American Canyon placers, Spring Valley Mining District, Humboldt Range, Pershing County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
American Canyon placers	Group of Placers
Spring Valley Mining District	Mining District
Humboldt Range	Mountain Range
Pershing County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

Sec 18 T28N R34E

Deposit: Gold was concentrated in a pay streak underlain by clay at an average depth of 60 feet but at shallower depth at the upper end of the placer than at the edge of the range. Particles of cinnabar recovered from the gravels led to the discovery of several mercury deposits in the american canyon drainage. Most of the placer mining was done in the 1880's and 1890's by chinese miners who dug shafts 40-100 feet into the gravels. Numerous dredge and placer tailings cover over 100 acres. ; info.src : 1 pub lit; 2 unpub rept

Deposit type: Placer Au-PGE

Development: Most of the placer mining was done in the 1880's and 1890's by chinese miners who dug shafts 40-100 ft into the gravels.. No doubt very early in the mining, the cinnabar occurring with the gold in the streaks of heavy mineral concentrations was noted. According to ransome, the occurrence of "bow-lders" of cinnabar in the placer gravels led to a search for t-heir source and resulted in the early discovery of the dixie (kaolin) and nevada almaden lode deposits farther up american canyon. In 1941, after a long period of little interest in the gold placers, the chinatown quicksilver placer deposit was staked in american canyon near the center of sec 18 by j. L. Alger, merril fisk and w. F. Fisk. In 1942, records indicate independent production by two of the partners yielding 32 flasks Hg. No other mercury production from the placer deposits is recorded, but it seems virtually certain additional mercury was recovered here both in the early period of extensive mining by the frugal chinese and in operations in the early 1940's. In 1980 there was renewed interest in the gold placer deposits which may lead to recovery of a little mercury As a byproduct.

Ore(s): Stratigraphic Gravel Beds Above Clay

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Link to USGS MRDS:	10042560

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References