Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka

Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada: A Predictive Structural

Setting for Carlin-type Mineralization
Russell V. Di Fiori*, Sean P. Long, and John L. Muntean
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA

Gary P. Edmondo
Timberline Resources Corporation, Coeur D’Alene, ID, 83814, USA

ABSTRACT

,GHQWL¿FDWLRQRIIDYRUDEOHVWUXFWXUDOVHWWLQJVIRU&DUOLQW\SHJROGGHSRVLWVLVIXQ-
damental for future exploration. In this study, mapping and structural analysis were
performed in the southern part of the Eureka mining district in east-central Nevada,
in order to understand geometric and temporal relationships between structural sys-
WHPVDQG&DUOLQW\SHPLQHUDOL]DWLRQVFDOHJHRORJLFDQGDOWHUDWLRQPDSVRID
aNP HDVWZHVW E\aNP QRUWKVRXWK UHJLRQZHUHJHQHUDWHGDORQJZLWKFURVV
sections that illustrate pre- and post-extensional deformation geometry. This project
bridges a gap between recent 1:24,000-scale mapping and < 1:500-scale mapping per-
formed in an active exploration campaign.
The stratigraphy of the map area consists of ~4 km of Cambrian-Devonian car-
bonate and siliclastic rocks, which are unconformably overlain and intruded by Late
(RFHQH VLOLFLF YROFDQLF URFNV )RXU VWUXFWXUDO V\VWHPV DUH LGHQWL¿HG FRQVLVWLQJ RI
(DUO\&UHWDFHRXVFRQWUDFWLRQDOVWUXFWXUHVDQGWKUHHVHSDUDWHVHWVRIQRUPDOIDXOWV 
1st-order, kilometer-scale offset, down-to-the-west normal faults, including the Look-
RXW0RXQWDLQDQG'XJRXW7XQQHOIDXOWV QGRUGHUVWRVPHWHUVFDOHRIIVHW
north-striking normal faults, including the Oswego fault and the Rocky Canyon and
(DVW 5DWWR 5LGJH IDXOW V\VWHPV DQG   D VHW RI UGRUGHU PHWHUVFDOH RIIVHW HDVW
striking normal faults that cut jasperoid bodies of presumed late Eocene age. The
1st- and 2nd-order faults cut Late Cretaceous intrusions and an associated contact
metamorphic aureole, are overlapped by a late Eocene, sub-volcanic unconformity,
and are interpreted to be contemporary.
,QDGGLWLRQWROLWKRORJ\DQGVWUXFWXUHVSHFL¿FW\SHVRIK\GURWKHUPDODOWHUDWLRQ
DQG PLQHUDOL]DWLRQ ZHUH PDSSHG LQFOXGLQJ VLOLFL¿FDWLRQ GHFDUERQDWL]DWLRQ GROR-
PLWL]DWLRQTXDUW]FDOFLWHYHLQLQJDUJLOOL]DWLRQDQGWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRIVXO¿GHVDQG
their limonite weathering products. Carlin-type replacement mineralization, pri-
marily hosted within Cambrian carbonate rocks, occurs in a series of deposits in the
southern part of the map area. The deposits are associated with decarbonatization,
VLOLFL¿FDWLRQDQGMDVSHURLGIRUPDWLRQDQGDUJLOOL]DWLRQDQGDUHFRQVWUDLQHGDVODWH
Eocene or older by the overlap and intrusion of dated volcanic rocks.
The map area contains a km-scale, faulted relay-ramp of 2nd-order faults that
transfer slip between synthetic 1st-order faults. Within accommodation zones, wall-
GDPDJH]RQHVDUHSUHGLFWHGWRSURYLGHK\GURWKHUPDOÀXLGSDWKZD\VDQGWKHUHIRUH
localize mineralization. The footwall of the Lookout Mountain fault, which contains
WKHPDMRULW\RI&DUOLQW\SHGHSRVLWVLGHQWL¿HGLQWKHPDSDUHDFRQWDLQVDVHWRIDQWL-
thetic, 2nd-order normal faults, which is interpreted as a wall-damage zone that was
UHVSRQVLEOHIRUFRQWUROOLQJÀXLGÀRZWKDWOHGWRPLQHUDOL]DWLRQ
The southern Eureka mining district contains several favorable structural condi-

*E-mail: [email protected]

885
886 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

WLRQVIRU&DUOLQW\SHJROGPLQHUDOL]DWLRQLQFOXGLQJ QRUPDOIDXOWV\VWHPVWKDWSUH
GDWHGRUZHUHFRQWHPSRUDQHRXVZLWKODWH(RFHQHJROGPLQHUDOL]DWLRQDQG FRPSOH[
normal fault interactions in an accommodation zone, including zones of dense fault
intersections, antithetic normal faults, and fault-damage zones. These structural con-
GLWLRQVZHUHIXQGDPHQWDOIRUJHQHUDWLQJDQHWZRUNRIRSHQV\VWHPÀXLGSDWKZD\V
which created an ideal structural architecture for Carlin-type mineralization, and
can be used as predictive tools for exploration elsewhere.

