Economic Geology

Vol. 98, 2003, pp. 1069–1105

Origin of High-Grade Gold Ore, Source of Ore Fluid Components, and Genesis of the
Meikle and Neighboring Carlin-Type Deposits, Northern Carlin Trend, Nevada
POUL EMSBO,† ALBERT H. HOFSTRA,
U.S. Geological Survey, MS-973, Box 25046, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225

ERIC A. LAUHA, GREGORY L. GRIFFIN,

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc., P.O. Box 29, Elko, Nevada 89801

AND RICHARD W. HUTCHINSON

Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401

Abstract
The Meikle mine exploits one of the world’s highest grade Carlin-type gold deposits with reserves of ca. 220 t
gold at an average grade of 24.7 g/t. Locally, gold grades exceed 400 g/t. Several geologic events converged at
Meikle to create these spectacular gold grades. Prior to mineralization, a Devonian hydrothermal system al-
tered the Bootstrap limestone to Fe-rich dolomite. Subsequently the rocks were brecciated by faulting and
Late Jurassic intrusive activity. The resulting permeability focused flow of late Eocene Carlin-type ore fluids
and allowed them to react with the Fe-rich dolomite. Fluid inclusion data and mineral assemblages indicate
that these fluids were hot (ca. 220°C),of moderate salinity (<6 wt % NaCl equiv), acidic, and H2S rich. Gold-
rich pyrite formed by dissolution of dolomite and sulfidation of its contained Fe. Where dissolution and re-
placement were complete, ore-stage pyrite and other insoluble minerals were all that remained. Locally, these
minerals accumulated as internal sediments in dissolution cavities to form ore with gold grades >400 g/t.
Petrographic observations, geochemical data, and stable isotope results from the Meikle mine and other de-
posits at the Goldstrike mine place important constraints on genetic models for Meikle and other Carlin-type
gold deposits on the northern Carlin trend. The ore fluids were meteoric water (δD = –135‰, δ18O = –5‰)
that interacted with sedimentary rocks at a water/rock ratio of ca. 1 and temperatures of ca. 220°C. The ab-
sence of significant silicification suggests that there was little cooling of the ore fluids during mineralization.
These two observations strongly suggest that ore fluids were not derived from deep sources but instead flowed
parallel to isotherms. The gold was transported by H2S (δ34S = 9‰), which was derived from Paleozoic sedi-
mentary rocks. The presence of auriferous sedimentary exhalative mineralization in the local stratigraphic se-
quence raises the possibility that preexisting concentrations of gold contributed to the Carlin-type deposits.
Taken together our observations suggest that meteoric water evolved to become an ore fluid by shallow circu-
lation through previously gold- and sulfur-enriched rocks. Carlin-type gold deposits formed where these fluids
encountered permeable, reactive Fe-rich rocks.

Introduction trend range from Cretaceous to mid-Tertiary, with the older

THE CARLIN TREND, one of the world’s largest gold districts, is
defined by a 60-km alignment of some 40 deposits containing
~3,100 metric tons (t) Au. Half this gold is contained in five
deposits on the northernmost part of the trend on the Barrick
Goldstrike property (Fig. 1). These include Meikle, which is
one of the highest grade Carlin-type deposits (24.7 g/t), and
Betze-Post, which is the largest deposit yet discovered with
production plus reserves of 1,240 t Au. Meikle is unusual
among deposits of the Carlin trend because it is hosted pri-
marily in breccia and is extraordinarily rich in auriferous ar-
senian pyrite. It is also unusual in its lack of significant marc-
asite, realgar, orpiment, and arsenopyrite.
The complex geologic history of the Carlin trend has re-
sulted in contradictory ages of mineralization and genetic in-
terpretations. The disagreement stems, in part, from the fine-
grained nature of the ores, the difficulty of establishing
parageneses, and the fact that some ores have been subjected
to supergene weathering (Hofstra and Cline, 2000). Proposed
ages for Carlin-type mineralization along the northern Carlin
† Corresponding author: e-mail, pemsbo@usgs.gov
ages mainly from 40Ar/39Ar and K-Ar measurements of
sericite (Arehart et al., 1993b; Drewes et al., 1996). Subse-
quent work has shown that the fluids responsible for Carlin-
type mineralization have affected Eocene dikes, thus imply-
ing an age no older than mid-Tertiary (Emsbo et al., 1996;
Ressel et al., 2000). Sericite yields older ages because it con-
tains both ore-stage mica and preore mica that was incom-
pletely reset by the Carlin hydrothermal event (Folger et al.,
1996; Hofstra et al., 1999). Stable isotope evidence presented
here confirms a mid-Tertiary age.
The geologic history of the northern Carlin trend includes
both preore and postore igneous and hydrothermal events
that are summarized in Table 1. Nonore-forming events are
important to consider because (1) preore processes modified
physical and chemical aspects of the host rocks in ways that
were critical to formation of high-grade ore in the Meikle de-
posit, and perhaps, other deposits, and (2) postore processes
significantly modified the ores in many deposits along the
trend. The distinguishing characteristics, origin, and signifi-
cance of postore dissolution collapse breccias in Meikle are
presented in Emsbo and Hofstra (2003).

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1070 EMSBO ET AL.

FIG. 1. Simplified geologic map of the Goldstrike property on the northern Carlin trend, Nevada, showing the footprint
of Carlin-type deposits projected to surface. Modified from Bettles (2002).

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1071

TABLE 1. Sequence of Hydrothermal and Igneous Events on the Northern Carlin Trend

Age Event Geologic characteristics Age constraints References

Late Devonian Sedex alteration and Stratiform: from massive barite with sphalerite,
mineralization boulangerite, galena, and tetrahedrite to
“pinstripe pyrite” with minor barite,
sphalerite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, and Au
Discordant: zebra dolomite with sphalerite,
barite, boulangerite, pyrite, galena,
tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, quartz, and Au
Stratiform: synsedimentary debris flows 1, 2, 3
terminate mineralized beds and contain
ore clasts, predates compaction and
lithification of Devonian host rocks; cut
by early diagenesis and petroleum migration
Discordant: cut by early diagenesis
and petroleum migration

Late Devonian Early diagenesis Barite rosettes and nodules cut and contain Predates compaction and lithification of 3
inclusions of Sedex sulfides, Au, and enclosing rocks and is cut by petroleum
diagenetic pyrite and dolomite migration and bedding-parallel burial
stylolites

Early Mississippian? Petroleum migration Sequence of several crosscutting quartz
and deep-burial veins, silicification of carbonates, migration
diagenesis of petroleum, remobalization of Au,
dolomite veins, and stylolites
Late Jurassic Igneous intrusion Intrusion of Goldstrike diorite stock and
related monzonite and lamprophyre dikes
Late Jurassic Polymetallic Auriferous polymetallic quartz veins with
mineralization galena, bournonite, freibergite, pyrite,
sphalerite, chalcopyrite, covellite, minor
bismuthinite, and sericite; widespread
quartz-sericite-pyrite ± arsenopyrite (QSP)
alteration of intrusive rocks
Minerals and veins are cut by maximum 4
burial stylolites, suggesting a lower
Mississippian age during emplacement
of Roberts Mountains allochthon;
burial stylolites are cut by Jurassic dikes
40
Ar/39Ar dates on hornblende (157.87 ± 4, 5, 6
0.24 Ma) and phlogopite (158.88 ± 0.26
Ma) from lamprophyre dikes; zircon
U/Pb age (159–158 Ma) on Goldstrike
stock and monzonite dikes
40
Ar/39Ar date on sericite (154.6 ± 7
1.4 Ma)

Cretaceous Igneous- Richmond Hill stock 5 km southeast
hydrothermal of Goldstrike, Sericitic alteration at
Bluestar-Genesis and Betze-Post,
Cu mineralization at Mike deposit
Eocene Igneous intrusion Porphyritic dacite to rhyodacite, biotite-
feldspar porphyry dike (BFP), thin dikes
intruded in along the Betze-Post fault
K/Ar age on illite (95 Ma) in Bluestar; 8, 9, 10
40
Ar/39Ar on reset sericite at Goldstrike
(117 Ma); K/Ar of K-altered Roberts
Mt. Formation (111 ± 2 Ma)
40
Ar/39Ar on biotite and sanidine (38.1– 6, 11
39.21 Ma); U/Pb of zircon (37.8–38.1 Ma)

Eocene Carlin-type Au Decalcification, argillization, sulfidation, Mineralization cuts 38 to 39 Ma dikes 4, 5, 11

mineralization and silicification with As-rich pyrite, realgar, and is cut by 15 Ma Carlin Formation
orpiment, arsenopyrite, stibnite

Miocene? Epithermal Purple Vein Hg prospect just south of Probably related to Miocene regional 4, 12
Meikle mine bimodal magmatism and widespread
epitherrmal mineralization

Pliocene Low-temperature Extensive carbonate dissolution, collapse Cuts Carlin Formation (14.3–15.3 Ma), 4, 13, 14
hydrothermal brecciation, precipitation of calcite and U/Pb on calcite (2 Ma)
barite in the Bootstrap limestone

References: 1 = Emsbo et al., 1997; 2 = Emsbo et al., 1999; 3 = Emsbo et al., 2002; 4 = Emsbo, 1999; 5 = Emsbo et al., 1996; 6 = Mortensen et al., 2000;
7 = Emsbo et al., 2000; 8 = Arehart, 1993b; 9 = Drewes-Armitage et al., 1996; 10 = Teal and Branham, 1997; 11 = Ressel et al., 2000; 12 = Wallace, 2003; 13
= Hofstra et al., 2000; 14 = Emsbo and Hofstra, 2003

This paper draws on detailed petrographic, geochemical,
geochronologic, and isotopic studies originally presented in
Emsbo (1999) to explain the origin of the high-grade ores at
Meikle. It also draws on previous work on the geology of the
Meikle deposit and the northern Carlin trend (Leonardson
and Rahn, 1996; Volk et al., 1996; Armstrong et al., 1997;
Emsbo et al., 1997; Teal and Jackson, 1997; Griffin, 2000;
Ressel et al., 2000), including fluid inclusion studies (Lamb,
1995) and studies of breccia distribution and petrography
(Evans, 2000). We present new petrographic, geochemical,
and isotopic data for both Meikle and other Goldstrike de-
posits and utilize pertinent observations and data from nu-
merous previous workers (Arehart et al., 1993a,b; Drewes et
al., 1996; Leonardson and Rahn, 1996; Ferdock et al., 1997;
Williams, 1997; Peters et al., 1998; Ressel et al., 2000) to
make comparisons with other northern Carlin-trend deposits.

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1072 EMSBO ET AL.
We first characterize the effects of hydrothermal activity on
igneous dikes in the Meikle, Betze-Post, and Ren deposits.
The chemical, mineralogic, and isotopic effects on igneous
rocks help to constrain the composition of ore fluids, deposi-
tional mechanisms, and age of these deposits. The hydrother-
mal effects on the carbonate rocks at Meikle are then de-
scribed using a similar approach. Textures of carbonate rocks
and collapse breccias are described in detail as they directly
relate to formation of high-grade ore. Our data and observa-
tions lead to conclusions that are different from those of pre-
vious workers, and we propose a new genetic model for
Meikle and neighboring deposits on the northern Carlin
trend. A key element of our model is the critical roles played
by preore deformation and igneous and hydrothermal events
on the subsequent Carlin-type mineralization.
Methods
A combination of field mapping, petrographic observations
(transmitted, reflected, cathodoluminescence), scanning
electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), geo-
chemical, and microprobe analyses was used to study the ores
and to resolve the complicated paragenetic sequence at
Meikle and other Goldstrike deposits. The ages of dikes on
the northern Carlin trend were used to constrain the timing
of ore-related hydrothermal and structural events. New
40
Ar/39Ar analyses have been used to supplement published
geochronology; additional information was obtained from
crosscutting field relations (Emsbo, 1999). Textural charac-
teristics, in conjunction with immobile element geochemistry,
were used to identify and distinguish the different intrusive
rocks and their alteration histories.
A combination of hand samples of Meikle ore and core
samples in and around the Meikle deposit (83 1.5-m-long and
815 12-m-long composite core samples from 37 drill holes)
were analyzed for 48 major and trace elements by instrumen-
tal neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively cou-
pled plasma-optical emission spectrometry by Actlabs in An-
caster, Canada. Major, minor, and REE analyses of igneous
rocks were analyzed by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluores-
cence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass
spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) in Denver. These data reveal consistent elemental as-
sociations related to the different chemical compositions of
different sedimentary and igneous rocks and different hy-
drothermal events (Emsbo et al., 1995; Emsbo, 1999; Tables
1 and 2). Microanalyses of sulfide minerals were conducted
using an electron microprobe and laser ablation ICP-MS (Ri-
dley and Lichte, 1998) at the USGS laboratories in Denver to
investigate the siting of Au and the distribution of major and
trace elements including Fe, S, As, Sb, Hg, Te, Tl, Bi, Co, Ga,
Ge, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Re, Se, U, W, and Zn. Where Au, Ag,
and Sb in sulfide minerals were near or below the detection
limits of the microprobe, laser ablation ICP-MS was used. Fe,
S, and As concentrations measured by microprobe analysis
were used to standardize between methods. The data are de-
scribed in detail by Emsbo (1999). Microthermometric data
were collected on fluid inclusions in stibnite using a Fluid
Inc. modified USGS-type gas-flow heating/freezing stage and
a microscope equipped with an infrared light source.
Ore- and late ore-stage quartz and calcite were separated
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for isotopic analyses on the basis of petrographic characteris-
tics, crosscutting relationships, fluid inclusion characteristics,
and cathodoluminescence (CL). Ore- and late ore-stage sul-
fide minerals were selected for isotopic analyses using petro-
graphic characteristics and mineral geochemistry determined
by microprobe, SEM, and laser ablation ICP-MS analyses.
Ore-stage clay minerals in mineralized intrusive rocks were
selected using petrographic, geochemical, whole-rock XRD,
and SEM methods and separated by elutriation using the
method in Folger et al. (1996). Clay separates from altered
and mineralized biotite-feldspar-porphyry dikes at Betze-Post
and lamprophyre dikes at Meikle were analyzed for δD and,
in most cases, δ18O compositions. The δD values of fluid in-
clusion water in late ore-stage orpiment from Betze-Post and
late ore-stage stibnite and quartz from Meikle also were ana-
lyzed. Oxygen isotope analyses of silicate minerals were car-
ried out using the bromine pentafluoride technique (Clayton
and Mayeda, 1963). Carbonate minerals were analyzed by re-
action with 100 percent phosphoric acid at 25°C following
McCrea (1950). Acid fractionation factors were taken from
Friedman and O’Neil (1977). Hydrogen isotope analyses
were performed by thermal decrepitation of clay minerals
and/or crushing of fluid inclusion samples in stainless steel
tubes. The liberated H2O was converted to hydrogen gas
using uranium metal (Friedman and Hardcastle, 1970). Sul-
fur isotope analyses were carried out using a continuous flow
method similar to that described by Giesemann et al. (1994).
Isotopic compositions of gases were measured using either a
Finnigan MAT 252 or a Micromass Optima isotope ratio mass
spectrometer. Isotopic compositions are reported in δ nota-
tion relative to VSMOW for oxygen and hydrogen, PDB for
carbon, and CDT for sulfur. All of the stable isotope analyses
were made at the USGS laboratories in Denver.
Geologic History of the Northern Carlin Trend
Carlin-type mineralization on the northern Carlin trend is
primarily hosted in the para-autochthonous Silurian-Devon-
ian Roberts Mountains and Devonian Popovich Formations.
The ore at Meikle is mainly hosted in the Bootstrap limestone
(Fig. 2). At Meikle, this unit is more than 600 m thick and
consists of biomicritic wackestones to grainstones containing
ooids deposited on a shallow shelf margin that is equivalent in
age to the Silurian-Devonian Roberts Mountains and the De-
vonian Popovich Formations (Fig. 3; Griffin, 2000). The
Roberts Mountains Formation at the Betze-Post deposit, ap-
proximately 1.5 km south, is a thin-bedded to laminated silty
limestone that represents a deeper water, lower slope-basin
depositional environment (Armstrong et al., 1997). The
Popovich Formation is 300 m thick and is divided informally
into four members (cf. Bettles, 2002; Fig. 3). The strati-
graphically lowest Wispy member consists of thick bioclastic
debris flows interbedded with bioturbated, wispy laminated
calcareous mudstone. The overlying Planar member consists
of laminated calcareous mudstone, interbedded with thin fos-
siliferous debris flows. Overlying the Planar member is the
Soft-Sediment Deformation member which consists of lami-
nated to medium-bedded, gray to black micritic mudstone
distinguished by convoluted bedding suggestive of syndeposi-
tional slumping. These three members all pinch out against
the Bootstrap limestone just south of Meikle (Griffin, 2000).
 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1073

