Santa Fe Mine (Homestake-Santa Fe mine), Santa Fe District, Gabbs Valley Range, Mineral County, Nevada, USAi

Regional Level Types
Santa Fe Mine (Homestake-Santa Fe mine)	Mine
Santa Fe District	Mining District
Gabbs Valley Range	Mountain Range
Mineral County	County
Nevada	State
USA	Country

Structure: Walker Lane The Santa Fe Fault Forms The Contact Between The Luning Formation And Mickey Pass Tuff And Consists Of A Breccia Zone Up To 125 Meters Wide.

Alteration: Argillization, Decalcification, Silicification, Carbonaceous Alteration, Propylitization. Stearns (1982) Proposes 3 Separate Pulses Of Hydrothermal Alteration Within The Santa Fe Fault Zone. These Events Are 1) Early Quartz-Sericite-Kaolinite Alternation Known As "White Breccia Clasts", 2) Main Stage Carbonaceous, Jasperoid, And Stockwork Veining, And 3) Late Stage Hydrothermal Leaching. Au-Ag Deposition Is Associated With The Second (Main) Event. Jasperoids Are Commonly Very Pyritic.

Commodity: Stibnite in jasperoid seems to be a good indicator of high grade gold. Very limited microprobe data suggest that Au may be in solid solution in pyrite. Au and/or Au-ag tellurides may be present. Overall ag:au ratio is approx. 5:1. Rare chalcopyrite and scheelite.

Deposit: Strike and dip are for the breccia associated with the santa Fe fault zone. Plunge is for the main jasperoid which forms a pipe-like body approx. 120 meters in diameter within the santa Fe fault zone. Lo W grade au/ag mineralization occurs in sheeted and pipe-like orebodies within a 50 to 400 ft. Wide, steeply dipping fault breccia in carbonate rocks. Sulfide mineralization present in volcanics at 300 ft. Depth, but not considered reserves. See finnaca (1987) or stearns (1982) for paragenesis. Discovery year: early 1960's

Deposit type: Carbonate-hosted Au-Ag

Development: The claims were first staked by g.b. Gaylord in the early 1960's. Cordero mining co. Completed a geological and geochemical sampling program in the early 1960's. Callahan mining completed a 3300 ft. Em survey in 1968. The property was optioned to bell mountain silver mines in 1971, and two diamond drill holes were completed. In 1973, the property was optioned to westley mines, ltd., who optioned the property to bethlehem mines in 1974. Bethlehem copper completed an extensive exploration program. In 1978, inco optioned the property from westley and drilled one hole. In 1979, ventures west mineral ltd. Optioned the property from westley. Ventures west mineral ltd. Purchased westley mines ltd. In 1981. Corona's involvement at santa Fe dates from october 1983, when lacana gold inc., one of corona's predecessor companies, entered into a jv agreement with westley and brican resources to explore the property. A feasibility study was completed in late 1985, which did not lead to a production decision. In mid-1986, lacana purchased westley's and brican's interests. Further drilling and metallurgical studies by lacana were incorporated into a NE W feasibility study which led to a production decision in december 1987. Construction began in february 1988 and the first gold was poured august 18, 1988. ; econ.com: cash operating costs per equivalent ounce of gold were $314 in 1988, $271 in 1989, and $320 in 1990. Mine capital costs of $10.5 million. Brican resources ltd. And westley mines ltd. Retain royalty interests of 1.23% and 5.33% respectively. Euro-nevada mining corporation ltd. Holds a 1.5% net smelter royalty.

Geology: Miocene 19.5 0.6 ma? k-ar date in replacement alunite in guild mine member of mickey pass tuff, 5 miles NE of santa Fe mine. The relevance of this date to the santa Fe mine is questioned by albino (1992).

Rock formation(s): Todd Mountain Stock;Mickey Pass Tuff;;
Luning


Ore(s): The Santa Fe Fault Zone Controls Both Hydrothermal Alteration And Au-Ag Deposition. Au Mineralization Is Entirely Hosted By The Triassic Luning Formation Along The Santa Fe Fault At Its Intersection With The Calvada Fault. All The Significant Gold Concentrations Occur Where The Luning Has Been Fractured Along The Trends Of The Main Faults. Mineralization Is Associated With Either Jasperoid Or Breccia Zones Of Various Kinds.

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:	10047580
Link to USGS MRDS:	10310379

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References