Key Words: structural control, Eureka, Carlin-type, accommodation zone, gold mineral-
ization, fault damage zone

INTRODUCTION ing district hosts several Carlin-type gold deposits that occur in
zones of deformation that are spatially associated with hydro-
The Eureka mining district occupies the southern end of thermal dissolution and jasperoidal breccia zones. The purpose
the Battle Mountain–Eureka trend of Carlin-type gold mineral- of this study is to document structural controls on mineraliza-
ization in east-central Nevada (Figure 1), and contains a series tion within the southern part of an actively explored portion of
of gold deposits (Nolan, 1962). Numerous geologic investiga- the Eureka mining district. Recent advances in understanding
tions of Carlin-type deposits have determined that the geom- the large-scale structural geometry and deformation history of
etries of gold ore bodies commonly trend parallel to structures the Eureka district (Long et al., 2014A; 2014B), and the results
such as folds and faults (Peters, 2004), implying that hydro- of a drilling campaign by Timberline Resources, Corporation
WKHUPDOÀXLGÀRZZDVVWUXFWXUDOO\FRQWUROOHG7KH(XUHNDPLQ- (TRC), a junior gold company actively exploring the district

Figure 1. Location of study area relative to Paleozoic and Mesozoic contractional tectonic features. Blue box shows location of study area. Green polygons show
ORFDWLRQRIPDMRUJROGWUHQGVLQQRUWKHDVWHUQ1HYDGD0RGL¿HGIURP/RQJ  DQG3HWHUV  
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 887

Figure 2. Map showing location of project area, with areas of adjoining USGS 7.5c quadrangles shown for reference. Red outline represents map boundary.

and a collaborator in this research, make a detailed evaluation and spatial evolution of alteration and mineralization, and to
of the relationships between structures, hydrothermal alteration, evaluate the degree to which structural architecture controlled
and gold mineralization both necessary and timely. Identifying K\GURWKHUPDOÀXLGSDWKZD\V
structural controls on mineralization will assist in generating Finally, this project tests a structurally framed model that
drill-hole targets for new deposits, and may lead to a better un- accommodation zones between overlapping synthetic normal
derstanding of Carlin-type mineralization in general. IDXOWVIRFXVK\GURWKHUPDOÀXLGVDQGVHUYHDVFRQWUROVRQJROG
In this study, 1:6,000-scale geologic and alteration map- mineralization. Predictions for mineralization outboard of the
ping of the region surrounding Lookout Mountain, an active SULPDU\IDXOWVZLWKLQDFFRPPRGDWLRQ]RQHVGH¿QHGE\0LFN-
TRC exploration site, was performed (Figure 2). The maps lethwaite et al. (2010), Faulds and Heinz (2011), and Mickleth-
have been recently published at 1:10,000-scale (Di Fiori et al., waite (2011) were tested by cataloging scaling relationships of
 DQGVLPSOL¿HGYHUVLRQVDUHLQFOXGHGKHUH )LJXUH ,Q structures within an accommodation zone, in conjunction with
addition, geologic cross sections, supported by surface map- spatial patterns of alteration and gold mineralization.
ping data and TRC drill-hole data, were constructed (Figure
6A and 6B). As a second step, the cross sections were retro- GEOLOGIC SETTING
deformed, with motions on extensional faults removed, in order
to illustrate the pre-extensional deformation geometry. A gold The Eureka mining district, and surrounding region of east-
grade-thickness map (Figure 8) was also constructed in order ern Nevada, lies within the rifted western margin of the North
WRJDLQLQVLJKWLQWRKRZIDXOWV\VWHPVPD\KDYHLQÀXHQFHGWKH American craton (Dickinson, 2002). During the early to mid-
distribution of mineralization. These data are utilized to gener- Paleozoic, the Eureka region was situated on the western edge
ate a structural model, in order to help understand the temporal of the continental shelf of the Cordilleran passive margin ba-
888 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

Figure 3. Stratigraphy of the map area.