TABLE 2. Geochemical Characteristics of Hydrothermal Events on the Northern Carlin Trend

Geochemical
Age Event signature1 Pyrite2 Isotopes (‰)3 Fluid inclusions References

Late Devonian Sedex Stratiform: Ba, Zn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Stratiform: δ34S barite n.a. 1, 2, 3
alteration and V, Cd, Sb, Ni, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, (26–33), pyrite (–15 to 11);
mineralization Cu, As, Hg, Au, Ag, Se, Ag, Au δ18O barite (13–16)
Tl, Au/Ag = 0.02–5
Discordant: δ34S barite
Discordant: Ba, Zn, (22–31), sphalerite (10–18);
Cd, Pb, Sb, Cu, As, δ18O barite (13–17),
Hg, Ag, Au, Tl, Au/Ag dolomite (11–16), quartz Sphalerite and
= 0.03–0.003 (12–14); δ13C dolomite quartz NaCl = 9–20,
(–1 to –5) Th = 200°–250°C

Late Devonian Early diagenesis Ba and Mg n.a. δ34S barite (37–52); n.a. 4
δ18O barite (22.6–22.9)

Early Mississippian? Petroleum Ca, Mg, C, Zn, Fe, n.a. δ18O quartz (20–23), Th = 150 ± 20°C, 4, 5
migration and Mn, Si, Au δ18O dolomite (19–22), high-density CH4, P
deep-burial δ13C (–2.6 to –0.3) = 0.6–1.4 kbars
diagenesis

Late Jurassic Polymetallic Vein: Pb, Cu, Zn, As, As, Sb, Pb, δ18O vein qtz (14–16); Three-phase CO2- 4, 6
mineralization Ag, Sb, Bi, Te, Au Zn, Cu, Bi, δ34S QSP pyrite (15), H2O, Th = 200°–
Ag vein pyrite (16), 225°C, 10 m % CO2,
sphalerite (11), galena (9) clathrate melting 8.7
(2.5 NaCl), CO2
melting –57.7 (5 mol
% CH4 or N2),
P > 1.8 kbars

Cretaceous Igneous/ Cu, Fe, Zn, Ag, Bi, n.a. n.a. n.a. 7
hydrothermal Mo, Te, Au

Eocene Carlin-type Au As, Au, Sb, Ag, Hg, Au, As, Sb, δ34S avg pyrite (10), Two modes; NaCl = 3
mineralization Tl, W, and Te, Hg, Tl, Te, realgar (6), stibnite (6); 2–6 and 0–1, Th =
Au/Ag = 10 W δD H2O (–135); δ18O 200°–230° and
H2O (–5) 175°–190°C

Miocene? Epithermal Hg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Pliocene Low- Ca, Mn, Ba n.a. δ18O calcite (3–5), Most inclusions 8
temperature barite (3), δ34S barite necked and single
hydrothermal (15–16); δ13C calcite (0–2). phase Th = <70°C,
one sample Th =
67°–76°C

References: 1 = Emsbo et al, 1999; 2 = Emsbo et al, 2002; 3 = Lamb, 1995; 4 = Emsbo, 1999; 5 = Kuehn, 1989; 6 = Emsbo et al, 2000; 7 = Teal and Bran-
ham, 1997; 8 = Emsbo and Hofstra, 2003
Abbreviations: n.a. = not analyzed, NaCl = wt % NaCl equiv, P = pressure, qtz = quartz, Th = temperature of homogenization (°C)
1
Data from references and Table 3 in decreasing order
2
Pyrite trace-element signature in decreasing order from references and Table 4 and 5
3
Data from Table 6

The Upper Mud member is a laminated, black to dark-gray
limey mudstone with thin beds of pyrite and lenses of phos-
phatic chert that overlies the Soft-Sediment Deformation
member and is the only member that continues to the north
where it overlies the Bootstrap limestone. The Popovich For-
mation is overlain by the Rodeo Creek unit that is composed of
argillite interbedded with silty carbonaceous mudstone and
chert. The carbonaceous nature of the Popovich Formation
and Rodeo Creek unit is evidence that these strata were de-
posited under anoxic conditions in a restricted basin (Emsbo et
al., 1997). This Devonian stratigraphic sequence, with its
abrupt lateral and vertical facies changes, thick sequences of
debris flows, and synsedimentary slumping, is believed to re-
flect foundering of the carbonate platform and synsedimentary
extensional faulting (Emsbo et al., 1997, 1999; Griffin, 2000).
Devonian para-autochthonous rocks are overlain by al-
lochthonous chert, siltstone, mudstone, and minor limestone.
This complex assemblage of rocks includes imbricate slices of
the Ordovician Vinini Formation, Silurian Elder sandstone,
and Devonian Slaven Chert that were emplaced along the
Roberts Mountains thrust during the Late Devonian-Early
Mississippian Antler orogeny (Roberts et al., 1958). These
rocks are unconformably overlain by mid-Miocene lacustrine
and tuffaceous sediments of the Carlin Formation.

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1074 EMSBO ET AL.

A A' Meikle Orebody

Carlin Fm (Tertiary)

Lamprophyre Dike (Jurassic )

Monzonite Dike (Jurassic)

Upper Main Zone
Rodeo Creek Unit (Devonian)

Popovich Fm (Devonian)
Bootstrap Limestone
Lower Main Zone
(Silurian-Devonian)
Elder Fm (Silurian and Devonian)
and Vinini Fm (Ordovician)
500 m
No vertical exaggeration

FIG. 2. Simplified geologic cross section A–A' showing the upper and lower Main zones of the Meikle deposit, Nevada.
Geologic interpretations are from drill holes prior to mining. Modified from Bettles (2002).

QUATERNARY ALLUVIUM Sequence of geologic and hydrothermal events

MIOCENE CARLIN FORMATION A protracted sequence of geologic and hydrothermal events
0-300 m

Volcaniclastic fluvial-lacustrine
siltstone, sandstone at the Goldstrike property includes six temporally, mineralog-
MIOCENE VOLCANIC ROCKS ically, geochemically, and isotopically different hydrothermal
Rhyolite flows
events, four of which deposited gold (Emsbo, 1999; Tables 1
SILURIAN - DEVONIAN and 2). The first event occurred in Late Devonian time when
ELDER FORMATION AND
auriferous brines discharged to the sea floor through synsed-
0-1000 m

ORDOVICIAN VININI FORMATION

Mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, limestone, chert, imentary faults along the flanks of subsiding continent-mar-
micaceous siltstone, limey siltstone and chert
gin basins where they deposited barite, minor base metals,
Ag, and Au in the Upper Mud member of Devonian Popovich
ROBERTS MOUNTAINS THRUST
DEVONIAN RODEO CREEK UNIT Formation (Emsbo et al., 1997, 1999; Emsbo, 2000). A num-
30 m

ARGILLITE MEMBER - AA ber of lines of evidence suggests that these occurrences are
Limy siltstone, mudstone and chert
sedimentary exhalative in origin: (1) they are stratiform and
30-90 m

BAZZA SAND MEMBER - BS

Limy siltstone, sandstone and mudstone predate compaction and lithification of their unaltered De-
ARGILLITE-MUDSTONE MEMBER - AM
vonian host rocks; (2) they contain barite that has δ34S and
60-120 m

Limy mudstone and chert (argillite) δ18O values identical to those of sulfate in Late Devonian sea-
Disconformity water and other sedimentary exhalative barite deposits in
DEVONIAN - POPOVICH FORMATION
UPPER MUD MEMBER - UM Nevada; (3) the abrupt facies changes in the Popovich For-
60 m

Laminated limey to dolomitic mudstone mation are evidence of synsedimentary faulting and founder-
MEIKLE

SOFT SEDIMENT
30-60 m

DEFORMATION MEMBER - SD ing of the carbonate shelf during mineralization, as is charac-

Thin bedded limey to dolomitic mudstone and
micritic limestone with Bootstrap-derived boulders teristic of sedimentary exhalative basins; and (4) the absence
of alteration and lack of any δ13C and δ18O isotopic shift of
60 m

PLANAR MEMBER - PL
Laminated limey to dolomitic mudstone
primary carbonate minerals in ore-grade material is strong ev-
WISPY MEMBER - WS idence that the gold was not introduced by a Carlin-type
60-90 m

Thick bioclastic debris flows with clasts derived

from the Bootstrap interbedded with limey to
dolomitic mudstone with wispy laminations
600 + m
fluid. The most significant sedimentary exhalative occurrence
contains ore grades as high as 68 g/t Au in what is locally
called “pinstripe pyrite” and will be mined underground,

along with Carlin-type ore, as part of the Rodeo deposit (Fig.

SILURIAN - DEVONIAN
BOOTSTRAP LIMESTONE 1; Emsbo et al., 1999).
Fossiliferous limestone and dolomite
shown on left side of column
The Upper Mud member locally contains significant
300-500 m

barite that ranges from nearly pure, bedded barite as much

SILURIAN - DEVONIAN as 4 m thick to disseminated barite. The barite is white to
ROBERTS MOUNTAINS FORMATION gray, saccharoidal, and fine grained and contains dissemi-
Laminated dolomitic, limey mudstone nated honey-colored sphalerite, boulangerite, galena, and
and siltstone
tetrahedrite. Coeval mudstones also contain pinstripe pyrite
Disconformity

ORDOVICIAN - SILURIAN
100 m +

HANSON CREEK FORMATION

Sandy Dolomite FIG. 3. Tectonostratigraphic column of the northern Carlin trend,
Nevada. Modified from Bettles (2002).

