Model 25c

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEINS

By Dan L. Mosier, Donald A. Singer, and Byron R. Berger

APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Epithermal gold (quartz-adularia) alkali-chloride type.

DESCRIPTION Gold, electrum, silver sulfosalts, and argentite in vuggy quartz-adularia veins hosted by
felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks that overlie predominantly clastic sedimentary rocks, and their
metamorphic equivalents (see fig. 106).

GENERAL REFERENCES Buchanan (1980), Boyle (1979).

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Host rocks are andesite, dacite, quartz latite, rhyodacite, rhyolite; and associated
sedimentary rocks. Mineralization related to calc-alkaline or bimodal volcanism.

Textures Porphyritic.

Age Range Mainly Tertiary (most are 40-3.7 m.y.).

Depositional Environment Calc-alkaline and bimodal volcanism and associated intrusive activity over
basement rocks composed of clastic sedimentary rocks and their metamorphic equivalents. Volcanic-
related geothermal systems lack access to saline fluids from basement sources.

Tectonic Setting(s) Through-going fracture systems, major normal faults, fractures related to doming,
ring fracture zones, joints.

Associated Deposit Types Placer gold and epithermal quartz-alunite Au.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Argentite + gold or electrum ± silver sulfosalts ± naumannite. Galena, sphalerite,
chalcopyrite, tellurides, hematite, and arsenopyrite are moderate to sparse. Gangue minerals are quartz
+ pyrite ± adularia ± calcite ± sericite ± chlorite. Barite, fluorite, rhodochrosite, kaolinite, and
montmorillonite are moderate to sparse. Ore minerals constitute only a few percent of vein.

Texture/Structure Banded veins, open space filling, lamellar quartz, stockwork.

Alteration From top to bottom of system: quartz + kaolinite + montmorillonite ± zeolite ± barite
± calcite; quartz + illite; quartz + adularia ± illite; quartz + chlorite; presence of adularia is
variable.

Ore Controls Through-going anastomosing fracture systems, centers of intrusive activity. Hanging wall
more favorable.

Weathering Bleached country rock, limonite, jarosite, goethite, alunite, hematite, argillization with
kaolinite.

Geochemical Signature Higher in system Au + As + Sb + Hg or Au + As + Cu; Au + Ag + Pb + Cu; also Te

and W.

EXAMPLES
Comstock, USNV (Becker, 1882)
Guanajuato, MXCO (Buchanan, 1980;
Wandke and Martinez, 1928)

By Dan L. Mosier, Donald A. Singer, and Byron R. Berger

COMMENTS See figs. 113-116.

150
 Model 25c—Con

GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEINS

DEPOSITS
Name Country Name Country

Aurora USNV Ohguchi JAPN

Bodie USCA Ohito JAPN
Bovard USNV Olinghouse USNV
Calico USCA Orient USWA
Calistoga USCA Patterson USCA
Comstock USNV Republic USWA
Divide USNV Rosario HNDR
Dolores MXCO Sand Springs USNV
El Rincon MXCO Searchlight USNV
Fairview USNV Seikoshi JAPN
Fuke JAPN Seven Trough USNV
Gold Mountain USUT Sheep Tank USAZ
Guanacevi MXCO Silver City USNV
Guanajuato MXCO Taio JAPN
Hostotipaquilla MXCO Tayoltita MXCO
Katherine USAZ Toi JAPN
Kushikino-Arakawa JAPN Tonopah USNV
Mochikoshi JAPN Tuscarora USAZ
Mogollon USNM Weaver USAZ
Nawaji JAPN Yugashima JAPN
Oatraan USAZ

I
151
 Model 25c—Con

COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEIN

Figure 113- Tonnages of Comstock MILLION TONNES

epithermal vein deposits.

COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEIN

Figure 11H. Gold grades of Comstock

epithermal vein deposits.
GOLD GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE
 Model 25c—Con.
COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEIN

Figure 115. Silver grades of Comstock

epithermal vein deposits.
COMSTOCK EPITHERMAL VEIN
I --- 1 --- 1 —i ------ 1 --- 1 ---
o' < --- r~ n = 41
o
o

1 o.l 71 0 i i i 1 1 1
0.032 0.056 0.1 0.18 0.32 0.56 1.0 1.8 3.2 5.6
10.0
A. COPPER GRADE IN PERCENT
PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS

B. ZINC GRADE IN PERCENT

Figure 116. By-product grades of Comstock

C. LEAD GRADE IN PERCENT
epithermal vein deposits. Copper. 13,
Zinc. Lead.

153
Model 25d

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF SADO EPITHERMAL VEINS

By Dan L. Mosier, Bruce R. Berger, and Donald A. Singer

DESCRIPTION Gold, chalcopyrite, sulfosalts, and argentite in vuggy veins hosted by felsic to
intermediate volcanic rocks that overlie older volcanic sequences or igneous intrusions (see fig.
106) .

GENERAL REFERENCE Boyle (1979).

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Host rocks are andesite, dacite, quartz latite, rhyodacite, rhyolite, and associated
sedimentary rocks. Mineralization related to calc-alkaline or bimodal volcanism.

Textures Porphyritic.

Age Range Mainly Tertiary (most are 38-5 m.y.).

Depositional Environment Calc-alkaline and bimodal volcanism and associated intrusive activity over
basement rocks composed of thick, older volcanic sequences or igneous intrusives (batholiths).
Volcanic-related geothermal systems lack access to saline fluids from basement sources.

Tectonic Setting(s) Through-going fracture systems, major normal faults, fractures related to doming,
ring fracture zones, joints.