 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 889

sin, which was a vast carbonate platform (Stewart and Poole, FHQH a±0D VLOLFLFDVKIDOOVDQGÀRZVWXIIVDQGLQWUXVLYH
1974). The Cambrian to Devonian stratigraphic section consists volcanic rocks (Nolan et al., 1974; Long et al., 2014A).
primarily of limestone and dolostone interbedded with shale More recently, Nevada has been the site of regional ex-
and sandstone (Figure 3) (Nolan et al., 1974). These carbonate tension associated with formation of the Basin and Range
rocks, particularly the Cambrian section, serve as the dominant extensional province, which is interpreted as the result of the
host rocks for mineralization in the district. extensional regime introduced by the establishment of the San
During the Late Devonian and Early Mississippian, the Andreas transform fault system, the active plate boundary be-
Antler orogeny, a contractional deformation event involving WZHHQWKH1RUWK$PHULFDQSODWHDQGWKH3DFL¿FSODWHEHJLQQLQJ
east-vergent thrusting of deep-water sedimentary rocks of the in the middle Miocene (e.g., Dickinson, 2002). The map area
Roberts Mountain allochthon over the western edge of the con- resides in the Fish Creek Range, and is surrounded by adjacent
tinental shelf, affected the region immediately west of the map modern basins, mountains, and valleys, including the Diamond
area (Figure 1) (Speed and Sleep, 1982). The Eureka region Mountains, Diamond Valley, the Mountain Boy Range and the
occupied a foreland basin that subsided to the east of the al- Mahogany Hills (Figure 2).
ORFKWKRQZKLFKZDV¿OOHGZLWKFODVWLFVHGLPHQWVKHGIURPWKH
eroding highlands to the west. This deposition is represented METHODS
by a ~1.5 km-thick section of Mississippian conglomerate and
shale (Nolan et al., 1974). Geologic and alteration mapping
During the Jurassic-Cretaceous Cordilleran orogenic event,
the Eureka mining district was situated between the Jurassic Geologic mapping of the Rocky Canyon, Oswego, and
Luning-Fencemaker thrust belt in western Nevada (Oldow, Lookout Mountain structural trends (Figure 5A) was conduct-
1984; Wyld, 2002) and the Cretaceous Sevier fold and thrust HGDWDVFDOHRI DQG LV SXEOLVKHG DORQJ ZLWK ¿YH GH-
belt in Utah (Figure 1) (e.g., Armstrong, 1968; DeCelles and formed cross sections at 1:10,000-scale (Di Fiori et al., 2014).
Coogan, 2006). Uplift and erosion during the Sevier orogeny $ VLPSOL¿HG YHUVLRQ RI WKH JHRORJLF PDS LV VKRZQ LQ )LJXUH
is interpreted to be responsible for the erosion of any Meso- 4. Field-based mapping was supplemented by interpretation of
zoic strata that would have been deposited prior to eruption of 1:24,000-scale aerial photography, and was completed on hand-
Eocene-Oligocene volcanic rocks (Long, 2012). The Eureka re- drafted overlays draped over 1:6,000 scale orthoimagery and
gion is situated within the Central Nevada thrust belt (Taylor et topography. Drafting of the overlays was completed in ArcMap
al., 1993, Long, 2012), a system of north-striking contractional 10.1 with annotations performed in Adobe Illustrator CS6. The
structures which can be bracketed between Permian and Late map area is centered on TRC’s Lookout Mountain exploration
Cretaceous (Taylor et al., 2000), and in some places as Early site (Figure 2). The location of the study area was chosen based
Cretaceous (Long et al., 2014B). Long et al. (2014A) proposed on TRC’s existing exploration effort, and the map boundaries
that the large-scale structure of the Eureka mining district can were chosen based on the spatial extent of the Rocky Canyon,
be explained by Early Cretaceous growth of a regional-scale Lookout Mountain, and Oswego structural trends (Figure 5A),
anticline, the Eureka culmination, associated with east-vergent as well the locations of known occurrences of mineralization.
PRWLRQRQWKHEOLQG5DWWR&DQ\RQWKUXVWZKLFKLVGH¿QHGE\ Mapping of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization
a Cambrian over Silurian relationship in drill holes beneath was completed as an overlay over geologic data using meth-
Lookout Mountain and Rocky Canyon, in the southern part of ods developed by the Anaconda Mining Company (Brimhall,
the map area (Figure 4).   6SHFL¿F W\SHV RI K\GURWKHUPDO DOWHUDWLRQ DQG PLQHUDO-
Cretaceous contractional deformation was followed by ex- L]DWLRQ SURGXFWV WKDW ZHUH PDSSHG LQFOXGH MDVSHURLG VLOLFL¿-
tension accommodated by several large-throw (100s to 1000s cation of limestone), decarbonatization of carbonate host rock,
of meters) normal faults, which are bracketed between Late DUJLOOL]DWLRQ DQG VXO¿GHV PDLQO\ S\ULWH  DQG WKHLU OLPRQLWLF
Cretaceous and late Eocene (Long et al., 2014B). In the map ZHDWKHULQJSURGXFWV$VLPSOL¿HGYHUVLRQRIWKLVDOWHUDWLRQPDS
area, the largest-offset (2,000–4,000 meters) normal faults are is included here as Figure 9.
the Dugout Tunnel and Lookout Mountain faults (Di Fiori et
al., 2014). These structures are superposed by multiple small- Cross sections
er-scale (10s to 100s of meters offset) normal faults, generally
striking north to north-east. The published geologic map (Di Fiori et al., 2014) is ac-
Cenozoic magmatism began at ca. 45 Ma in northeastern FRPSDQLHGE\¿YHVFDOHGHIRUPHGJHRORJLFFURVVVHF-
Nevada, and was part of a southwestward-migrating belt of tions, which are constrained by map data, stratigraphic thick-
rhyolitic and andesitic magmatism called the Great Basin ig- nesses, and the apparent dip of strata. In addition, the cross
QLPEULWHÀDUHXS HJ%HVWHWDO ,QQRUWKHDVWHUQ1H- sections are constrained by drill-hole data from TRC’s ongo-
vada this magmatism was dominated by andesitic and dacitic ing exploration and development campaign. The cross sections
lavas and compositionally-similar intrusions (Henry, 2008). In were drafted along transects perpendicular to the strike of major
WKH(XUHNDUHJLRQLJQLPEULWHÀDUHXSURFNVLQFOXGHGODWH(R- structures and the dominant regional strike of bedding (Figure
890 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

)LJXUH*HRORJLFPDSRISURMHFWDUHD VLPSOL¿HGIURP'L)LRULHWDO 5HIHUWR)LJXUHIRUJXLGHWRPDSXQLWV6LPSOL-

¿HG'HYRQLDQPDSXQLWVLQFOXGH'Q 2[\RNH&DQ\RQ6DQGVWRQHDQG%DUWLQHDQG6DGOHU5DQFKPHPEHUVRI1HYDGD)RUPD-
tion, undifferentiated), Dn2 (Oxyoke Canyon Sandstone and Sentinel Mountain Dolomite, undifferentiated), and Dn 3 (Bay
State Dolomite). Unit Tv represents units Trsv, Tpr, and Trmv, undifferentiated. Quaternary units are omitted for simplicity.
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 891

Figure 5. A) Structural trends of the map area, including the Lookout Mountain trend (purple), Rocky Canyon system (orange), and Oswego trend (blue). Geo-
JUDSKLFORFDOLWLHVGLVFXVVHGLQWKHWH[WDUHDOVRODEHOHGDVZHOODVWKH/RRNRXW0RXQWDLQRSHQSLWRXWOLQHGLQSLQN% 6LPSOL¿HGPDSRIIDXOWV\VWHPVLQWKHPDS
DUHD)DXOWVDUHFODVVL¿HGE\RUGHUUHSUHVHQWLQJRIIVHWDPRXQW

4). The original versions of the cross sections were drafted by with retro-deformed versions of each cross section that show
hand, and Adobe Illustrator CS6 was used in drafting and an- pre-extensional geometry.
QRWDWLQJWKH¿QDOVHFWLRQV+HUHVLPSOL¿HGYHUVLRQVRIWZRRI Regions of similar apparent dip on the cross sections were
WKH¿YHSXEOLVKHGFURVVVHFWLRQVDUHVKRZQLQ)LJXUHDORQJ XVHGWRGH¿QHGLSGRPDLQV7KHERXQGDULHVEHWZHHQDGMDFHQW
892 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

)LJXUH$'HIRUPHGDQGUHWURGHIRUPHGFURVVVHFWLRQV VLPSOL¿HGIURP'L)LRULHWDO  $ 1RUWK5RFN\&DQ\RQFURVVVHFWLRQ $$c on Figure 4).