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND
that is comprised of thin (1–4 mm), concordant laminae of
mainly pyrite with minor sphalerite, tetrahedrite, chalcopy-
rite, and native gold. Rocks characterized by pinstripe pyrite
also contain barite in beds as much as 4 cm thick and as nod-
ules and rosettes. Pinstripe pyrite together with minor barite
has been recognized over an area of 20 km2 on the northern
Carlin trend (Emsbo et al., 1999, 2002). Small lenses of mas-
sive sulfide with barite as thick as 0.5 m also are present in
this rock. Grains of native gold, generally <1 µm wide, are
present as inclusions in tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and
barite and as free grains in the mudstone; they are overgrown
by diagenetic barite nodules, indicating that native gold
formed contemporaneously with the barite and base metal
sulfide. Gold contents of as much as 500 ppm and 2,200 ppm
have also been measured by electron microprobe and laser
ablation ICP-MS in pyrite and Cu sulfide minerals that lacked
microscopically visible inclusions of native gold (Emsbo,
1999). This pyrite also contains high concentrations of Zn, Pb,
Cu, Ni, Mn, Hg, and Se, with As generally <1 wt percent
(Emsbo et al., 1999). Similar auriferous pyrite, interpreted as
early diagenetic, has been reported at the Gold Quarry mine
on the southern Carlin trend (Sha, 1993).
At Meikle the underlying Bootstrap limestone is perva-
sively dolomitized and locally silicified in and along vertical
faults that were loci of major venting, depositing base metals,
barite, and minor gold. The resulting dolostone exhibits
“zebra” texture, which is characterized by alternating bands of
white and gray sparry dolomite. The δ13C (–1 to –3‰) and
δ18O (12–15‰) values of the dolomite are typical of those of
deposits formed by basinal fluids including both sedimentary
exhalative and Mississippi Valley-type deposits (Emsbo,
1999). Cathodoluminescence microscopy (CL) displays com-
plex color zoning ranging from a mottled, dark reddish brown
in gray bands to a bright reddish orange to yellowish red in
the white sparry dolomite. The proportions of high- and low-
luminescence dolomite vary greatly among samples. Electron
microprobe analyses show that the gray, weakly luminescent
dolomite contains 5 to 10 wt percent FeO, whereas the highly
luminescent, white dolomite contains 0.01 to 1 wt percent
FeO (Emsbo, 1999).
The Devonian sedimentary exhalative alteration and min-
eralization are cut by bitumen veins, quartz and/or calcite
veins, and stylolites that formed during burial diagenesis in
early Mississippian time (Table 1). These features are cut by
the Late Jurassic Goldstrike stocks and related dikes
(160–158 Ma) that account for most igneous activity on the
northern Carlin trend (Emsbo, 1999). Minor hydrothermal
activity associated with these intrusions deposited base and
precious metals in quartz veins, and the Goldstrike stock and
related monzonite dikes were altered to quartz-sericite-pyrite
(Emsbo et al., 2000). Pyrite associated with this quartz-
sericite-pyrite alteration is texturally, geochemically, and iso-
topically distinct from pyrite formed during other events
(Table 2). It occurs as euhedral brassy grains up to 0.5 mm
across and is complexly zoned, with some zones containing as
much as 9.3 percent As and 0.2 percent Sb and between ca. 5
and 100 ppm Au. In addition to high base metal contents
(2,800 ppm Pb, 1,000 ppm Cu, and 1,000 ppm Zn), the pyrite
contains high Bi (140 ppm), Ag (13 to 33 ppm), and Te (17
ppm) contents and lacks Hg (<1 ppm). The δ34S composition
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1075
of the pyrite in the veins and quartz-sericite-pyrite is consis-
tently 15 per mil (Emsbo et al., 2000).
Small mid-Tertiary (ca. 38 Ma) dacite to rhyodacite biotite
feldspar porphyry dikes are present on the northern Carlin
trend that were altered and mineralized by the Carlin hy-
drothermal event, constraining the age of the Carlin-type
mineralization to mid-Tertiary time (Emsbo et al., 1996;
Emsbo, 1999; Ressel et al., 2000). The Purple Vein Hg
prospect just south of Meikle might be a local manifestation
of Miocene epithermal systems that occur regionally (John
and Wallace, 2000; Wallace, 2003). Finally, a lower tempera-
ture, gold-deficient Pliocene hydrothermal event caused
postore dissolution of carbonate minerals, collapse breccia-
tion, and precipitation of calcite and barite in resulting cavi-
ties at Meikle (Emsbo and Hofstra, 2003).
Alteration and Mineralization of Igneous Rocks
in Northern Carlin Trend Deposits
Alteration of igneous rocks
Jurassic lamprophyre dikes, monzonite dikes, and the
Goldstrike stock, as well as the late Eocene biotite feldspar
porphyry dikes on the Goldstrike property, were all locally al-
tered prior to Carlin-type mineralization. Lamprophyre dikes
typically were altered to calcite, dolomite, magnesite, chlo-
rite, quartz, and illite (2M) following their emplacement in
Jurassic time. The Jurassic hydrothermal system also locally
altered the monzonite dikes to quartz, illite (2M), and pyrite
(QSP in Table 1). Similarly, feldspar, the glassy groundmass,
chlorite, and hornblende in many biotite feldspar porphyry
dikes were altered to a mixture of illite (2M), quartz, and
minor smectite and kaolinite. Biotite, however, was not al-
tered by this preore event.
Alteration minerals associated with Carlin-type mineraliza-
tion are similar in all four igneous rock types at Meikle, Betze-
Post, and Ren (ca. 2 km northeast of Meikle). Except for
quartz, pyrite, and some illite, all major primary igneous min-
erals (i.e., hornblende, phlogopite, pyroxene, olivine, biotite,
and feldspars) and preore alteration minerals are absent in
samples altered by the Carlin-type fluids. Strongly mineral-
ized dikes contain kaolinite, quartz, and varying proportions
of 1M and 2M illite. Increasing kaolinite and 1M illite con-
tents with an increase in Au- and As-rich Fe sulfide minerals
is apparent in mineralized samples, suggesting their forma-
tion during mineralization (Emsbo, 1999). Mineralized sam-
ples of biotite feldspar porphyry dikes also commonly contain
smectite. Iron-bearing minerals in the different dikes (i.e.,
hornblende, olivine, phlogopite-biotite, magnetite, and il-
menite) are typically replaced by pyrite, marcasite, or ar-
senopyrite (Fig. 4). Ti-bearing minerals are altered to leucox-
ene. Zircon and apatite appear unaffected during even the
strongest alteration.
Chemical gains and losses during hydrothermal alteration
of the dike rocks were evaluated using logarithmic isocon di-
agrams (Grant, 1986; Hofstra, 1994). Of the major elements,
Al, Ti, P, Si, and Fe were immobile, except for Si which ap-
pears slightly depleted in the biotite feldspar porphyry dike.
This depletion is consistent with the hydration of volcanic
glass that is observed in the matrix of fresh samples. There is
no evidence for introduction of base metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and
1076 EMSBO ET AL.
FIG. 4. Photomicrographs of altered dikes from northern Carlin trend de-
posits. A. Fresh lamprophyre containing needles of hornblende (transmitted
light). Inset shows cross section of hornblende. B. Mineralized lamprophyre
showing replacement of hornblende by opaque pyrite (transmitted light).
Inset shows pyrite pseudomorph of hornblende (reflected light). C. Id-
dingsite (after olivine) in unmineralized lamprophyre dike (transmitted
light). D. Replacement of iddingsite by opaque pyrite (transmitted light). E.
Photomicrograph of phlogopite (transmitted light). F. Pyrite in partially sul-
fidized phlogopite (reflected light).
Pb). Other transition metals (Co, Ni, V, U, Cr, and Mo) and
high field strength elements including the rare earth ele-
ments, Sc, Y, Th, Zr, Hf, Ti, Nb, and Ta, were also immobile.
Mineralized dikes from different locations, including Meikle,
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have remarkably consistent gains in Au, As, W, Hg, S, Sb, Tl,
Te, and Ag and losses in Mn, Na, Ca, Mg, and Sr (Appendix
and Fig. 5). Depletions of Mn, Na, Ca, Mg, and Sr are con-
sistent with the observed alteration of the primary minerals to
kaolinite, illite, and quartz, since these elements do not ap-
preciably substitute into the lattice of these clay minerals.
The extreme lack of Ca reflects argillization of feldspars and
carbonate dissolution in the lamprophyre dikes. Highly min-
eralized samples exhibit increases in immobile element con-
centrations that can be explained by mass losses of 20 to 25
percent (Fig. 5). Losses of K are variable, reflecting variable
proportions of illite and kaolinite in altered samples, with the
largest depletion occurring in kaolinite-rich samples. No sam-
ples show addition of K. Barium and Cs are also depleted in
many mineralized samples. Although several elements are
below detection in both mineralized and unmineralized sam-
ples—including Bi (0.2 ppm), In (5 ppm), Ir (5 ppb), and Se
(4 ppm)—the detection limits for these elements are so low
that no appreciable additions are indicated.
The isocon diagrams for all Jurassic and Eocene mineral-
ized igneous rocks from the Betze-Post, Meikle, and Ren de-
posits show virtually identical alteration trends. The geo-
chemical signatures are also remarkably similar to those of
the Jerritt Canyon (Hofstra, 1994; Phinisey et al., 1995), Car-
lin (Bakken and Einaudi, 1986; Kuehn and Rose, 1992), and
Gold Quarry (Sha, 1993) deposits.
Sulfidation and mineralization of dike rocks
Hofstra et al. (1991) first demonstrated that sulfidation was
the most important mechanism of gold deposition in Carlin-
type deposits. Petrographic and geochemical evidence from
the northern Carlin trend (Emsbo et al., 1996, 1998) and at
Twin Creeks (Stenger et al., 1998) also indicates that sulfida-
tion is an important process in these deposits. Pseudomorphic
replacement of Fe-bearing minerals in dikes by As- and Au-
rich pyrite indicates that the dike rocks were also affected by
sulfidation (Fig. 4). Figure 5A and B shows that sulfur con-
tents are dramatically increased in mineralized samples
whereas the Fe content remains constant. This is strong evi-
dence that sulfur from the ore fluid reacted with Fe in the
host rock to form the auriferous pyrite. On plots of Fe vs. S,
mineralized intrusive rocks (Fig. 6) fall between the lines for
pyrite and pyrite containing 10 wt percent As, typical of the
As compositions measured in pyrite by electron microprobe
analyses (Emsbo, 1999). Samples that plotted below the As-
rich pyrite line were found to contain arsenopyrite, which has
a lower S/Fe ratio; a single sample that contained only ar-
senopyrite plotted on the arsenopyrite line. The relationship
between Au and the amount of reactive Fe in the different
types of igneous rocks is also shown in Figure 6. The diagram
indicates that the more reactive Fe that was present, the more
H2S was removed from the fluid, and the more gold de-
posited. The apparent small increase in Fe in some samples
(Fig. 6) can be explained by as much as 25 percent mass loss
of the rock during alteration, a value that agrees with the mass
losses inferred from other immobile elements (Fig. 5).
One of the characteristic features of Carlin-type deposits,
also found in the dikes in the northern Carlin trend, is the
presence of arsenical auriferous pyrite overgrowths on preore
barren pyrite (Hofstra and Cline, 2000). This suggests that,
 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1077

1000000
A
100000

10000

1000
Altered Lamprophyre, ppm

100

10

.1

Location of Samples
.01 Betze/Post
Up to 25% mass decrease Meikle
Constant mass Ren
.001
.001 .1 10 1000 100000

B Unaltered Lamprophyre, ppm

1000000
BIOTITE FELDSPAR PORPHYRY MONZONITE GOLDSTRIKE DIORITE
100000

10000
Altered Dikes, ppm

1000

100

10

.1

.01
Constant mass Constant mass Constant mass
.001
.001

.01

.1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000
.001

.01

.1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000
.001

.01

.1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

“Fresh” Dikes, ppm

FIG. 5. Log isocon plots showing that all mineralized dikes (Appendix), including the Eocene biotite feldspar porphyry,
have the same gains and losses and a remarkably consistent geochemical signature at the Meikle and Betze-Post deposits and
the Ren property. A. Log isocon plot of mineralized lamprophyre vs. the average concentration of elements in fresh lam-
prophyre dikes. The chemical composition of “fresh” rock (x–axis) is plotted against that of its altered counterpart (y–axis).
If no change in element concentration has occurred, the data will plot along the line of constant mass with a slope of 1. Con-
centrations of immobile elements are increased due to mass loss and plot along a line, the isocon, that is above and parallel
to the line of constant mass. Introduced elements plot above the isocon and depleted elements below (Grant, 1986). The
compositions of three unaltered dikes (EL5060, MP-1, and GA32-1746 in Appendix) were averaged to give the unaltered
lamprophyre composition. B. Log isocon diagrams for diorite and biotite feldspar porphyry dikes from Betze-Post and mon-
zonite dikes from Meikle.

although Fe was immobile on a hand sample scale, Fe moved trend deposits. These differences are especially apparent be-
on the microscale to form auriferous pyrite rims on the pre- tween Jurassic lamprophyre and monzonite dikes. The for-
ore pyrite (Stenger et al., 1998). mer commonly have higher gold grades than enclosing sedi-
There are striking differences between gold contents of mentary rocks, whereas monzonite dikes are poor ore hosts.
various intrusive rocks in the ore zones of northern Carlin Lamprophyre dikes in ore zones are typically homogeneously

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1078 EMSBO ET AL.

Au ppm
12
60 8

8
Au ppm

4
40
0
20 s 6000

As ppm
7 A
0 0% 4000
/1
Fe Content w 2000
6 e
rit 0
Monz BFP Di Lamp Py
S (wt %)

50

Hg ppm
5 40
e
rit 30
Py 20
4 BFP 10
0
Di 50
Lamp 40
3 LampM

Tl ppm
ite
LampP pyr 30
eno 20
Monz Ars 10
2 0
200

Sb ppm
160
1 120
80
25% Mass Loss 40
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fe (wt %) Lamprophyre Monzonite
FIG. 6. A. Plot of wt percent Fe vs. wt percent S in mineralized igneous
rocks from the Goldstrike property (Appendix) illustrating the increase of S
and immobility of Fe. The pyrite, pyrite with 10 wt percent As, and ar-
senopyrite lines indicate the Fe stoichiometry of respective minerals. Tie
lines in gray are between unaltered and mineralized counterparts. Sulfur in-
creases until the stoichiometry of As-rich pyrite or arsenopyrite is reached.
The apparent increase in Fe content does not reflect introduced Fe but 1 cm
rather a loss of other constituents (see discussion in text). Sulfur and Fe were
not normalized to an immobile element to emphasize the resulting increase FIG. 7. Laser ablation ICP-MS chemical analyses across the contact be-
in Fe due to mass loss. Inset box plots of Au contents in mineralized samples tween a monzonite dike and a younger lamprophyre dike at Meikle illustrat-
from each rock type are arranged according to their initial Fe contents. BFP ing the difference in their susceptibility to mineralization. The lamprophyre
= biotite feldspar porphyry dike, Di = Goldstrike diorite, Lamp = hornblende contains inclusions of the monzonite dike and is thus the younger rock. Dots
lamprophyre, LampM = mafic lamprophyre, LampP = phlogopite lampro- indicate the locations and the size of spots analyzed (Table 4).
phyre, Monz = monzonite.