Associated Deposit Types Placer gold and quartz-alunite Au.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Gold ± argentite + electrum + chalcopyrite. Sulfosalts and tellurides are moderate, galena
and sphalerite are sparse. Gangue minerals are quartz ± pyrite ± adularia ± calcite. Chalcedony,
adularia, kaolinite, rhodochrosite, chlorite, sericite, and barite are moderate to sparse.

Texture/Structure Banded veins, open space filling, lamellar quartz, stockwork, breccia pipes.
Alteration Silicification zoned by quartz + kaolinite + montmorillonite ± alunite; may have pervasive
propylitic alteration of chlorite + calcite.

Ore Controls Through-going fracture systems; major normal faults, fractures related to doming, ring
fractures, joints.

Weathering Bleached country rock, limonite, hematite, goethite, jarosite, alunite; argillization with
kaolinite.

Geochemical Signature: Au + Ag; Au + Ag + Cu.

EXAMPLES

Takeno, JAPN (Soeda and Watanabe, 1981)

 Model 25d—Con

GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF SADO EPITHERMAL VEINS

By Dan L. Mosier and Takeo Sato
COMMENTS The two lowest gold grades were not plotted because it is suspected that their reported grades
are in error. See figs. 117-119.

DEPOSITS
Name Country Name Country

Bajo JAPN La Libertad MXCO

Benten JAPN Mamuro JAPN
Bruner USNV Mizobe JAPN
Chitose JAPN Nagamatsu JAPN
Guadalupe and Calvo MXCO Sado JAPN
Hayden Hill USCA Sanei JAPN
High Grade USCA Takahata JAPN
Innai JAPN Takatama JAPN
Kawasaki JAPN Takeno JAPN
Koyama JAPN Winters USCA

155
Model 25d—Con
SADO EPITHERMAL VEIN

MILLION TONNES

Figure 117. Tonnages of Sado epithermal

vein deposits.

SADO EPITHERMAL VEIN

Figure 118. Gold grades of Sado epithermal

vein deposits. GOLD GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE

156
Model 25d—Con

157
Model 25d—Con
SADO EPITHERMAL VEIN

PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS

Figure 119. By-product grades of Sado epithermal vein deposits.

Silver. B, Copper.

Figure 118. Gold grades of Sado epithermal

vein deposits. GOLD GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE

158
Model 25e

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-ALUNITE Au

By Byron R. Berger

APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Acid-sulfate, or enargite gold (Ashley, 1982).

DESCRIPTION Gold, pyrite, and enargite in vuggy veins and breccias in zones of high-alumina alteration
related to felsic volcanism.

GENERAL REFERENCE Ashley (1982). .

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Volcanic: dacite, quartz latite, rhyodacite, rhyolite. Hypabyssal intrusions or
domes.

Textures Porphyritic.
Age Range Generally Tertiary, but can be any age.
Depositional Environment Within the volcanic edifice, ring fracture zones of calderas, or areas of igneous
activity with sedimentary evaporites in basement.

Tectonic Setting(s) Through-going fracture systems: keystone graben structures, ring fracture
zones, normal faults, fractures related to doming, joint sets.

Associated Deposit Types Porphyry copper, polymetallic replacement, volcanic hosted Cu-As-Sb.
Pyrophyllite, hydrothermal clay, and alunite deposits.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Native gold + enargite + pyrite + silver-bearing sulfosalts ± chalcopyrite ± bornite ±
precious-metal tellurides ± galena ± sphalerite ± huebnerite. May have hypogene oxidation phase with
chalcocite + covellite ± luzonite with late-stage native sulfur.

Texture/Structure Veins, breccia pipes, pods, dikes; replacement veins often porous, and vuggy, with
comb structure, and crustified banding.

Alteration Highest temperature assemblage: quartz + alunite + pyrophyllite may be early stage
with pervasive alteration of host rock and veins of these minerals; this zone may contain corundum,
diaspore, andalusite, or zunyite. Zoned around quartz-alunite is quartz + alunite + kaolinite +
montmorillonite; pervasive propylitic alteration (chlorite + calcite) depends on extent of early
alunitization. Ammonium-bearing clays may be present.

Ore Controls Through-going fractures, centers of intrusive activity. Upper and peripheral parts of
porphyry copper systems.

Weathering Abundant yellow limonite, jarosite, goethite, white argillization with kaolinite, finegrained
white alunite veins, hematite.

Geochemical Signature Higher in system: Au + As + Cu; increasing base metals at depth. Also Te
and (at El Indio) W.

EXAMPLES
 GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-ALUNITE Au

Goldfield, USNV (Ransome, 1909)

Kasuga mine, JAPN (Taneda and Mukaiyama, 1970)
El Indio, CILE (Walthier and others, 1982)
Summitville, USCO (Perkins and Nieman, 1983)
Iwato, JAPN (Saito and Sato, 1978)
 GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-ALUNITE Au

By Dan L. Mosier and W. David Menzie

COMMENTS
Country
See figs.
TIWN
CILE
120-123.
USNV
JAPN
DEPOSITS
JAPN
Name
USCA
Chinkuashih USCA
El Indio USCA
Goldfield
Iwato
Kasuga
Masonic
Mohave
Stedman
Model 25e—Con.
EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-ALUNITE VEIN

MILLION TONNES

Figure 120. Tonnages of epithermal quartz-

alunite vein deposits.

EPITHERMAL QUARTZ-ALUNITE VEIN

Figure 121. Gold grades of epithermal

quartz-alunite vein deposits. GOLD GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE

160