 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 893

)LJXUH%'HIRUPHGDQGUHWURGHIRUPHGFURVVVHFWLRQV VLPSOL¿HGIURP'L)LRULHWDO  % 6RXWK$GLWFURVVVHFWLRQ %%c on Figure 4). Blue lines are

faults, thin black lines are stratigraphic contacts, and thick black lines are the modern erosion surface. Green lines represent TRC drill holes. Quaternary and Ter-
tiary map units are omitted for simplicity.
894 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

dip domains were treated as kink surfaces (e.g., Suppe, 1983), dipping thrust fault (Long et al., 2014B), is observed in the
and their orientation was determined by bisecting the inter- northern area of the map, in the northern end of Rocky Can-
section angle of the two domains. Dip domains, line lengths, yon (Figures 4 and 7). This fault places lower Cambrian Pros-
angles, and fault offsets were matched between the deformed pect Mountain Quartzite over Cambrian Secret Canyon Shale,
and restored cross sections (e.g., Dahlstrom, 1969). In addition, ZKLFK GH¿QHV DQ ROGHURYHU\RXQJHU UHODWLRQVKLS 7KLV VWUXF-
eroded stratigraphy above the modern erosion surface is drafted ture can also be traced to the north; it is exposed on the north
on the cross sections. The versions of the cross sections shown side of Prospect Mountain, ~1 km north of the map area (Long
here omit overlying Quaternary units and Tertiary volcanic et al., 2014A). Top-to-the-east offset on the Prospect Mountain
rocks for simplicity. thrust is estimated at ~850 m (Long et al., 2014B). The Prospect
Mountain thrust is cut on the west by the Dugout Tunnel fault
STRATIGRAPHY and cut on the east by a down-to-the-east normal fault.
The Ratto Canyon thrust (Long et al., 2014A; 2014B) is
The map area contains exposures of Paleozoic rocks rang- GH¿QHGE\GULOOKROHGDWDRQWKHHDVWVORSHRI/RRNRXW0RXQ-
ing from Early Cambrian to Late Devonian, with a cumulative tain, and does not breach the modern erosion surface within
thickness of ~4.3 km, which are dominated by limestone and the map area. This blind thrust places Cambrian Secret Canyon
dolostone, with lesser quartzite and shale (Figure 3). Tertiary Shale and Geddes Limestone over Silurian Lone Mountain Do-
rocks in the map area include late Eocene volcanic rocks, in- lomite. This older-over-younger relationship is observed in two
FOXGLQJDQGHVLWHGDFLWHDQGUK\ROLWHÀRZVDQGDVKÀRZWXIIV GULOOKROHVRQWKHHDVWÀDQNRI/RRNRXW0RXQWDLQDVZHOODVRQ
dated between ~36–37 Ma (Long et al., 2014A), as well as col- Ratto Ridge at South Adit (Figure 6B). The Ratto Canyon thrust
lapse breccia and jasperoid bodies interpreted to be contempo- is only observable in drill core, and therefore little is known
raneous with Carlin-type mineralization. Quaternary deposits about its map-scale extent and geometry. Silurian Lone Moun-
in the map area include alluvium in modern stream drainages, tain Dolomite and conodonts correlative in age to the Ordovi-
hillslope colluvium, and alluvial fan systems. Detailed litho- cian Hanson Creek Dolomite were obtained from rocks within
logic descriptions of all map units are included in the published the footwall of the thrust, which agrees with observations of
map (Di Fiori et al., 2014); while lithologic descriptions are not drill core (Long et al., 2014B).
included here, stratigraphic relationships and thicknesses are A north to north-northwest striking anticline axis can be
summarized on Figure 3. traced near-parallel with the Lookout Mountain ridgeline (Fig-
ure 4 and 5B), and is here named the Ratto Ridge anticline.
STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK North of Pinnacle Peak, Devonian strata dip gently to the west
(~20°) on the west side of the Lookout-Ratto Ridge ridgeline.
The project area contains four sets of structural systems. 2QWKHHDVWHUQÀDQNRIWKHULGJHOLQH&DPEULDQVWUDWDW\SLFDOO\
These include Early Cretaceous contractional structures and dip moderately (~30–50°) to the east. Southeast of South Adit,
three separate sets of overprinting extensional systems: 1) 1st- a northwest-trending anticline axis is observed (Figure 4 and
order, km-scale offset, down-to-the-west normal faults, which 5B), and is truncated by a jasperoid outcrop at the ridgeline.
include the Lookout Mountain fault and the Dugout Tunnel This is interpreted to be the southern extent of the axis of the
fault; 2) 2nd-order, 10s to 100s meter offset normal faults, in- Ratto Ridge anticline. The fold axis appears to have served as
cluding the Oswego fault, and the Rocky Canyon and East Ratto a plane of weakness that was later exploited by the Lookout
Ridge fault systems. Both the 1st- and 2nd-order fault sets can Mountain normal fault. Down-to-the-west motion on this fault
be bracketed between Late Cretaceous (~86 Ma), the age of the has dropped the fold axis of the anticline below the modern ero-
contact metamorphism halo that is cut by the Dugout Tunnel sion surface in the hanging wall of the Lookout Mountain fault.
fault, and late Eocene (~37 Ma), the age of the oldest volcanic
rocks that overlap these faults across an angular unconformity Extensional structures
(Long et al., 2014B). Lastly, 3): a set of 3rd-order, meter-scale
offset, east-striking normal faults cut jasperoid bodies of pre- Extensional structures within the map area vary in offset,
sumed late Eocene age. ranging from meter-scale to a few kilometers.