mineralized and form high-grade ore. Monzonite dikes are enter the dike. Decalcification by acidic Carlin-type fluids has
mineralized locally in the most intense parts of the hy- been shown to be an important control on mineralization in
drothermal system but only along their margins and in frac- sedimentary rocks by many workers (Kuehn, 1989; Ilchik,
tures. These relationships are apparent at all scales. Figure 7 1990; Bakken, 1991; Hofstra et al., 1991; Hofstra, 1994). In
shows a contact from an ore zone in the Meikle deposit be- contrast, the monzonite dike at Meikle was composed pri-
tween a monzonite dike that is cut by a younger lamprophyre marily of sericite and quartz, which were both relatively sta-
dike. On a hand sample scale, both dikes have experienced ble during Carlin-type alteration. No significant secondary
the same degree of interaction with the mineralizing fluid, permeability was created during alteration of this rock,
but laser ablation ICP-MS analyses show remarkable differ- thereby inhibiting fluid interaction. In the biotite feldspar
ences in the concentrations of Au and related elements in the porphyry dikes, abundant smectite, which is a swelling clay
two rock types. Gold averages 10 ppm in the lamprophyre that is relatively inert to the Carlin-type hydrothermal fluids,
and drops to <1 ppm within 0.25 cm in the monzonite dike, most likely decreased permeability. In addition the biotite
where it is only detectable near fractures. Like the monzonite feldspar porphyry was intruded only shortly before develop-
dikes, the late Eocene biotite feldspar porphyry dikes are also ment of the Carlin-type hydrothermal system, and therefore,
a poor ore host, being mineralized only on their margins and was not affected by the faulting and fracturing experienced by
along fractures that cut them. Although biotite feldspar por- the Jurassic dikes (Emsbo, 1999; Ressel et al., 2000).
phyry dikes locally contain significant Au, they generally con-
tain less Au than surrounding sedimentary rocks. The Gold- Alteration and Mineralization of
strike diorite stock is chemically intermediate in character; in Sedimentary Rocks at the Meikle Mine
portions of the Betze-Post deposit, it is sufficiently mineral- Most ores at Meikle are hosted in complex breccias in the
ized that it can be mined. Bootstrap limestone that extend from 250 to more than 600
Two factors apparently influence the degree of mineraliza- m below the surface but remain open at depth. The orebody
tion in the dikes: their Fe contents, and the ability of the ore has been subdivided into three ore zones on the basis of
fluid to penetrate the dikes. Lamprophyre dikes initially were geometry and depth. The Upper Main and South Meikle
composed of 10 to 20 percent carbonate minerals, mostly cal- zones are hosted in the Popovich Formation (Fig. 2). Ore is
cite, that were readily dissolved by the acidic Carlin-type ore hosted in breccias and mudstones on the southwest side of
fluids, creating secondary permeability and allowing fluid to the monzonite dikes and beneath lamprophyre dikes that, in

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1079

many cases, also host high-grade ore. The Lower Main zone
forms the high-grade core of the Meikle deposit and was the
primary focus of this part of the study (Fig. 8). It averages 60
m thick and has a strike length of 365 m. It trends N 20°–30°
W, is mainly steeply dipping (Volk et al., 1996), and is re-
stricted to the footwall of the monzonite dike in the dolomi-
tized Bootstrap limestone (Fig. 8). Gold mineralization is best
developed in heterolithic breccias in these dolomitized rocks
(Fig. 9), and minor amounts of ore extend into flanking non-
brecciated dolostone along faults and fractures (Fig. 8).
Description and paragenetic relationships of the Meikle ore
Dolomite-hosted ore: Gold grades of the Meikle ore are typ-
ically less than 30 g/t but reach as high as 90 g/t in unbrec-
ciated dolomite. Like the lamprophyre dikes, dolomite be-
comes dark brown to black where mineralized, due to the
presence of fine-grained pyrite. In strongly mineralized
dolomite, primary textures are destroyed, but mineralization
commonly grades into barren dolomite that retains its original
texture (Fig. 10A). Grains of ore-stage pyrite are typically <3
µm wide, anhedral, and have a “spongy,” porous texture (Fig.
10B, C). In highly mineralized samples, ore-stage quartz is
usually a minor constituent (Fig. 10C, D). Where present, it
is subhedral to anhedral and essentially nonluminescent

SW Cross Section 3500N W NE

8m/86.6 g/t
3m/47.6 g/ t
11m/41.6 g/t

25m/24.3 g/t
5m
/19
.9
g/ t

25m
/28
.6 g
/t
55
m
/5

49
3.6

m
/5
g/

6.6
t

Breccia 69 g/
t
m
Dolomite /1
01
.1
Monzonite Dike g/ FIG. 9. Photographs of breccias from the Lower Main ore zone in the
t
Bootstrap Limestone Meikle deposit. A. Ore-stage breccia dominated by clasts of zebra dolomite
near the contact with massive zebra dolomite (see Fig. 8; 15–cm–long
Popovich Fm. Mudstone scratcher for scale). B. Heterogeneous ore-stage breccia near the contact
> 6.2 g/t Au 25 m with a monzonite dike showing clasts of monzonite, ore, and preore barite
that are cemented and silicified by later ore-stage quartz and pyrite. C. Thin
FIG. 8. Cross section (3500NW) showing definition drilling and simplified section of breccia similar to that in B showing different clast types that are
geology of the Lower Main ore zone in the Meikle deposit. cut by late ore-stage quartz. Note clast of cave-fill ore.

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1080 EMSBO ET AL.

FIG. 10. Photographs of dolomite-hosted ore. A. Mineralized dolomite showing sulfidation front ranging from weakly min-
eralized dolomite (upper right) which retains its texture to dominantly ore-stage pyrite with nearly complete dolomite disso-
lution and destruction of zebra textures (lower left). Note replacement of Fe-rich gray zebra dolomite bands over white
coarse dolomite. B. Transmitted light photomicrograph of dolomite partly replaced by ore-stage pyrite. Note absence of
quartz. C. Similar to B, but ore-stage pyrite here is accompanied by uncommon ore-stage quartz. Inset shows preore euhe-
dral quartz overgrown by clear ore-stage quartz containing inclusions of ore-stage pyrite. D. Porous, friable, decalcified zebra
dolomite with relict preore barite and quartz veinlets (white), insoluble residues, and ore-stage pyrite.

under CL except for a slight, dark-blue color. Most quartz ap-
pears to be paragenetically later than the ore-stage pyrite. The
rare fluid inclusions in ore-stage quartz that we observed are
small (<2 µm in size), liquid-rich inclusions with irregular to
rounded shapes. At room temperature, they have gas bubbles
that typically comprise ca. 20 vol percent of the inclusions.
Lamb (1995) reported salinities ranging between 2 to 6 and 0
to 1 wt percent NaCl equiv, and homogenization temperatures
of 200° to 230°C and 175° to 190°C, for these inclusions.
Many original components of the dolostones were appar-
ently insoluble in the acidic ore fluid and are preserved in the
most strongly mineralized and altered samples (Fig. 11A-I).

FIG. 11. Photographs of different preore minerals that constitute insoluble residues in mineralized samples with exam-
ples of crosscutting relations that constrain the age of gold ore formation at Meikle. A. Distinctive preore euhedral quartz
bracketed by related preore discordant sedimentary exhalative mineralization sphalerite and barite. Inset of quartz shows
characteristic oval-shaped, ca. 2-µm, two-phase fluid inclusions (arrow) and a solid carbonate inclusion similar to those de-
scribed by Lamb (1995). Salinities as high as 20 wt percent NaCl equiv and filling temperatures of ca. 230°C for these in-
clusions overlap those measured in sphalerite and barite (data from Lamb, 1995). Quartz associated with sedimentary ex-
halative mineralization has mean δ18O values of 13 per mil (Tables 1 and 5). B. Hand sample of preore sphalerite and related
base metal sulfide minerals, dolomite, and barite, cut by fracture filled with bitumen. C. Preore diagenetic quartz cut by bi-
tumen which are both cut by and included in a Late Jurassic lamprophyre dike. The δ18O values of similar quartz average
22.7 per mil (Tables 1 and 5). D. Clast of sedimentary exhalative preore barite and sphalerite in Late Jurassic lamprophyre
dike. E. Fine-grained gold ore-stage pyrite surrounds euhedral preore pyrite. F. Preore quartz in dolomite that is dissolved
and replaced by opaque ore-stage pyrite. G. Porous, low reflectance bitumen grain surrounded by ore-stage pyrite. H. Grain
of sedimentary exhalative sphalerite overgrown and cut by ore-stage pyrite. I. Tetrahedrite (Tet.) and preore pyrite; tetra-
hedrite is replaced partly by ore-stage pyrite along edge not armored by preore pyrite.

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1081

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1082 EMSBO ET AL.
Preore quartz, distinguished by its petrographic and fluid in-
clusion characteristics, is locally overgrown by later, ore-stage
quartz (Figs. 7D and 11A, F). Angular to subrounded grains
of bitumen also are present in high-grade ore but are typically
more porous and less reflective than those in unmineralized
samples, indicating some reaction between the bitumen and
the ore fluid (Fig. 11G). Preore pyrite is commonly over-
grown and cut by ore-stage pyrite (Fig. 11E); however, many
base metal sulfide minerals related to the Devonian sedimen-
tary exhalative event exhibit dissolution features. Tetrahedrite
is commonly highly corroded, and in some cases replaced, by
ore-stage pyrite (Fig. 11I); elsewhere, it appears to have been
protected as inclusions in sedimentary exhalative pyrite.
Sphalerite grains, which are common to abundant in highly
mineralized samples, are slightly rounded, perhaps again in-
dicating slight dissolution (Fig. 11H). Grains of sedimentary
exhalative barite also are commonly present in strongly min-
eralized samples but are rounded, embayed, and locally re-
placed by quartz, indicating that barite was also soluble in the
ore fluid. Barite is less abundant in ore than in unmineralized
host rocks, consistent with barite having been relatively more
soluble than sphalerite during mineralization.
In the most strongly mineralized samples, nearly all
dolomite has been removed leaving only ore-stage pyrite,
quartz, and other insoluble minerals. Where dissolution and
sulfidation of dolomite was not accompanied by deposition of
quartz, the result was a highly porous and friable rock com-
posed of delicately intergrown ore-stage pyrite and insoluble
residue minerals, with Au grades as high as 190 g/t (Fig. 10E).
Breccia-hosted ore: Most ore at Meikle is contained in the
extremely complex breccias of the Lower Main zone (Fig. 9).
Although minor collapse and fault brecciation preceded Car-
lin-type mineralization, within ore zones these older breccias
are overprinted by ore-stage brecciation. The resulting rocks
are heterogeneous, and in most cases, matrix supported with
clasts of zebra dolomite, dike rocks, Bootstrap limestone,
Popovich Formation mudstone, argillite, preore sulfide min-
erals, barite, and quartz. Although the dominant clast type is
zebra dolomite (Fig. 9A), clast compositions are highly vari-
able and commonly reflect the compositions of the immedi-
ate surrounding rocks (e.g., along the monzonite footwall
most clasts are monzonite; Fig. 9B, C). Carlin-type ore is
commonly present as clasts in breccias that have been ce-
mented by additional ore-stage quartz and pyrite, which is ev-
idence of ore-stage brecciation (Figs. 9 and 12). Matrix min-
erals are dominated by ore-stage pyrite and quartz, mixed
with grains of preore dolomite, quartz, barite, sulfide miner-
als, bitumen, and minor amounts of clay minerals. The pro-
portions of preore minerals vary according to the intensity of
mineralization and the source of the clasts.
Ore-stage breccias in Meikle resemble dissolution and col-
lapse breccias in Mississippi Valley-type deposits, i.e., crackle
breccias dominate upper parts of the breccia bodies and con-
sist of close-packed fragments that exhibit little rotation; rub-
ble breccias comprise most of the orebody and are composed
of down-dropped, matrix-supported clasts, including both
rock and ore material as matrix; and internal sediments and
trash zones composed of insoluble residues accumulated in
dissolution cavities at the base of the breccia bodies (Sangster,
1988). Many clasts from different stratigraphic units have
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 1082
“dropped” significantly from their original stratigraphic posi-
tions, suggesting extensive dissolution collapse brecciation
into open-space created during mineralization.
Fractures and interstices in crackle breccias commonly
contain ore-stage pyrite and clasts of older material foreign to
the enclosing rocks. For example, interstices in crackle brec-
cias in the monzonite dikes are filled by fine-grained minerals
that predate intrusion of the dikes, including grains of preore
quartz, bitumen, sulfide minerals, and dolomite (Fig. 12A).
The presence of these minerals in fractures that cut the dike
indicates their physical transport, probably due to settling,
into the fractures.
Cave-fill ore: The highest Au grades at Meikle (185–400
g/t) are in rocks that are interpreted to have formed locally as
internal sediment in dissolution breccia cavities. These ores
contain stratified and graded beds of Au-rich ore-stage pyrite
and quartz with varying proportions of preore insoluble
residues consisting of fine grains of dolomite, quartz, sulfide
minerals, barite, and bitumen (Fig. 11A-I). Angular to sub-
rounded rock clasts in these sediments are from the Bootstrap
limestone, Popovich and Vinini Formations, and Jurassic ig-
neous rocks, as well as earlier formed Meikle ore. Their well-
stratified character and the sedimentary structures displayed
by rocks and hydrothermal minerals of different ages are evi-
dence that these sediments accumulated in open spaces
within cavities created by hydrothermal dissolution.
Many sedimentary structures in layers of granular, ore-
stage pyrite suggest that it, too, was deposited as clastic sedi-
ment and not by selective replacement of preexisting cave fill.
In some layers, ore-stage pyrite is size graded and is the dom-
inant mineral present. Beds of auriferous pyrite are locally
disrupted by distinctive synsedimentary and soft-sediment
features, such as dropstones, fluidized structures, slumps,
load casts (flame structures), and beds that drape over larger
clasts (Fig. 12B-E).
Compositions and textures of cave-fill ores are highly vari-
able. At one end of the spectrum are internal sediments com-
posed dominantly of corroded and leached grains of dolomite
that are similar to so-called “sanded dolomite” in Mississippi
Valley-type deposits (Heyl et al., 1959). These rocks exhibit
alternating light and dark layers of variable thickness. Coarser
beds consist of silt- to sand-sized dolomite grains mixed with
granular preore sulfide minerals, bitumen, quartz, barite, and
ore-stage pyrite that are present as free grains and/or as in-
clusions in larger grains and clasts when not disaggregated or
dissolved out of their dolomite host. Commonly, these strata
grade into dark layers with higher contents of ore-stage
pyrite, preore sulfide minerals, and bitumen and show a cor-
responding decrease in the size and abundance of dolomite
grains (Fig. 12C). An increase in organic carbon content is ap-
parent in the finer beds, and because of its uniformly small
grain size, ore-stage pyrite is also concentrated within the
finer grained strata. The gold contents of these samples are
variable, typically below 15 g/t, and correspond to the amount
of dark-colored material. Where “sanded” dolomite was sub-
sequently mineralized, the dolomite-rich layers are porous
and replaced by disseminated pyrite (Fig. 12F).
At the other end of the spectrum are rocks composed al-
most entirely of ore-stage pyrite and quartz. They are similar
to rocks in the high sulfide beds described above (Fig. 13D);
 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1083

