne¥r their contact, Happy Creek Volcanic 

by quartz veinlets.

cut by small pegmatite veinlets.

Arriba No. 1 placer Localized alluvium predc

One shallow pit

One shallow pit

One shallow prospect pit

One L-shaped pit

One chip sample contained 1.1 ppm u

ppm tungsten; no gold or silver dete

One grab sample contained 0.78 ppm 

3.0 ppm uranium.

Two chip samples contained 10.29 ppm 

4.9 and 6.3 ppm molybdenum, and 2.7 

uranium.

Of two chip samples, one contained 

silver and the other had 3.8 ppm ur

ppm molybdenum.

One grab sample yielded 20.57 ppm s

One chip sample had 6.98 ppm silver

samples contained 0.52 and 0.65 ppm 

Olander (1980), most pits and trenches are i 

alluvium that overlies Cretaceous New York 

Peak Quartz Monzonite (not found in study 

area) and several situated over Happy Creek

Tertiary basalt and other two units.

22 to 570 ft long, from 3 to 6 trenches and two pits, contained bet

ft deep. Approximately 35 $3.58/yd 3 at a gold price of $350/oz

shallow pits ranging in Due to small size of deposit, limite

diameter from 3 to 20 ft. availability, poor access, and rando

approximately 14 acres, and 

depth of alluvium ranges from 

2.0 to 6.5 ft.

Sky View, Dyke

O 

TJ 

O

 -J 

oo

Ln 

I 

O

-Poo

Felsite breccia with intei 

fillings of azurite, malachite, a 

is surrounded by Tertiary basalt.

Four shallow pits and one

Quartz vein material and phyllite float 

weakly to moderately sericitically and 

argillically altered.

Discontinuous bull quartz veinlets and 

limonite-filled fractures in phyllite and 

quartzite.

Mineralized outcrop Moderately limonite-stained quartz float ne 

contact between granodiorite and basalt.

Mineralized outcrop Several small aplite dikes near contact 

between granodiorite and basalt.

Three shallow pits

Four shallow pits

Of three chip samples, two contained 

0.04 ppm gold; three yielded 30, 55

41,000 ppm copper; one had 5.58 ppm 

another contained 36 ppm zinc. Of 

grade grab samples, two contained 0

ppm gold and 0.42 and 7.29 ppm silv

yielded 1.04, 4100, and 35,000 ppm 

contained 150 ppm zinc. Five sample

1.8 to 3.9 ppm uranium.

Three grab samples had 0.03, 0.04, 

gold and 21 ppm molybdenum; two con

62 ppm zinc and 1.6 and 1.8 ppm ura

41 ppm copper.

Of five grab samples, four contained 

0.07 ppm gold; two had 0.65 and 1.6

five yielded 0.85 to 2.3 ppm uranium

One grab sample yielded 13.71 ppm s

One chip sample taken across an apl

ontained 10.29 ppm silver, 14 ppm 

and 2.8 ppm urani