Contractional structures First-Order Normal Faults

Lookout Mountain is bisected by a north-striking, steeply
Thrust faults and folds within the map area record the (~75–80°) west-dipping normal fault, the Lookout Mountain
earliest deformation, and form the structural architecture that fault, which places Devonian strata on the west against steeply
was superposed by extensional faults. Map-scale contractional east-dipping Cambrian strata on the east (Figure 4 and 6A-B).
structures include the Prospect Mountain thrust, Ratto Canyon The Lookout Mountain fault has ~2.3 kilometers of offset in
thrust, and Ratto Ridge anticline. the southern half of the map area (Figure 6B). North of Look-
The Prospect Mountain thrust, an east-vergent, shallowly- out Mountain, the fault disperses into the Rocky Canyon fault
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 895

Figure 7. Annotated photograph of Rocky Canyon fault system, facing north from atop Lookout Mountain. Faults and bedrock contacts are superimposed sche-
matically. Truck circled in lower-left corner in for scale. 2nd- order faults are annotated in red, 1st-order structures in blue, contractional structures in purple,
stratigraphic contacts are shown in black, and transparent-orange polygons indicate Tertiary intrusive rocks.

system (see description below), a network of 2nd-order struc- prise Peak, the fault bounds a structurally complex topographic
tures that forms a complexly-faulted graben in Rocky Canyon. low on the east before becoming concealed beneath alluvial
From Lookout Mountain and to the south, the Lookout Moun- fan deposits. In Rocky Canyon, the Dugout Tunnel fault places
tain fault consists of a single, large-offset structure that can be unmetamorphosed Ordovician limestone over metamorphosed
traced for a map distance of at least 4 km. At the south end Cambrian Secret Canyon Shale. The metamorphism is within
of the map area the Lookout Mountain fault is concealed un- a contact aureole with local skarn that is spatially associated
der Quaternary alluvium. According to the mapping of Cowell with a Late Cretaceous (ca. 86 Ma) granitic intrusive center, as
(1986), the Lookout Mountain fault can be traced an additional indicated by granitic dikes in drill core (Long et al., 2014B).
kilometer south of the map area. The Dugout Tunnel faults cuts the metamorphic aureole, which
The other 1st order normal fault in the map area is the north- indicates that it is no older than ~86 Ma (Long et al., 2014B).
striking, steeply (~60°) west-dipping Dugout Tunnel fault, Both the Lookout Mountain and the Dugout Tunnel faults
which places shallowly east-dipping Ordovician rocks over are overlapped by the late Eocene (ca. 37 Ma) sub-volcanic un-
steeply east-dipping Cambrian rocks along the full length of the conformity, which provides a youngest permissible motion age
map area (Figures 4 and 6). At the north end of the map area, the (Long et al., 2014B).
fault places Ordovician Hansen Creek Dolomite against Cam-
brian Prospect Mountain Quartzite, corresponding to ~3 km of Second-Order Normal Faults
offset. In northern Rocky Canyon, the strike changes to east- The down-to-the-east Oswego fault strikes northwest
west, and the fault cuts nearly perpendicularly up section in its through Rocky Canyon, and strikes north through Ratto Can-
footwall from the Prospect Mountain Quartzite to the Eldorado yon. East of Lookout Mountain, the fault places Ordovician An-
Dolomite. In the adjacent canyon, the Dugout Tunnel fault re- telope Valley Limestone over Cambrian Dunderberg Shale, cor-
gains its original north strike. The northern half of the Oswego responding to ~900 meters of offset. West of Surprise Peak, this
trend is bisected by the Dugout Tunnel fault, which places Or- structure bifurcates into two strands. One strand can be traced to
dovician Eureka Quartzite and Antelope Valley Limestone on the south, where the fault loses throw, is only exposed in short
the west against Cambrian Eldorado Dolomite on the east. Sub- segments, and omits little strata, possibly removing parts of the
sidiary synthetic faults that branch off of the master fault place sections of the Cambrian Windfall Formation or the overlying
Secret Canyon Shale over Eldorado Dolomite. South of Sur- Ordovician Goodwin Formation. The second fault strand, just
896 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