FIG. 12. Photographs of ore-stage pyrite deposited as clastic cave-fill sediment. A. Monzonite crackle breccia filled in by
ore-stage pyrite and various preore grains that settled into the fracture. B. Core sample of cave-fill ore with textures close to
that of the sanded dolomite in Mississippi Valley-type deposits (Heyl et al., 1959). C. Graded beds of ore-stage pyrite and
sanded dolomite grains. D. Load casts with flame structures disrupting beds of ore-stage pyrite. E. Argillite dropstone with
preore quartz and bitumen veins in beds of ore-stage pyrite and dolomite. Note associated fluidization features. F. Core sam-
ple of sanded dolomite cave-fill ore as in B that was subsequently dissolved and sulfidized. Note porosity at former locations
of sanded dolomite and dolomite clasts.

they also contain minor amounts of preore sulfide minerals,
bitumen, barite, and rare grains of dolomite. The quartz in
these layers consists of variable proportions of preore and
ore-stage quartz; only a few samples contain predominantly
ore-stage quartz (Fig. 13C). Pyrite contents are generally 20
to 50 percent and Au contents commonly exceed 300 g/t. The
absence of porosity in these ores indicates that they are not a
product of dissolution and sulfidation of sanded dolomite.
Overprinting and crosscutting relationships indicate that
cave-fill sedimentation was synchronous with Carlin-type
mineralization and not the result of postore dissolution and
pyrite concentration. For example, the dolomite-rich layers
are locally leached and sulfidized, a feature that is typical of
rocks altered by Carlin-type fluids (Fig. 12F). Also, clasts of
high sulfide cave-fill sediments are present in breccias that
have been subsequently silicified and sulfidized by ore-stage
pyrite; the breccias are also cut by late ore-stage veins (Figs.
9, 12E, and 14A). These crosscutting relations are com-
pelling evidence that dissolution of host rock, brecciation,
and formation of “sanded” dolomite were broadly contempo-
raneous with graded, ore-stage pyrite.
The Meikle deposit also contains late Pliocene dissolution
collapse breccias with internal sediments that are distinguish-
able from the breccias and internal sediments which formed
during gold mineralization (Tables 1 and 2). These features
are described in another paper (Emsbo and Hofstra, 2003).
Late ore-stage drusy quartz, stibnite, and pyrite: Drusy
quartz, stibnite, and/or brassy pyrite form overgrowths on
ore-stage quartz and pyrite. These minerals also fill frac-
tures that cut ore and cement brecciated ore clasts. Drusy
quartz is far more abundant than ore-stage replacement
quartz at Meikle. Stibnite, however, locally forms veins that
cut cave-fill ore (Fig. 14A). These veins are as much as 1.5
m across with crystals 0.3 m in length. Late ore-stage pyrite
is not significant.
Drusy quartz typically exhibits a progression from fine- to
medium-grained, granular to coarse euhedral crystals. Cathodo-
luminescence reveals prominent zoning, with the initial granular

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1084 EMSBO ET AL.

FIG. 13. Photograph of cave-fill ore from Meikle containing quartz from various sources. A. Photograph shows striking
similarity between cave-fill ore from the Reocin (left) carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Spain, consisting of nearly pure spha-
lerite, and high-grade (390 g/t Au) cave-fill ore from Meikle (right), consisting of almost entirely of ore-stage pyrite. B. Thin
section of high-grade Meikle ore in A showing graded pyrite-rich sample with quartz having a δ18O value of 13.4 per mil,
consistent with a sedimentary exhalative origin (Table 1). Inset 1 shows sedimentary exhalative quartz grains with distinctive
fluid and carbonate inclusions (see Fig. 11A) that comprise most of the sample. Inset 2 shows elongate grain of diagenetic
quartz. C. Finely bedded cave-fill ore (311 g/t Au) showing graded beds of quartz, ore-stage pyrite, and minor amounts of
other insoluble minerals. Most quartz is clear ore-stage quartz confirmed by a whole-rock δ18O value of 5.5 per mil; however,
the sample also contains some preore quartz. Inset 1 shows preore quartz overgrown by ore-stage quartz. Inset 2 shows ore-
stage quartz containing ore-stage pyrite similar to that in Figure 10D. D. Graded, sulfide-rich cave fill with “trash” zone of
preore quartz. Inset 1 shows large clast of diagenetic quartz as seen in Figure 10C. E. Sulfide-rich sample (138 g/t Au) that
includes poorly sorted grains of bitumen containing diagenetic quartz (whole rock δ18O = 20.6‰) as in Figure 11C.

quartz exhibiting only a slight greenish-blue luminescence
which grades into brighter, bluish-green to yellowish-gray lu-
minescence in the youngest growth zones (Fig. 14B). Stibnite
± pyrite is present as inclusions in, and overgrowths on, the
younger, more luminescent quartz. The oldest, weakly lumi-
nescent cores contain irregular, liquid-rich fluid inclusions
that are 1 to 2 µm wide and exhibit consistent liquid to vapor
ratios (ca. 4:1). Fluid inclusions in progressively younger
zones are more irregular in shape, necked, and exhibit vari-
able liquid to vapor ratios. Examination of stibnite in infrared
light reveals spectacular fluid inclusions as much as 100 µm in
diameter that display consistent liquid to vapor ratios of ca.
4:1 (Fig. 14C). Homogenization temperatures measured in
fluid inclusion assemblages from four different samples range
from 200° to 220°C. Freezing points cluster tightly around
–2.6°C, indicating a salinity of 4.3 wt percent NaCl equiv
(Bodnar et al., 1985). The similarity of these homogenization
temperatures and salinities to those found for ore-stage
quartz (Lamb, 1995) strongly suggests that stibnite and drusy
quartz were deposited from the same hydrothermal fluid that
formed the ore.
Late ore-stage drusy quartz and pyrite locally occur with
Ag, Hg, Au tellurides and native Au (Fig. 14D, F). This as-
semblage is rare, cuts across and surrounds earlier formed
ore-stage pyrite, and is present on the margins of quartz vein-
lets that also cut these ore-stage minerals (Fig. 14D, F).
The quartz, stibnite, and pyrite of the late ore-stage are
commonly cut by a distinct generation of zoned quartz that
luminesces a bright light green to greenish-yellow (Fig. 11B).
Although it forms overgrowths on the older, late ore-stage

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1085

FIG. 14. Examples of late-ore stage minerals at Meikle. A. Photomicrograph showing massive stibnite and quartz cutting
cave-fill ore. B. Cathodoluminescence photomicrograph of latest stage highly luminescent quartz, overgrowing and cement-
ing late ore-stage drusy quartz. Banding in late-stage drusy quartz is shown in inset. Note brecciation of the late-stage drusy
quartz. C. Photomicrograph of fluid inclusions in stibnite from A in infrared light. These inclusions homogenized between
210° and 220°C and have a freezing point depression of –2.6°C, corresponding to 4.3 wt percent NaCl equiv. D. Quartz vein
with native Au and a grain of calaverite cutting high-grade pyrite-rich Meikle ore (reflected light). Ore-stage pyrite is clearly
cut by and occurs as inclusions in native gold. Gold grains average 12 wt percent Ag (reflected light). E. Orpiment and stib-
nite in late-ore stage calcite (transmitted light) and orpiment and fluid inclusions in late ore-stage calcite. F. Grains of HgTe
and AgTe surrounding ore and preore pyrite.

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1086 EMSBO ET AL.

drusy quartz and stibnite, this quartz commonly fills fractures 1000000

in crackle breccia and cements brecciated clasts of drusy A

Fe immobile Si
quartz and stibnite (Fig. 11B). A minor episode of cave-fill 100000
Fe
sedimentation occurred between deposition of late ore-stage S
drusy quartz and stibnite and deposition of this latest lumi- Ca

ppm Dolomite-Hosted Ore

nescent quartz. Insoluble residues in this sediment occasion- 10000
As Mg
ally contain stibnite, draped over drusy quartz and stibnite, all Al
subsequently cut and silicified by the latest highly lumines- 1000 P
Sb
cent quartz. Hg Mn
Late ore-stage calcite and As sulfide minerals: Calcite veins Tl AuAg
100
containing realgar and orpiment are present in the South Cu
63% Mass Loss
Meikle, Rodeo, and Betze-Post deposits, and in the Golden
10 Zn Sr Ba
April prospect (Emsbo, 1999). Only one example has been
found at Meikle (Evans, 2000). The As sulfide minerals are Te Co
present as grains in large crystals of calcite, indicating that 1 Pb
they are cogenetic (Fig. 11E). Calcite also locally contains in- Mo
clusions of stibnite. It is only slightly zoned under CL, with a .1
bright reddish-orange luminescence, and appears to be para- EX-21C-1085.5
EX21C-1290
genetically later than ore-stage pyrite and quartz, which are
.01
present as inclusions in the calcite. The calcite contains .01 .1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
equant fluid inclusions with liquid/vapor ratios suggesting ppm Fresh Dolomite (EX21C-1146)
that deposition was at temperatures above 150°C (Roedder,
1984). 450
B
Geochemistry of Meikle ore and pyrite
350
Mineralized dolomite exhibits the same metasomatic ef-
fects as those documented in the intrusive rocks. Iron was
Au (ppm)

immobile, whereas S increased along with the Au contents, 250

suggesting that sulfidation of Fe was the main depositional
mechanism for S and Au (Appendix and Fig. 15A). This in-
150
terpretation also is consistent with petrographic evidence of
dolomite dissolution and replacement by ore-stage pyrite (Fig.
10). Dolomite dissolution resulted in the depletion of Ca, Mg, 50
Values of Unmineralized Dolomite
and Mn. Barite dissolution is indicated by depletion of Ba. 0
Base metal concentrations are unchanged, reflecting the ob- 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20
served stability of base metal sulfide minerals in the ore.
Fe (wt %)
The magnitude of Ca, Mg, and Mn depletions suggests that
>80 percent of the dolomite was removed, which corresponds 8
to a mass loss for the rock of >60 percent. This is consistent C Late Ore-Stage
with the presence of dissolution collapse breccias and the in- 7
creased concentration of ore-stage pyrite (to >20%), with a Ore-Stage
corresponding increase in Au concentration. Because Fe was 6
immobile, the strong correlation between Au and Fe contents
As/Sb

demonstrates the importance of mass loss on ore grade (Fig. 5

15B). Given that unmineralized dolomite typically contains 2
to 5 percent Fe, the high-grade ore, with Fe contents as much 4
as 20 percent, must have experienced more than a five-fold
increase in Fe due to mass loss (Fig. 15B). 3
Assuming 100 percent of the Au resides in pyrite and that
2
all Fe is in the form of pyrite, the Au contents calculated for
pyrite from hand sample analyses generally range between 1
1,000 and 2,000 ppm. This estimate is supported by electron
microprobe analyses of ore-stage pyrite, which has a mean of 500 1500 2500 3500
1,670 ppm Au and a range from 320 to 3,680 ppm (Table 3) Au (ppm)
and by LA-ICP-MS analyses which have a mean of 1,840 ppm
Au and a range from 620 to 3,560 ppm (Table 4). These val-
ues are similar to those from secondary ion mass spectrom-
FIG. 15. A. Log isocon plot for zebra dolomite from Meikle as in Figure
etry (SIMS) analyses of ore-stage pyrite in a single sample 5. B. Plot of Au vs. Fe concentration in 1.5-m-drill core from dolomite. C.
of high-grade ore which averaged 1,820 ppm Au and ranged Plot of As/Sb vs. Au concentration in ore- and late ore-stage pyrite from LA-
between 1,630 and 2,000 ppm Au (Lamb, 1995). Similar ICP-MS analyses (Table 4).

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1087

TABLE 3. Electron Microprobe Analyses of Meikle Lower Main Zone Ore-Stage and Late Ore-Stage Minerals

Au As Fe S Ag Sb Zn Cu Total
Sample no. Mineral Stage (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %)

