Taylor mine, Taylor Mining District, White Pine County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
Taylor mine	Mine
Taylor Mining District	Mining District
White Pine County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

Structure: There are 2 prominent fracture systems associated with the anticline: one trending NNW, and one NE. some of the NNW fractures have fault offset, down on the west. Original movement was pre-ore, but reactivation occurred during Basin and Range tectonics. NNW trending asymmetrical anticline with a vertical west limb and gently dipping east limb.

Alteration: Predominant alteration was jasperization of limestone, with silicification; kaolinization and sericitization of dike rock.

Commodity: Ore Materials: argentite, native silver, cerargyrite, stibnite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrargyrite Gangue Materials: quartz, calcite, clay, limonite, fluorite

Deposit: Ore consists of finely disseminated crystals of argentite and clots of native silver in a gangue of silicified limestone (jasperoid). Much of the jasperoid consists of breccia fragments. Calcite and quartz occur as late-stage veins and as matrix cement in jasperoid breccia. There are also rarely occurring stibnite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and pyragyrite. Deposits consist of large tabular masses of argentiferous jasperoid at the top of the Guilmette Limestone. Ore occupies the crest and flanks of a north-trending assymetrical anticline which is the dominat structural feature of the district. Ore is flat-lying on the crest of the anticline, dips vertically on the west flank and dips gently on the east flank. The original form of the ore bodies has been somewhat modified by late movement along N- and ENE-trending normal faults. The orebody averages 50 ft thick. Ore boundaries are "assay walls" with mineralization gradational into host rock. Limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite are common. Silica and silver appear to be contemporaneous and are slightly older than the mid-Tertiary intrusive rhyolite. Solutions entered along fracture systems and deposited minerals in crackle breccia in and near the axis of the anticline, at or near the Gilmette-Pilot contact. A period of calcite deposition followed the ore-forming period. The source of the silver may have been a deep-seated intrusive body, or the Chainman Shale and mid-Tertiary intermediate volcanic flows.

Deposit type: Polymetallic replacement

Development: The mine was first active in the 1860s. The Taylor mine was mined sporadically in the 1950s. Silver King Mines was incorporated in 1964 and explored and developed the deposit in the 1960s and a high-grade mine was in production for one year-1965. Exploration and development continued through the 1970s. . Low-grade ore was found in a 3-mile-square area, and when silver prices rose in 1973, the company put together a major operation to mine the site. The mill had 85-90% recovery of silver. In 1981, Silver King Mines Inc. and Agnew Enterprises were joint venture partners in the project with Silver King as operator. A mill was built and the mine reopened in 1981 but closed in June 1982 when silver dropped below$5/oz. Workers were called back in Sept 1982 when silver prices were $8-$9/oz. Development in 1983included an active open pit mine and cyanidation mill employing a total of 56 persons. Nerco acquired a 50% interest in Taylor in 1984, as a joint venture with Silver King. The mine shut down again due to low silver price in Jan. 1985. Silver King (with partners Pacific Silver, and Nerco) announced exploration for gold in the Taylor area in 1987. Alta Gold Co. acquired teh property prior to 1991 and was exploring several target areas on the property as a gold prospect in 1997.

Geology: Silica and silver appear to be contemporaneous and are slightly older than the mid-Tertiary intrusive rhyolite. Solutions entered along fracture systems and deposited minerals in crackle breccia in and near the axis of the anticline, at or near the Gilmette-Pilot contact. A period of calcite deposition followed the ore-forming period. The source of the silver may have been a deep-seated intrusive body, or the Chainman Shale and mid-Tertiary intermediate volcanic flows.

Ore(s): Fractures and crackle breccia at the axis of the NNW-trending anticline localized ore at the contact of the limestone and shale. Also, shear zones localized and acted as conduits for mineralizing solutions.






Structure: Reg.Struct: Nnw Trending Assymetrical Anticline With A Vertical W Limb And Gently Dipping E Limb 2 Prominent Fracture Systems Associated With The Anticline One Nnw, One Ne. Some Of The Nnw Fractures Have Fault Offset, Down On West. Original Movement Was Pre-Ore, But Reactivation Occurred During Basin And Range Tectonics.

Alteration: Jasperization Of Limestone; Silicification; Kaolinization And Sericitization Of Dike Rock

Commodity: Ore boundaries are "assay walls" with mineralization gradational into host rock. Limonite pseudomorphing pyrite.

Deposit: Ore consists of finely disseminated cyrstals of argentite and clots of native Ag in a gangue of silicified limestone (jasperoid). Much of the jasperoid consists of breccia fragments. Calcite and quartz occur As late-stage veins and As matrix cement in jasperoid breccia. There are also rarely occurring stibnite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyragyrite. Deposits consists of large tabular masses of argentiferous jasperoid at top of guilmette limestone. Ore occupies crest and flanks of the n-trending assymetrical anticline which is the dominat structural feature of the district. Ore is flat-lying on the crest of the anticline, dips vertically on the west flank and dips gently on the east flank. Form of ore bodies has been somewhat modified by late movement along n- and ene-trending normal faults. Ore body averages 50 ftthick.

Deposit type: Distal disseminated Ag-Au

Development: Active openpit mine and cyanidation mill employing a total of 56 persons in 1983. The minewas active in the 1860's. Silverking mines explored and developed the deposit in the 1960's and 1970's. In 1981, silver king mines inc. And agne W enterprises were joint venture partners in the project with silver king As operator. Mill wasbuilt and mine opened in 1981 but closed in june 1982 when silver dropped below$5/oz. Workers were called back in sept 1982 when silver prices were $8-$9/oz. Taylor mine had been mined sporadically in the 1950's when it was purchased by apredecessor company of silver king which was incorporated in 1964. The site hadbeen re-examined in 1960 and a high-grade mine was in production for one year-1965. Low-grade ore was found in a 3-mile-square area, and when silver prices rose in 1973, the company put together a major operation to mine the site. 85-90% recovery. Nerco acquired a 50% interest in taywr in 1984, As a j.v. With silver king. The mine shut down again due to lo W Ag price in jan. 1985. Silver king (with partners pacific silver, and nerco) announcec esploration in the taylor area for gold in 1987.

Geology: Geol.com: silica and silver appear to be contemporaneous and are slightly older than the mid-tertiary intrusive rhyolite. Solutions entered along fracture systems and deposited minerals in crackle breccia in and near the axis of the anticline, at or near the guilmette-pilot contact. A period of calcite deposition followed the ore-forming period. The source of the silver may have been a deep-seated intrusive body, or thechainman shale and mid-tertiary intermediate volcanic flows.

Rock formation(s): Guilmette Limestone;Pilot Shale


Ore(s): Fractures And Crackle Breccia At Axis Of Nnw-Trending Anticline; Contact Of Limestone And Shale. Also, Shear Zones Localize E And Acted As Conduits For Mineralizing Solutions.

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10047166
Link to USGS MRDS:	10310552
Link to USGS MRDS:	10295948

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