to the south of Surprise Peak, strikes southeast where it merges Jasperoid replacement bodies and competent stratigraphic units
with the Dugout Tunnel fault within a complex fault network including the Ordovician Eureka Quartzite and Cambrian Eldo-
(Figure 4 and 5B). This 2nd-order system can be bracketed as rado Dolomite preserve slickenlines that record predominantly
pre-Late Eocene, as it is overlapped by the sub-volcanic uncon- dip-slip motion on these faults.
formity in Ratto Canyon.
Another important group of 2nd-order faults is the Rocky ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION
Canyon fault system (Figure 5B). On the north side of Lookout
Mountain, throw on the Lookout Mountain fault decreases by Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization mapping
~900 meters within a north-south map distance of ~350 meters.
To the north, some of this offset is accommodated by an array 6SHFL¿F FDWHJRULHV RI W\SHV RI K\GURWKHUPDO DOWHUDWLRQ
of faults that strike north and northwest into Rocky Canyon, were mapped, including jasperoid, decarbonatization of car-
here named the Rocky Canyon fault system (Figures 4 and 5B). bonate host rock, dolomitization, and argillic alteration. Surface
At the south end of Rocky Canyon, a narrow, ~900 meter-long mapping of mineralization was limited to indigenous limonite,
horst of Ordovician Pogonip Group rocks is observed, and is including both disseminated indigenous limonite after pyrite
bound on the east and west by normal faults which down-drop and gossan (Figure 9).
6LOXULDQURFNV2QERWKÀDQNVRI5RFN\&DQ\RQQRUPDOIDXOWV The most conspicuous alteration products in the map area
place Silurian Lone Mountain Dolomite against Ordovician Eu- are jasperoid replacement bodies. The competent nature of this
UHND4XDUW]LWHDQG$QWHORSH9DOOH\/LPHVWRQHGH¿QLQJ5RFN\ replacement silica is responsible for the high relief of Lookout
Canyon as a complexly faulted graben. The horst of Ordovician Mountain and Ratto Ridge. Three levels of replacement have
rocks is interpreted to be the result of an older down-to-the- been denoted on the map, from incipient to strong they are:
east fault being truncated and displaced by a younger down-to- fracture-controlled, breccia, and complete replacement (Figure
the-west fault (Di Fiori et al., 2014). The faults bounding this 9). The map units that host jasperoid in the map area include the
horst cannot be mapped further to the north after their traces Cambrian Eldorado Dolomite, Cambrian Hamburg Dolomite,
meet. However, the faults bounding the Rocky Canyon graben Ordovician Pogonip Group, and the Devonian Sentinel Moun-
converge on one another in the northernmost part of Rocky tain/Bay State Dolomite.
Canyon. Here, either one fault terminates, or these two faults Decarbonatization accompanies most carbonate rocks in
merge; cover by colluvium prevents analysis of their crosscut- WKHPDSDUHDDQGLVGH¿QHGE\WKHUHPRYDORIFDUERQDWHPDWH-
ting relationship. The Dugout Tunnel fault is cut and offset by rial, and manifests itself in outcrop as bulk and local rock vol-
the northward continuation of this structure at the northern end ume-loss, destruction of original rock texture, bleaching, and
of the map area (Figure 4 and 5B). Along the Rocky Canyon increased porosity (vugs, pock-marks, etc.). This mode of hy-
horst, several dikes, which are interpreted to be late Eocene in drothermal alteration rarely forms outcrops and typically forms
age due to similar characteristics of dated nearby intrusions, recessive areas. Therefore, this alteration was mostly observed
intrude along some of these faults, constraining this structural in road cuts and the walls of the Lookout Mountain open-pit
system to be pre-late Eocene (Figures 4 and 7). mine. Decarbonatization and to a lesser degree jasperoid forma-
Lastly, a set of east-dipping, north-striking faults with 10s tion, are the alteration types most closely tied to formation of
to 100s m-scale offset, can be observed in the footwall of the Carlin-type ore.
Lookout Mountain fault, within 1 km of its trace, which are here /LPRQLWH PLQHUDOV LGHQWL¿HG GXULQJ PDSSLQJ LQFOXGHG
grouped together as the East Ratto Ridge fault system. While goethite, hematite, and local jarosite. The distribution of limo-
these faults are not expressed at the surface due to extensive nite was mapped by strength (incipient to strong), and abun-
cover by colluvium, they are documented in drill-holes (Figure dance (low to high), and was further characterized as being ei-
8 A-B), where they attenuate the Cambrian Hamburg Dolomite ther fracture controlled, disseminated, and/or pervasive. Where
and down-drop the Cambrian Dunderberg Shale and Windfall limonite was abundant, pervasive, and strong the term “gos-
Formation. These faults are also overlapped by the sub-volcanic san” was used, as these relatively competent, massive, vuggy
unconformity, indicating that they are also pre-late Eocene. siliceous limonitic bodies were easily distinguishable and well
exposed (Blanchard, 1968). They likely represent weathered
Third-Order Normal Faults ]RQHVRIPDVVLYHVXO¿GH$OWHUHGLJQHRXVRXWFURSVFRPPRQO\
A series of irregularly spaced, east to northeast striking exhibited “pin-head” indigenous limonite, suggestive of weath-
normal faults are distributed over much of the map area, and are ered disseminated pyrite. In contrast, random fractures stained
exposed primarily in ridgeline outcrops within the Oswego and with goethite and hematite are likely exotic limonite and do
Lookout Mountain structural trends (Figure 5A and 5B). These QRWLQGLFDWHWKHIUDFWXUHVZHUHRQFHFRDWHGZLWKVXO¿GHVEXW
faults typically exhibit meter- to sub-meter scale offset magni- UDWKHUVXJJHVWZHDWKHULQJRIQHDUE\VXO¿GHV
tudes. These faults cross-cut the 1st-order Lookout Mountain Argillic alteration was mapped only in igneous rocks where
and Dugout Tunnel faults and associated jasperoid replacement feldspars or other silicates were completely replaced by clay,
bodies, and therefore are interpreted to be post-late Eocene. and was dominantly recognized in local igneous bodies which
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 897

Figure 8. (A) Au grade-thickness map of Lookout Mountain. Dashed traces of individual, down-to-the-east faults of the 2nd-order, East Ratto Ridge fault
system are shown. The following technique was followed for construction of the gold grade thickness map: A grade thickness calculation is as follows:
for each assay interval the gold grade was multiplied by the thickness (in feet) of the interval (thickness = interval top minus the interval bottom), thus
giving the grade-thickness for the interval. For the individual drill-hole, the sum all grade-thickness intervals were given a cutoff value (TRC’s cutoff
was 0.005 ounces gold per ton). There are two methods for plotting the location of the summed GT value. First is by collar coordinate, which works well
IRUYHUWLFDOKROHVEXWQRWIRUDQJOHKROHVHVSHFLDOO\LIWKHDVVD\LQWHUYDOLVDWVLJQL¿FDQWGHSWK)RUDQDQJOHKROHWKHFRRUGLQDWHYDOXHIRUWKHPLGSRLQW
of the summed grade-thickness zone (true thickness) and interval values is calculated and then projected onto the 2D plane, where other grade-thickness
values are located. The midpoint was the average of the easting and northing values of all samples above the cutoff grade. Data supplied by TRC. (B)
Cross section (drafted by TRC) showing geometry of Au mineralization at depth, and illustrating the system of 2nd- order East Ratto Ridge fault system.
898 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