1300-gp1 Pyrite OS 0.27 4.03 44.13 49.57 b.d. 0.33 0.07 b.d. 98.41
1300-gp2 Pyrite OS 0.21 3.19 43.86 50.38 0.12 0.55 0.05 0.05 98.41
1300-gp3 Pyrite OS 0.23 3.33 43.63 49.21 0.15 0.70 0.01 0.08 97.33
1300-p4 Pyrite OS 0.35 4.34 43.58 49.18 0.19 0.37 b.d. 0.05 98.06
1300-p4 Pyrite OS 0.37 4.35 43.50 49.55 0.01 0.43 b.d. 0.04 98.24
21-1100 Pyrite OS 0.04 1.06 46.97 53.56 0.05 0.01 b.d. b.d. 101.68
21-1100 Pyrite OS 0.23 3.32 44.66 50.57 b.d. b.d. 0.01 0.30 99.09
21-1100 Pyrite OS 0.06 3.30 45.34 51.33 b.d. b.d. 0.04 b.d. 100.07
21-1100 Pyrite OS 0.05 2.35 45.46 52.38 b.d. b.d. 0.04 0.05 100.32
ex92-904 Pyrite OS 0.03 7.51 43.16 47.78 0.12 0.42 0.03 0.08 99.14
ex92-904 Pyrite OS 0.04 0.90 46.35 53.41 0.07 b.d. 0.07 0.08 100.91
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.12 2.54 45.00 51.33 0.08 0.39 b.d. 0.29 99.75
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.25 4.10 44.80 50.36 b.d. 0.38 0.05 0.28 100.22
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.26 4.03 44.32 49.70 0.14 0.74 0.11 0.30 99.60
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.29 3.67 44.35 49.99 0.04 0.34 b.d. 0.28 98.97
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.04 2.11 46.43 53.08 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.07 101.81
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.11 0.57 46.12 53.12 b.d. 0.03 0.03 0.05 100.02
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.09 0.68 45.36 51.87 b.d. 0.04 0.04 0.01 98.09
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.19 3.19 43.59 37.12 0.10 0.09 0.21 0.04 84.53
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.10 1.35 43.52 50.16 0.07 1.43 b.d. 0.06 96.69
ex53-1501 Pyrite OS 0.08 1.33 43.60 49.89 0.03 1.48 0.02 0.03 96.46
92-1009 Pyrite OS 0.09 4.99 44.68 49.96 b.d. 0.02 b.d. 0.03 99.77
92-1009 Pyrite LO b.d. 1.93 45.46 52.36 b.d. 0.21 0.01 0.09 100.05
92-1009 Pyrite LO 0.05 3.16 45.53 51.74 0.04 0.02 0.09 0.07 100.69
1300-p1 Pyrite LO 0.02 0.43 46.77 53.17 0.07 0.15 0.03 0.01 100.64
1300-p2 Pyrite LO b.d. 1.45 46.28 52.62 0.06 0.11 b.d. 0.06 100.57
1300-p3 Pyrite LO b.d. 0.40 45.71 52.48 0.08 0.18 b.d. b.d. 98.85
1300-p4 Pyrite LO b.d. 0.46 44.71 52.79 0.11 1.16 b.d. b.d. 99.23
1300-lp5 Pyrite LO 0.04 1.18 45.40 52.48 b.d. 1.32 b.d. b.d. 100.42
1300-p6 Pyrite LO b.d. 1.36 46.28 52.81 b.d. 0.06 0.06 b.d. 100.56
1300-p7 Pyrite LO 0.04 1.57 45.54 52.08 0.05 0.55 0.02 b.d. 99.85
1300-p8 Pyrite LO b.d. 0.60 45.83 51.57 0.08 0.74 b.d. 0.01 98.82
92-1009 Pyrite LO b.d. 1.42 45.40 52.76 0.08 0.14 0.01 0.04 99.84
92-1009 Pyrite LO b.d. 0.98 46.40 53.57 0.14 0.23 0.03 0.03 101.39
1300-G Gold LO 84.10 b.d. 0.69 0.53 13.84 b.d. b.d. b.d. 99.16
ex53-1501 Gold LO 87.47 b.d. 0.02 0.04 11.38 b.d. b.d. b.d. 98.90
ex53-1501 Gold LO 87.96 b.d. 0.04 0.05 11.59 b.d. b.d. b.d. 99.64
ex53-1501 Gold LO 87.58 b.d. b.d. 0.02 11.96 b.d. b.d. b.d. 99.56
ex53-1501 Gold LO 87.73 b.d. 0.02 0.01 11.89 b.d. b.d. b.d. 99.65

Abbreviations: b.d. = below detection, LO = late ore stage, OS = ore stage

concentrations have been found at the Deep Star deposit
(3,700 ppm Au; Fleet and Mumin, 1997).
Electron microprobe analyses of ore-stage pyrite yield a
mean As content of 3.4 wt percent and a mean Sb content of
0.3 wt percent (Table 3). The correlation between As + Sb
and S indicates that these elements are present as substitu-
tions for sulfur in the pyrite (Emsbo, 1999). Similarly, a linear
correlation of Au and Fe suggests that Au is present as a solid
solution in the pyrite lattice in agreement with the interpre-
tation of Fleet and Mumin (1997). LA-ICP-MS analyses of
ore-stage pyrite yield high average concentrations of Hg (858
ppm), Ag (179 ppm), Tl (791 ppm), Te (61 ppm), and W (6.8
ppm) (Table 4). The concentrations of these elements also are
proportional to those measured in hand samples and correlate
with Au contents. Base metals, Ni, and Co contents are low
and show no correlation with Au. Bi was below detection
(<0.5 ppm) by LA-ICP-MS.
Gold contents of late ore-stage pyrite that precipitated in
open space range from < 0.2 ppm to 400 ppm with a mean of
91 ppm (Tables 3 and 4). SIMS analyses of a late ore-stage
pyrite sample contained between 1.0 and 54.7 ppm Au
(Lamb, 1995). Concentrations of As in the late ore-stage
pyrite also are lower than those in ore-stage pyrite and aver-
age 1.2 wt percent, whereas Sb is significantly higher, averag-
ing 0.95 wt percent. Although lower than in ore-stage pyrite,
mean contents of the other ore-related elements are still high
in late-stage pyrite (262 ppm Hg), (26.7 ppm Ag), (125 ppm
Tl), (15.5 ppm Te). Base metals and U are elevated in the lat-
est ore-stage, Au-poor pyrite.
Concentrations of As, Ag, Sb, Hg, Tl, W, and Te are all con-
sistently high in ore-stage pyrite containing >1,000 ppm Au
(Table 4); however, concentrations of these elements de-
crease linearly with Au from ore-stage to late ore-stage pyrite.
Ag/Au ratios are generally consistent (ca. 10) through the par-
agenetic sequence (Table 4) and also correspond to the ratio
in late ore-stage native Au (Table 3). Interestingly, Te de-
creases linearly with Au content but increases dramatically in
late ore-stage pyrite. In samples of ore-stage pyrite that con-

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TABLE 4. LA-ICP-MS Analysis of Meikle Lower Main Zone Ore-Stage and Late Ore-Stage Pyrite and Altered Igneous Rocks

Ag As Au Bi Cu Hg Pb Sb Te Tl U W Zn
Sample no. Stage (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

Pyrite analyses
1300A OS 210 18,000 2,068 0.1 380 990 51 4,200 39 670 0.1 0.1 100
1300A OS 250 25,000 2,288 0.1 800 800 57 3,100 62 590 0.1 0.1 39
1300A OS 430 25,000 2,508 0.1 790 1,200 100 4,800 98 770 9.9 37.0 10
1300A OS 330 47,000 2,068 0.1 850 1,800 120 5,200 120 670 55.0 26.0 99
1300A OS 200 32,000 1,716 0.1 560 1,500 170 3,800 130 440 45.0 22.0 32
1300C OS 280 21,000 2,244 0.1 550 1,200 65 4,100 100 940 82.0 23.0 37
1300C OS 360 33,000 3,564 0.1 960 1,600 120 6,500 110 920 76.0 23.0 39
1300C OS 310 24,000 2,904 0.1 940 930 82 4,400 84 700 80.0 30.0 30
1300C OS 250 12,000 1,408 0.1 340 660 47 3,300 53 440 42.0 25.0 30
1300C OS 91 22,000 880 0.1 1,000 2,000 190 11,000 17 320 46.0 0.1 30
ex21-1281 OS 120 25,000 1,900 0.1 480 360 480 4,900 64 920 0.7 8.9 20
ex21-1281 OS 120 24,000 1,600 0.1 580 340 66 4,300 70 1,000 0.7 3.7 10
ex21-1281 OS 140 26,000 1,800 0.5 590 400 66 6,500 66 1,000 0.6 3.8 5
ex21-1281 OS 130 24,000 1,500 0.1 340 370 43 4,100 50 830 0.2 0.1 5
ex21-1281 OS 41 20,000 820 0.1 340 560 43 9,400 20 450 1.8 2.6 30
ex21-1281 OS 39 21,000 620 0.4 530 490 140 17,000 23 560 0.8 1.1 84
ex21-1281 OS 74 32,000 2,800 0.1 830 380 110 7,000 42 1,200 1.0 5.2 30
ex21-1281 OS 62 30,000 1,500 0.1 720 560 80 10,000 31 1,100 0.7 7.4 49
ex21-1281 OS 78 32,000 1,500 0.1 600 570 63 11,000 29 1,200 5.4 2.9 10
ex21-1281 OS 65 21,000 1,100 0.1 290 450 24 7,700 14 1,100 1.5 1.1 5
39-1543 LO 0.1 27,000 0.6 0.5 88 270 7.1 10,000 21 71 12.0 3.1 360
39-1543 LO 0.1 32,000 1.4 0.3 130 280 5.2 13,000 18 87 12.0 0.1 500
39-1543 LO 2.2 28,000 1.1 0.4 130 230 6.9 11,000 17 59 19.0 1.7 460
39-1543 LO 0.1 26,000 1.1 0.6 160 330 6.7 12,000 18 83 9.4 0.4 320
39-1543 LO 0.1 26,000 1.1 0.1 110 230 6.2 11,000 31 56 32.0 2.6 360
39-1543 LO 0.1 24,000 1.2 0.5 150 220 4.7 11,000 13 64 19.0 1.2 500
39-1543 LO 0.1 25,000 0.8 0.1 110 270 4.7 12,000 2 73 19.0 0.1 440
39-1543 LO 1.5 24,000 1.2 0.3 160 210 3.7 11,000 20 70 15.0 0.1 470
39-1543 LO 1.8 34,000 0.2 0.1 51 220 12 20,000 18 96 21.0 2.6 94
1300C LO 40 6,200 220 0.1 40 460 20 4,000 1 280 4.0 6.8 30
1300C LO 40 7,100 110 1.0 30 350 63 3,000 1 280 7.7 2.8 30
1300C LO 25 23,000 18 0.1 36 690 1.1 4,500 1 610 0.1 0.1 34
Crush LO 29 24,000 240 0.1 830 100 51 2,600 5 15 41.0 32.0 98
Crush LO 28 30,000 400 0.1 1,700 37 66 16,000 56 6.8 11.0 14.0 250
Crush LO 73 41,000 370 0.1 990 40 33 1,300 12 20 54.0 14.0 69

Igneous rock analyses

D1 L n.a 2,869 9.6 n.a n.a 49.0 n.a 178 n.a 45 n.a n.a n.a
D2 L n.a 4,786 11.0 n.a n.a 34.5 n.a 161 n.a 44 n.a n.a n.a
D3 L n.a 6,842 11.0 n.a n.a 38.0 n.a 158 n.a 43 n.a n.a n.a
D4 L n.a 6,055 7.7 n.a n.a 31.0 n.a 176 n.a 27 n.a n.a n.a
D5 M n.a 284 <0.2 n.a n.a 0.2 n.a 4 n.a 1 n.a n.a n.a
D6 M n.a 299 <0.2 n.a n.a 0.1 n.a 5 n.a 1 n.a n.a n.a
D7 M n.a 342 0.5 n.a n.a 0.2 n.a 8 n.a 2 n.a n.a n.a
D8 M n.a 740 0.8 n.a n.a 0.3 n.a 22 n.a 3 n.a n.a n.a
D9 M n.a 130 <0.2 n.a n.a 0.1 n.a 5 n.a 7 n.a n.a n.a

Abbreviations: L = lamprophyre, LO = late ore stage, M = monzonite, n.a. = not analyzed, OS = ore stage

tain >1,600 ppm Au there is little variation in As/Sb, whereas
pyrite with lower Au concentrations shows a progressive de-
crease in As/Sb with decreasing Au into the latest stages (Fig.
15C). The decrease in As/Sb with decreasing Au suggests that
As was progressively depleted from the ore fluids as ore-stage
pyrite precipitated (Emsbo, 1999). The increasing Sb con-
centration in late ore-stage pyrite is consistent with the pre-
cipitation of stibnite late in the paragenetic sequence (see
also, Theodore et al., 2003). Similarly, the Te spike in late-
stage pyrite correlates with the appearance of telluride min-
erals. The occurrence of minor late ore-stage pyrite in open
spaces suggests that, unlike main ore-stage pyrite, this pyrite
did not form by sulfidation of host-rock Fe. Instead, it sug-
gests that Fe was introduced by another fluid. This interpre-
tation is supported by the elevated base metal and U contents
of the late pyrite. The high U contents (as much as 40 ppm)
in the late ore-stage pyrite suggest that the inferred second
fluid was relatively oxidized, because a reduced fluid can
carry only low concentrations of U (Hem, 1986).
Isotopic Composition of Ores
The δ18O values of ore-stage minerals
The δ18O values of ore-stage minerals are distinct from
those of other paragenetic stages (Tables 1, 5, and 6). Ore-
stage quartz from Meikle has an average δ18O value of 5.7

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1089

TABLE 5. δ18O and δD Analyses of Quartz, Clay, and Fluid Inclusion Water

Sample Deposit Mineral δ18O (‰) δD (‰) δ18OH2O (‰) δ18OH2O1 (‰) δDH2O2 (‰)

Discordant Sedex
EX6C-1250.5 Meikle Quartz 14.0
GB647-1464 Meikle Quartz 12.3
GB39-1342 Meikle Quartz 11.5
EX6C-1250.5 Meikle Quartz 12.2
Early Mississippian diagenesis and petroleum migration
GB539-1338W Meikle Quartz 19.7
GB541-1410 Meikle Quartz 23.4
GB600-958 Meikle Quartz 19.4
GB732-1219 Rodeo Quartz 22.8
GB720-1082 Rodeo Quartz 22.0
Late Jurassic polymetallic mineralization
BASE B-P Quartz 15.9
BASE 2 B-P Quartz 14.2
Ore stage
Ex30-2310 (<0.5) Meikle K, I 3.1 –142.0 –2.2 –126.0
Ex30-2310 (1–0.5) Meikle K, I 4.1 –162.0 –1.4 –142.0
Ex30-2328 (<0.5) Meikle K, I 4.0 –152.0 –1.4 –134.5
Ex30-2328 (1–0.5) Meikle K, I –159.0 –141.5
5040-1 (1–0.5) B-P C, I/S, K –146.0 –130.0
5040-1 (<0.5) B-P C, I/S, K 1.0 –154.0 –4.7 –138.0
5040-2 (1–0.5) B-P I/S, K –143.0 –123.0
5040-2 (<0.5) B-P I/S, K 0.5 –152.0 –5.1 –134.5
1300-3475A Meikle Quartz 5.6 –4.9
1300-3475B Meikle Quartz 5.5 –5.0
EX21-1252 Meikle Quartz 4.0 –6.4
EX92-1685 Meikle Quartz 8.0 –2.5
EX21-1252 Meikle Quartz 5.5 –4.9
EX91B-1041 Meikle Quartz 7.6 –2.8
Mixed paragenesis
EX53-1501 Meikle WQuartz 21.5
EX-21-1100 Meikle WQuartz 13.4
GB783-1349 Meikle WQuartz 17.4
GB720-1040 Meikle WQuartz 21.9
EX53-1501 Meikle WQuartz 20.6
GB783-1363 Meikle WQuartz 15.0
1300-3475B Meikle WQuartz 5.5
Late ore stage
GB-605-921 Meikle Quartz3 –142.0
GB-600-951 Meikle Stibnite3 –142.0 –19.0
Crush Meikle Stibnite3 –146.0 –14.5
GB-600-950.5 Meikle Quartz3 –137.0
GB-605-921.1 Meikle Quartz3 –144.0
POSTORP B-P Orpiment3 –135.4 –15.9
1175-LS1 Meikle Quartz 6.5 –6.5
CRUSH-B Meikle Quartz 5.4 –7.6
GB539-1338(S) Meikle Quartz 5.0 –8.1
CRUSH-CL Meikle Quartz 4.6 –8.4
1300-3475L Meikle Quartz 3.2 –9.8
GB39-1543 Meikle Quartz 3.2 –9.8
1225-LS1 Meikle Quartz 2.3 –10.7
GB-605-909.5 Meikle Quartz 0.1 –12.9
GB39-1543 Meikle Quartz 1.6 –11.4

Abbreviations: B-P = Betze-Post, C = chlorite, I = illite, K = kaolinite, S = smectite, WQuartz = whole-rock quartz
1 Calculated from ore-stage (220°C) and late ore-stage (180°C) quartz using Zheng (1993), ore-stage clay (220°C) using Sheppard and Gilg (1996)
2 Calculated at 220°C, using Sheppard and Gilg (1996)
3 Fluid inclusion water

per mil (range 4.0–8.0‰). Late ore-stage calcite from Gold-
strike has an average δ18O value of 5.1 per mil (range 3.4–
6.7‰). Fluid δ18OH2O values calculated using the fractiona-
tion factors of O’Neil et al. (1969) and Zheng (1993), assum-
ing mineral precipitation at 220°C for quartz and 200°C for
calcite, average –4.7 per mil (range –6.4 to –2.5‰; Fig. 16).
The δ18O compositions of clay minerals from mineralized in-
trusive rocks from Meikle and Betze-Post range from 4.1 to
0.5 per mil (Table 5). The clay mineral-water fractionation fac-
tors of Sheppard and Gilg (1996) for 220°C yield fluid δ18OH2O

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1090 EMSBO ET AL.

TABLE 6. δ18O and δ13C Analyses of Carbonates 9

δ18O δ13C δ13CH2O1
Sample Deposit Mineral (‰) (‰) (‰) 8
Calculated ore fluids
Host-rock carbonate 7 Ore-stage quartz
258 1179-5 Meikle B. Lim 23.1 0.9 Late ore-stage calcite
9-1674 Meikle B. Lim 21.4 1.9 Ore-stage clay

Number of analyses
16 1164 Meikle B. Lim 24.9 0.3 6
LIMALSO Meikle Pop. Lim 22.7 –0.82
MP1CC Meikle Pop. Lim 23.7 –0.78
MP1 1120 Meikle Pop. Lim 24.4 –0.94 5
GB666 1327 Meikle Pop. Lim 24.6 –0.5
GB732 1227 Rodeo Pop. Lim 22.9 –1.9 4
GB732 1210 Rodeo Pop. Lim 21.2 –1.9
EL5060 B-P Lamp. Dol 20.9 –4.8
Discordant Sedex
3
1075-3575 Meikle ZDol 14.2 –2.2
1075-3575 D A Meikle ZDol 13.8 –2.9 2
1075-3575D B Meikle ZDol 14.3 –2.9
1175 LS-1A Meikle ZDol 13.4 –1.2
1175 LS1 B Meikle ZDol 13.5 –0.6 1
1175 LSL Meikle ZDol 13.6 –1.6
L-1225 LS-1B Meikle ZDol 13.4 –2.2 0
EX21C-1198 A Meikle ZDol 11.1 –1.3
EX21C 1281A Meikle ZDol 12.0 –2.5 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
EX21C-1281 B Meikle ZDol 13.1 –3.2 δ18O (SMOW)
EX21C-1066A Meikle ZDol 14.5 –3.0
EX21C-1066B Meikle ZDol 12.4 –3.0 FIG. 16. Stacked histogram of calculated δ18O values for ore-stage fluids
EX21C-1066C Meikle ZDol 16.0 –1.6 in equilibrium with quartz, clay minerals at 220°C, and late ore-stage calcite
EX21C-1066D Meikle ZDol 14.0 –2.3 at 200°C from Meikle and Betze-Post. Fractionation factors from O’Neil et
EX92 1042.5A Meikle ZDol 17.2 –1.9 al. (1969) and Zheng (1993) for quartz and calcite and Sheppard and Gilg
EX92 1233.7A Meikle ZDol 12.3 –1.3 (1996) for clay minerals. Data from Table 5 and Arehart et al. (1992).
EX92 1233.7B Meikle ZDol 12.1 –3.1
Ex92-1218A Meikle ZDol 12.6 –1.7
EX92 1218B Meikle ZDol 11.4 –1.9
EX92-1218B Meikle ZDol 12.0 –1.7 values of –5.1 to –1.4 per mil. These values are consistent
GB548 1270A Meikle ZDol 13.7 –1.9
GB548 1270B Meikle ZDol 12.6 –1.4 with the values obtained from analyses of clay in mineralized
GB548 1270C Meikle ZDol 13.6 –1.0 Betze-Post samples (Arehart et al., 1993a). Recalculations of
MV-1 1262.5A Meikle ZDol 10.6 –1.5 data from Arehart et al. (1993a), using the same tempera-
ZEB Meikle ZDol 14.0 –1.9 ture and fractionation factors employed here, yield fluid
EX92 1042.5B Meikle ZDol 15.2 –5.2
δ18OH2O values of –5.2 to 1.1 per mil. Thus, the δ18OH2O
Early Mississippian diagenesis and petroleum migration
MP1-1116 Meikle Dol 19.3 –1.2 value of ore-stage fluids calculated from all ore-stage miner-
GA 43-1328 B GA Dol 19.5 –0.3 als on the Goldstrike property is –3.5 ± 2.9 per mil (Fig. 13).
GA43 1328A Meikle Dol 21.5 –0.6 The calculated δ18OH2O values for the ore-stage fluids are
GB1647 Meikle Dol 19.3 –2.6 higher than the measured δ18O values of fluid inclusion
Ore-stage altered host rocks water extracted from late ore-stage orpiment (–15.9‰)
1225 LS-1A Meikle ZDol 10.9 –2.4
1225 LS-1B Meikle ZDol 10.3 –0.4 from Betze-Post and from stibnite (–19 and –14.5‰) from
1225 LS-1C Meikle ZDol 9.0 –0.2 Meikle. Late ore-stage drusy quartz with stibnite and pyrite
1225 LS1D Meikle ZDol 9.6 0.0 generally has lower δ18O values than ore-stage quartz, aver-
L-1225 LS-1A Meikle ZDol 11.5 –2.7 aging 2.0 per mil (range 3.2–0.1‰). It is therefore likely
EX21C 1198B Meikle ZDol 11.6 –0.8
EX21C 1066D Meikle ZDol 9.6 –1.0 that this quartz records the δ18OH2O value decrease from ore
GB598-1333 A Meikle ZDol 7.6 0.4 stage to late ore stage; however, two samples of stibnite-
GB732 1219 Rodeo Pop. Lim 16.8 –1.4 bearing late ore-stage quartz have higher δ18O values (as
G539-1497 Meikle Lamp. Dol 5.8 0.8
DDFINE Meikle B. Lim 3.4 2.6
much as 7‰), similar to those of ore-stage quartz (Table 5).
DCOARSEWHT Meikle B. Lim 4.7 3.2 High-grade cave-fill ore from Meikle and preore jasperoids
Late ore stage cut by Carlin-type mineralization exhibit a range of whole-
BZ-921 960 Meikle Calcite 6.2 –7.5 –3.3 rock oxygen isotope compositions, most likely dominated by
WB-15 1127A Meikle Calcite 4.8 2.1 –4.8 preore quartz with high δ18O values (Table 5 and Fig. 13C-
WB-15 1127B Meikle Calcite 4.8 2.5 –4.8
WB-4C 1776 Meikle Calcite 3.4 2.7 –6.1
D). These data call into question prior interpretations from
GB 760 1232 Meikle Calcite 6.7 2.8 –2.8 previous studies that jasperoids with high δ18O isotope values
MV-1 1262.5VEIN Meikle Calcite 3.9 2.7 –5.7 are ore stage.
GB666 1327 Meikle Calcite 5.0 1.8 –4.5
The δD values of clay minerals and fluid inclusion water
Abbreviations: B = Bootstrap limestone, B-P = Betze-Post, Dol = dolomite, The isotopic compositions of water in equilibrium with clay
GA = Golden April, Lamp = lamprophyre, Lim = limestone, Pop = Popovich
Formation, ZDol = zebra dolomite minerals in mineralized igneous rocks were calculated using
1 Calculated at 200°C, using fractionation factor from O’Neil et al. (1969) fractionation factors in Sheppard and Gilg (1996) at 220°C.

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1091

Because clay minerals from the mineralized igneous rocks
contain mixtures of kaolinite, smectite, and illite, estimates of
their relative proportions were made using XRD. Calculated
fluid δDH2O values for the finest clays (<0.5 µm) are –134 to
–139 per mil (Table 5 and Fig. 17). These values are similar
to the measured δD value of –135 per mil for fluid inclusion
water in late ore-stage orpiment. Fluid δDH2O compositions
recalculated from data on clay minerals in mineralized sam-
ples from Betze-Post (Arehart et al., 1993a), using the frac-
tionation factor for kaolinite at a temperature of 220°C, yield
values ranging from –130 to –138 per mil that are similar to
the results of this study (Fig. 17). The δD values of fluid in-
clusion water in late ore-stage quartz and stibnite from this
study range from –139 to –146 per mil and are slightly lower
than those from other ore-stage minerals.
The δDH2O value calculated for the finest clay fraction and the
measured values for fluid inclusion waters in ore-stage minerals
from both Meikle and Betze-Post are indistinguishable, and
such low values are compelling evidence that the hydrothermal
fluids were of meteoric origin (Taylor, 1979). The δ18OH2O val-
ues calculated from ore-stage quartz and clay minerals are
shifted 10 to 20 per mil from the meteoric water line due to ex-
change with sedimentary carbonate rocks at ca. 220°C and a
water to rock ratio (W/R) as high as 1 (Taylor, 1979).
These calculated ore-stage δ18OH2O and δDH2O values in-
clude those from two samples from the deepest mineralized
lamprophyre dike (710 m) known at Meikle (samples EX30-
2310 and EX30-2328 in Table 5). These samples were analyzed
to test for indications of a deeply sourced magmatic or meta-
morphic ore fluid that might have been masked by dilution
with meteoric water. No isotopic evidence for a deeply sourced
fluid was found (Fig. 17). Considering the huge volume of hy-
drothermal fluid that would have been required to transport
the amount of Au present in these deposits, it seems unlikely
that a significant component of magmatic or metamorphic ore
fluid would have left no isotopic trace. All δ18O and δD data

A B
0 SMOW

Metamorphic Water
-20
e
Lin
ter

-40 Magmatic Water

(SMOW )

Wa
Late Ore-Stage Quartz Fluid Inclusion s

ric

Supergene
-60
teo

Alunite, NV
Me

60 to 170 Ma
e
Lin

-80 Supergene kaolinite

δD

ite

Ore-Stage Fluids From

olin
Ore-Stage Clay

Meikle & Betze/Post (220°C)

Ka

-100
25°
C
Tuscarora, NV
-120
Supergene Lone Mnt, NV
-140 Kaolinite

Late Ore-Stage Fluids From Ore-stage

-160 Meikle & Betze/Post (180°C)
Late ore-stage

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 10 20 30 40 50 60
Range From Ore-Stage Qtz & Calcite (220° C) Ma
Range From late ore-stage Qtz (180° C)

δ18O (SMOW)
FIG. 17. A. The δ18O and δD values calculated for ore fluids based on data from ore-stage clay minerals in the Meikle
and Betze-Post deposits at 220°C (closed circles) and measured in late ore-stage fluid inclusions (squares) (Table 5). Also
plotted are values for ore-stage fluids calculated from ore-stage clays (open circles) and supergene kaolinite (stars) in Betze-
Post from Arehart et al., (1992). The δD values from late ore-stage fluid inclusions in quartz are plotted left of the y-axis;
the range of δ18O values calculated from ore-stage quartz and calcite at 220°C and late ore-stage quartz at 180°C (Table 5)
are shown below the x–axis. Field for ore-stage fluids (gray) includes δD values from the smallest clay fraction in the most
strongly mineralized samples from Meikle and Betze-Post and all ore-stage quartz and calcite δ18O data. Field for late ore-
stage fluids includes all fluid inclusion and late ore-stage quartz data. Fractionation factors from O’Neil et al. (1969) and
Zheng (1993) for quartz and calcite and from Sheppard and Gilg (1996) for clay minerals. B. The δD age curve with δD
values for two meteoric water-dominated epithermal deposits (Tuscarora and Lone Mountain) dated at 38 and 39 Ma (mod-
ified from Hofstra et al., 1999). The intersection of δD values for the ore-stage and the lower δD values from the late ore-
stage minerals constrains the age of Carlin-type mineralization to the older intercept on the δD age curve between ca. 40
and 35 Ma. See text for discussion.