)LJXUH$OWHUDWLRQPDSVLPSOL¿HGIURP'L)LRULHWDO  /LWKRORJLF¿OOFRORUVDUHUHPRYHG

for clarity. Argillic alteration omitted because of scale. Guide to map symbols shown in Figure 4.
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 899

contained feldspar phenocrysts. Since most igneous bodies are spatially coincident with the northwest, north, and northeast-
dikes emplaced along faults and/or fractures, argillic alteration striking, 2nd-order antithetic faults within the footwall of the
LVLQWHUSUHWHGWRGHPDUFDWHK\GURWKHUPDOÀXLGSDWKZD\VDORQJ Lookout Mountain fault (the East Ratto Ridge fault system).
these zones. However, in some cases we could not rule out ar- Rupturing of the 2nd-order fault system instigated hydrother-
gillization of plagioclase by weathering. Argillic alteration was PDOÀXLGÀRZDQGLQWHUDFWLRQZLWKKRVWURFNVVSHFL¿FDOO\GLV-
also observed in the Cambrian Dunderberg Shale. VROXWLRQDQGVLOLFL¿FDWLRQRIFDUERQDWHWRIRUPMDVSHURLGLQWKH
Hamburg Dolomite, and replacement of carbonate and illite by
Carlin-type gold deposits in the map area quartz and kaolinite in the Dunderberg Shale. Active faulting
and water rock interaction was perpetuated by volume loss and
Carlin-type gold mineralization in the map area is hosted formation of collapse breccia that resulted from carbonate dis-
primarily within the Cambrian Hamburg Dolomite and Dunder- solution. Petrographic work indicates water-rock reaction was
berg Shale, as well as within the Cambrian Eldorado Dolomite accompanied by pyrite and realgar. Scanning electron micros-
and Ordovician Pogonip Group carbonates. Beginning in the copy and energy dispersive spectroscopy of ore samples indi-
late 1970s these disseminated gold deposits, coincident with cates hydrothermal alteration was accompanied by deposition
north-northwest trending, ridge-forming jasperoid bodies, were arsenian pyrite, commonly on rims of diagenetic pyrite, and
targeted for development and exploration. Lookout Mountain later realgar (Long et al., 2014A).
was mined from 1987-to 1988, producing 17,700 ounces of
gold (Long et al., 2014A). TRC is currently seeking to develop DISCUSSION
and expand resources in the area. The current measured and
indicated resource is 508,000 ounces of gold in 28,940,000 tons Structural evolution of the map area
at an average grade of 0.018 ounce per ton (oxidized material)
(Timberline Resources, Corporation, 2013). The Early Cretaceous construction of the Eureka culmina-
-DVSHURLG IRUPDWLRQ VLOLFL¿FDWLRQ GHFDUERQDWL]DWLRQ DQG tion, a ~20 km-wide, 80 km-long anticline (Long et al., 2014B),
argillization in the subsurface are widespread within and ad- generated the underpinning structural architecture, and set the
jacent to zones of Carlin-type mineralization, and extend the stage for later extension (Figure 10A). The map area occupies
entire length of Ratto Ridge (Steininger et al., 1987; Timberline the approximate hinge zone of this regional-scale culmination.
Resources Corporation, 2013). Along Lookout Mountain and The culmination is interpreted by Long et al. (2014A) as a fault-
Ratto Ridge, disseminated gold is hosted primarily within the bend fold that was constructed by motion on the east-vergent,
Cambrian Hamburg Dolomite and in the overlying the Cam- blind Ratto Canyon thrust over a Cambrian to Silurian footwall
brian Dunderberg Shale. Alteration in the subsurface consists ramp at depth (Figure 10A).
of collapse breccias in the Hamburg Dolomite which are wide After construction of the Eureka culmination, motion on
near the near the surface, but narrow down dip along 2nd-order, 1st- and 2nd-order normal faults took place (Figure 10B), and is
east-dipping faults. Gold mineralization also occurs in jasper- interpreted as the result of gravitational collapse of this regional
oid bodies that top Ratto Ridge, up to depths of 1,500 feet, and structural high. This faulting can be bracketed between Late
is associated with strongly anomalous concentrations of arse- Cretaceous (ca. 86 Ma), the age of contact metamorphism in
nic, mercury, and antimony anomalies (Long et al., 2014A). northern Rocky Canyon that is cut by the Dugout Tunnel fault,
In addition to the deposits along Ratto Ridge and Lookout and late Eocene (ca. 37 Ma), based on the overlapping rela-
Mountain, other areas within the project boundaries have al- tionship of the sub-volcanic unconformity across 1st- and 2nd-
teration and geochemical characteristics consistent with Carlin- order faults (Long et al., 2014B). Because of a similar strike,
type gold mineralization. Directly east of Lookout Mountain, steeply west-dipping geometry, and amount of throw, the Look-
the Oswego Mine area displays decarbonatization of the host out Mountain and Dugout Tunnel faults are interpreted to have
rock (vuggy texture and destruction of rock texture), as well been active at similar times. The Dugout Tunnel fault maintains
as varying stages of jasperoid formation (fracture controlled ~3 km offset throughout the map area. The Lookout Mountain
to complete replacement). Anomalous mercury, antimony, fault maintains ~2.5 km of offset through the southern half of
and arsenic have also been recorded in past drilling endeav- the map area, and abruptly decreases in offset north of Lookout
ors (Timberline Resources, Corporation, 2013). Alteration and Mountain. Toward the north, this offset is distributed among
geochemistry consistent with Carlin-type mineralization is also 2nd-order structures of the Rocky Canyon fault system (Figures
found north to northeast of Lookout Mountain within the Or- 4, 5B, 7, 10B), which is interpreted to be coeval with the Look-
dovician Pogonip Group further east in the Oswego structural out Mountain Dugout Tunnel fault systems.
trend, where the Cambrian Eldorado Dolomite serves as the An additional set of east-dipping, antithetic, 2nd-order
primary host rock. faults, the East Ratto Ridge fault system, is present within the
Gold mineralization occurs along the trace of the Look- footwall of the Lookout Mountain fault (Figures 8A-B and
out Mountain fault and its footwall, where it expands eastward 10B). This fault set is characterized by steep (~50–70°) dips and
toward Ratto Canyon (Figure 8A-B). Gold mineralization is proximal spatial relationships with highly-thinned Cambrian
900 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

Figure 10. Block diagrams showing the temporal evolution of structural geometry and mineralization of the map area. (A) Late
Cretaceous construction of Eureka culmination. Thick dashed lines represent future traces of the 1st-order Lookout Mountain
and Dugout Tunnel faults. (B) Late Cretaceous to late Eocene motion on 1st-(blue) and 2nd-order (red) extensional structures.
Location of Carlin-type deposit (gold) is shown. (C) Post-late Eocene formation of set of 3rd-order normal faults (green).
 Structural Analysis of Gold Mineralization in the Southern Eureka Mining District, Eureka County, Nevada 901

+DPEXUJ 'RORPLWH WKDW XQGHUZHQW VLJQL¿FDQW GHFDUERQDWL]D- proximity from one fault to another allowed for increased
tion (Figures 6B and 8B). Due to their amount of offset (100s of permeability due to generation of interconnected networks of
meters) and geometry relative to the Lookout Mountain fault, damage zones (Caine et al., 1996). These 2nd-order faults are
these faults are interpreted to be coeval with the 1st - and 2nd interpreted to have been integral for creating zones of localized
-order fault systems as well. ÀXLGÀRZDQGWKXVZHUHIDYRUDEOHVLWHVIRUPLQHUDOL]DWLRQ7KH
Finally, the 3rd- order system of east-northeast striking, majority of the mineralization related to the Lookout Mountain
small-offset normal faults were the last to deform the map area, fault is spatially coincident with, and was strongly controlled
as they cut 1st- and 2nd -order extensional structures (Figure by, this 2nd -order antithetic fault system.
5B, 8A, and 10C). Offsets of jasperoid bodies indicate post-late Testing predictions for mineralization in accommodation
Eocene motion on these faults. zones
$Q DFFRPPRGDWLRQ ]RQH LV GH¿QHG DV DQ DUHD RI IDXOW-
Spatial patterns and structural controls on Carlin-type ing and/or folding that transfers slip between larger structures
mineralization (Faulds and Varga, 1998). These zones manifest themselves as
belts of overlapping fault terminations and can separate systems
Based on the stratigraphic level of the late Eocene uncon- of either synthetic or antithetic faults (Faulds and Varga, 1998).
formity across the Lookout Mountain fault, Dugout Tunnel The majority of the map area occupies such an accommodation
fault, Oswego fault, and East Ratto Ridge fault system, and the zone (Figure 4, 5B, and 10B); the 1st -order Lookout Moun-
presence of rhyolitic dikes of presumably late Eocene age that tain and Dugout Tunnel faults are interpreted to be genetically
intrude along Lookout Mountain fault and Rocky Canyon fault linked, and due to style of deformation, respective geometries,
system, motion on these structures had to have been completed and spatial distribution of offset, and the 2nd-order Rocky Can-
by the late Eocene, and therefore preceded Carlin-type miner- yon fault system is interpreted to represent an accommodation
alization. ]RQHWKDWFRQQHFWVWKHP )LJXUH$ 6SHFL¿FDOO\WKLVDFFRP-
In an attempt to assess structural controls on the spatial modation zone represents a synthetically-breached relay ramp,
patterns of mineralization, a gold grade-thickness map (Figure XVLQJWKHFODVVL¿FDWLRQVFKHPHRI)DXOGVDQG9DUJD  
8A) was generated from data obtained from TRC drill holes Wall-damage and linking-damage zone structures are pro-
along Lookout Mountain and South Lookout Mountain, where SRVHG WR FRQWURO WKH PLJUDWLRQ RI ÀXLGV DQG LQÀXHQFH WKH OR-
all mineralization was assumed to be of Carlin-type origin and calization of gold mineralization within accommodation zones
late Eocene age. Additionally, TRC’s cross sections drawn per- )LJXUH%  0LFNOHWKZDLWH $GDPDJH]RQHLVGH¿QHG
pendicular to the mineralized trend (e.g., Figure 8B) were used as the volume of deformed wall rocks around a fault surface
to examine structural controls at depth and whether they were that results from the propagation, initiation, and the build-up of
consistent with in the interpreted fault controls mapped on the VOLSDORQJIDXOWV'DPDJH]RQHVDUHFODVVL¿HGLQWRGLIIHUHQWJHR-
surface. metric types depending on their location relative to the master
In the map area, zones of elevated grade thickness trend faults in an accommodation zone (Kim et al., 2004). They are
sub-parallel to the strike of the Lookout Mountain fault, with categorized as tip-damage zones, linking-damage zones (e.g.,
WKHPDMRULW\RIWKH]RQHVFRQ¿QHGWRWKHIRRWZDOO )LJXUH$ stepovers), and wall-damage zones, which represent faulting
B). The zones of moderate grade thickness (green polygons) and fracturing in the proximal wall-rock region of a fault. Un-
have a distinct linear geometry, which trends sub-parallel to the der this terminology, we interpret that the East Ratto Ridge fault
Lookout Mountain fault. This pattern mimics the map pattern system represents a wall-damage zone that formed in the foot-
of structures of the East Ratto Ridge fault system. The close wall of the Lookout Mountain fault. The location of this wall-

)LJXUH$ 6FKHPDWLFEUHDFKHG IDXOWHG UHOD\UDPSDFFRPPRGDWLRQ]RQHPRGL¿HGIURP)DXOGVDQG9DUJD  % 6FKHPDWLFGLDJUDPRIDZDOOGDPDJH

]RQHRIDPDVWHU VWRUGHU IDXOW EOXH DQGDVHULHVRIDQWLWKHWLFQGRUGHUIDXOWV UHG PRGL¿HGIURP0LFNOHWKZDLWH  
902 Russell V. Di Fiori, Sean P. Long, John L. Muntean, and Gary P. Edmondo

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RUEHFRQWHPSRUDQHRXVZLWKWKHÀXLGÀRZUHVSRQVLEOHIRU +HQU\ &' $VKÀRZ WXIIV DQG SDOHRYDOOH\V LQ QRUWKHDVWHUQ 1HYDGD
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