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1092 EMSBO ET AL.
from Meikle and Betze-Post are consistent with the hypothe-
sis that the hydrothermal fluid was meteoric water that
evolved to become an ore fluid via reactions with sedimentary
rocks (Fig. 17). The low δD values effectively preclude any
other fluid source.
Isotopic constraints on the age of hydrothermal activity
The isotopic composition of meteoric water in north-cen-
tral Nevada has varied dramatically over the past 170 m.y. due
to climatic changes (Hofstra et al., 1999), with cooler climates
resulting in lower δD values. A distinct meteoric water δD
low at 30 Ma coincides with glacial buildups in Antarctica and
a drop in worldwide sea level (Prothero, 1994). Comparison
of the low δD values measured in this study with the δD age
curve supports the mid-Tertiary age of mineralization (Fig.
17). The lower δD values from the late ore-stage minerals
constrain the age to the older intercept on the δD age curve
(40–35 Ma). Supergene alunite as old as 26 to 30 Ma (Arehart
et al, 1992; Heitt, 1992) cuts ore at Gold Quarry and also sug-
gests that the mineralization corresponds to the older intercept.
The tightly constrained δD values from this study are also in-
distinguishable from the ca. –135 per mil value that has been
found in fluid inclusions in quartz from 39 Ma epithermal Au-
Ag veins at Tuscarora, Nevada, and the –139 per mil value
found in fluid inclusions in quartz from 38 Ma quartz veins from
Lone Mountain, Nevada (Hofstra et al., 1997; Fig. 17B). Alter-
ation clay minerals from mineralized biotite feldspar porphyry
dikes yield δD and δ18O values indistinguishable from those
measured in mineralized samples at Goldstrike. These data,
combined with petrographic and geochemical evidence, are
compelling evidence that the 39 Ma biotite feldspar porphyry
dike at Betze-Post was mineralized shortly after its emplace-
ment by the same hydrothermal fluids that formed Meikle.
The δDH2O values inferred from supergene kaolinite and
alunite isotopic compositions (Arehart et al., 1992) constrain
the age of supergene weathering to ca. 10 Ma (Fig. 17).
The δ13C and δ18O values of ore-stage and
late ore-stage carbonate minerals
No samples of late ore-stage calcite were available for analy-
sis at Meikle; however, veins of late ore-stage calcite in the
Popovich Formation from elsewhere on the Goldstrike prop-
erty yield δ18O values of 3.4 to 6.7 per mil, which are consis-
tent with those of other ore-stage minerals (Table 6 and Fig.
16). The δ13C values of these veins are 2 to 3 per mil (Table 6
and Fig. 18). One sample has a δ13C value of –7.5 per mil but
a δ18O value of 6.2 per mil that is consistent with other ore-
stage samples. The δ13C and δ18O values of carbonate miner-
als in altered and mineralized rocks reflect varying degrees of
exchange with the ore fluid. For example, original carbonate
δ13C and δ18O values in unaltered lamprophyre dikes and in
Bootstrap limestone are shifted toward those of late ore-stage
calcite in mineralized samples (Fig. 18). The δ13C and δ18O
values of mineralized zebra dolomite also exhibit shifts toward
late ore-stage calcite (Fig. 18), although not all samples show
significant shifts. Several highly mineralized samples show
only minimal exchange with the Carlin-type fluid. Corroded
dolomite grains in these samples indicate that reprecipitation
of neoformed ore-stage dolomite was inhibited by the acidic
ore fluids, thus explaining the lack of significant shifts.
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2
Post-Ore
Calcite
0
δ13C ‰ (PD B )
-2
-4
-6
-8
0 5 10 15 20 25
δ18O ‰ (SMOW)
FIG. 18. Plot of δ13C vs. δ18O values for Goldstrike carbonate minerals.
Data are from Table 6 and Emsbo and Hofstra (2003). Fields represent dif-
ferent paragenetic stages. Large arrows show trends from host-rock values to
hydrothermal minerals. Dashed arrows are tie lines between unaltered and
mineralized rocks. Lamp. = lampropyre.
Late ore-stage calcite is isotopically distinct from preore car-
bonate minerals. The δ18O values of the calcite, however, are
similar to those of ore-stage quartz and alteration clays on the
Goldstrike property and δ18O values of carbonate minerals in
altered host rocks in other Carlin-type deposits in Nevada
(Rye, 1985; Ilchik, 1990; Hofstra, 1994; Arehart, 1996). The
δ13C values of late ore-stage calcite are higher than those of
carbonate minerals in unaltered Bootstrap limestone and sig-
nificantly higher than those of carbonate minerals in unaltered
Popovich Formation. In contrast, most decarbonation trends
associated with pluton-related ore deposits progress toward
lower δ18O and δ13C values (Taylor, 1987). The high δ13C val-
ues of late ore-stage calcite veins are surprising given that they
typically are present at the periphery of decalcified zones in
the Popovich Formation and should be buffered by its low
δ13C values. The anomalous compositions might have resulted
from (1) contribution of CO2 with a high δ13C value from
unidentified external sources (Arehart, 1996), (2) boiling, (3)
decreasing temperature, or (4) decrease in CO2/CH4. Al-
though CO2 might have entered the ore fluid from external
sources, it is likely that the extensive dissolution of carbonate
minerals in the Popovich Formation would have resulted in a
wide range of δ13C values, as documented in other systems
with multiple carbon sources (Lohmann, 1988). No evidence
of boiling has been recognized in fluid inclusions, and boiling
typically results in a wide range of δ13C values. Declining tem-
perature could increase δ13C values, although cooling from
200° to 100°C results in an increase of only ca. 2 per mil
(Ohmoto and Rye, 1979). This might account for the high δ13C
values of late ore-stage calcite if carbon was derived from the
 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND
Bootstrap limestone but not if carbon was derived from the
Popovich Formation, which, as indicated by its extensive de-
calcification, is a more likely source.
Reduction of CO2 in the ore fluid, either at its source or
during interaction with organic matter in the Popovich For-
mation, would decrease CO2/CH4. This mechanism has been
invoked to explain the high δ13C values of hydrothermal
dolomite in the Pine Point and Gays River carbonate-hosted
Pb-Zn deposits (Ohmoto and Rye, 1979). Similarly, extremely
high δ13C values are known to result from reaction between
hydrocarbons and meteoric fluids (Longstaffe, 1987). A simi-
lar trend toward high δ13C for ore-stage calcite in altered or-
ganic-rich Pilot Shale in the Alligator Ridge deposit (Ilchik,
1990) supports the interpretation that reaction with organic
matter reduced CO2 in the ore fluid. The samples of late ore-
stage calcite with low δ13C values (–7.5‰) may reflect CO2
formed by oxidation of CH4 or organic carbon.
The δ34S values of Carlin-type sulfide minerals
The majority of δ34S values of ore-stage pyrite from Meikle
range from 7 to 13 per mil with a mean of 10 per mil (Table
7 and Fig. 19). Five samples of ore-stage pyrite measured by
Evans (2000) also fall within that range. A single lamprophyre
sample, containing disseminated, unzoned, Au- and As-rich
pyrite has a δ34S value of –21.6 per mil that is similar to val-
ues for late ore-stage pyrite. The δ34S values of ore-stage
pyrite from Betze-Post range from 8 to 11 per mil (Fig. 19),
similar to the results for “ore-stage” pyrite from Arehart et
al.(1993a). Although their (1993a) SHRIMP data extend to
higher δ34S values (up to 20‰) than those found in this study,
the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of most
Meikle Mean H 2S
5 sulfate reduction by ferrous minerals. Figure 20 demon-
-21.6
0
Number of analyses
Betze/Post
Mean H 2S
15
Pyrite
Realgar
10 Orpiment
Stibnite
5 systems produced where oxidizing, acidic ground waters be-
0 tion and/or formation of intermediate-valence sulfur species
0 5 10
δ34S (CDT )
FIG. 19. Stacked histograms of δ34S values for ore-stage sulfide minerals
from Goldstrike. The δ34S value of H2S was calculated at 200°C using frac-
tionation factors in Ohmoto and Rye (1979). Data are from Table 7, Evans
(2000), and Arehart et al. (1993a).
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1093
pyrites analyzed in that study indicate that they were formed
by the Jurassic hydrothermal system (Emsbo, 1999; Emsbo et
al., 2000). Massive veins of late ore-stage stibnite from Meikle
have δ34S values of ca. 6.5 per mil (Table 7 and Fig. 19), al-
though some tiny crystals of stibnite have values as low as –32
per mil. Late ore-stage pyrite also exhibits a wide range in
δ34S values, down to –28.1 per mil, similar to SHRIMP data
on late ore-stage pyrite from Arehart et al. (1993a). Orpiment
and realgar from Betze-Post, South Meikle, Rodeo, and
Golden April have δ34S values that fall mainly between 5 and
7 per mil but range between 4 and 11 per mil (Table 7 and
Fig. 19). A single sample of realgar from Meikle falls within
this range (5.6‰; Evans, 2000).
At 220°C, the equilibrium δ34S value of pyrite should be ap-
proximately 5 per mil higher than those of coexisting orpiment,
realgar, and stibnite (Hofstra, 1997), consistent with observa-
tions from the Goldstrike property. The δ34S values calculated
for H2S from these minerals at Meikle and other Goldstrike de-
posits is remarkably consistent at 9 ± 1 per mil. This narrow
range of δ34S values and the absence of ore-stage barite indi-
cate that H2S was the dominant sulfur species in the ore fluid.
The calculated δ34S value of 9 per mil for H2S in the ore
fluid at Goldstrike is much higher than that typically found in
porphyry Cu deposits in western North America (0 ± 5‰;
Ohmoto and Rye, 1979; Ohmoto and Goldhaber, 1997).
Thus, a magmatic source of sulfur seems unlikely. Several au-
thors have proposed a sedimentary source for the sulfur con-
tained in Carlin-type deposits (Rye, 1985; Arehart, 1996;
Gammons, 1997; Hofstra, 1997), originally derived from Pa-
leozoic sea-water sulfate and incorporated into sedimentary
rocks in the form of sulfate and sulfide minerals and organic
sulfur compounds with a wide range of δ34S values (Fig. 20).
H2S could have been generated from any of these sulfur
reservoirs and incorporated into a hydrothermal fluid through
(1) hydration of pyrite, (2) alteration of organic matter, (3)
thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR), and (4) inorganic
strates that several sources of sulfur, individually or in combi-
nation, may have generated H2S with a δ34S value of 9 per mil
determined for the hydrothermal fluid.
Arehart et al. (1992) inferred that the low δ34S values in late
ore-stage sulfide minerals resulted from late-stage boiling and
oxidation of the ore fluid; however, there is no fluid inclusion,
textural, or mineralogic evidence for the occurrence of boiling
in these deposits and the proposed fractionation mechanism
seems unlikely. In fact, the low δ34S values of late ore-stage sul-
fide minerals are similar to those documented by Plumlee and
Rye (1989) in pyrite late in the paragenesis of a variety of hy-
drothermal ore deposits. They proposed that the low values
represent a fundamental characteristic of waning hydrothermal
came entrained in the collapsing systems. They attributed the
major shifts toward low δ34S values to bacterial sulfate reduc-
15
(e.g., thiosulfate) under moderately oxidizing conditions that,
during disproportionation, result in extreme isotopic fractiona-
tions. At Meikle this explanation is consistent with the increase
in base metal and U contents in late ore-stage pyrite and the
lower δ18O values of late ore-stage quartz that most likely re-
flect influx of relatively unexchanged meteoric ground waters.
1093
1094 EMSBO ET AL.

TABLE 7. δ34S and δ18O Analyses of Sulfides and Barite

δ34S δ18O δ34S δ18O

Sample Deposit Mineral (‰) (‰) Sample Deposit Mineral (‰) (‰)

Discordant Sedex EXSAVE Meikle Pyrite 14.5

GB598-1269 Meikle Sph 18.4 EX92-1205 Meikle Pyrite 10.9
GA43-1328 GA Sph 10.7 GB598-906 Meikle Pyrite 5.3
1175 LSL Meikle Sph 14.8 M-377 Meikle Pyrite 10.6
GB391592 Meikle Sph 9.8 EX91-754 Meikle Pyrite 15.5
MV1-1262.5 Meikle Sph 15.4 1225A Meikle Pyrite 12.3
GB48-1270 Meikle Sph 18.4 GB39-1497 Meikle Pyrite –21.6
EX92-1233.7 Meikle Sph 14.0 P213-1748 B-P Pyrite 10.3
EX-6c 1200 Meikle Sph 10.0 838-E B-P Pyrite 8.0
GB39-1348 Meikle Sph 12.4 838-F B-P Pyrite 9.0
1075-3575BA Meikle Barite 21.7 14.3 838-G B-P Pyrite 10.0
LAMP Meikle Barite 31.1 10.9 1154-W B-P Pyrite 11.0
5040#2 B-P Pyrite 7.5
Stratiform Sedex P333-898 B-P Pyrite 6.8
GB-614-1706 Meikle Barite 28.8 15.2 5040 B-P Pyrite 7.5
GB39-1391A Meikle Barite 26.8 12.9
GB39-1391B Meikle Barite 30.3 16.1 Mixed paragenesis
GB614-1700A Meikle Barite 29.6 EX30CA2344.5 Meikle Pyrite 3.6
GB614-1700B Meikle Barite 26.8 1225 Meikle Pyrite 1.9
GB39-1348 Meikle Barite 33.0
GB39-1592 Meikle Barite 30.2 Late ore stage
MV1-1375.5C Meikle Barite 31.7 13.6 GB600-950.5 Meikle Stibnite 6.5
GB598-1269 Meikle Barite 25.8 12.7 GB600-451 Meikle Stibnite 6.3
MASS Rossi Barite 27.4 14.6 1175 CRU Meikle Stibnite 7.0
BZ 997 Screamer Pyrite 11.3 GB39-1543 Meikle Pyrite –28.6
BZ 997 Screamer Sph 9.6 1175STI Meikle Stibnite 6.8
BR2C-1344A Ren Pyrite 3.2 1399l Meikle Pyrite –1.9
BR2C-1344B Ren Pyrite 1.0 POST B-P Orpiment 5.4
BR2C-1433 Ren Pyrite 11.0 BZL B-P Pyrite –32.1
GB616-1164 Meikle Pyrite –4.6 Emsbo B-P Orpiment 5.4
EX33-1855 Meikle Pyrite –6.5 A.H. B-P Realgar 10.2
GA-47C 1205 GA Pyrite 3.7 BETZE AH B-P Realgar 6.1
GA-47C 1210 GA Pyrite 3.5 GB768-1232.5 Rodeo Realgar 7.9
GA-47C 1215 GA Pyrite 5.2 WB15-1127 GA Realgar 9.2
152M-2 80-85 Rodeo Pyrite –6.8 RM97-3C-485 B-P Realgar 6.0
152M-1100-105 Rodeo Pyrite –9.2 GB720-1040 Rodeo Realgar 5.8
152M-1 105-110 Rodeo Pyrite –10.3 P/B B-P Orpiment 4.8
RM97-3C-628.6 B-P Realgar 6.4
Early diagenesis/Sedex RM97-3C-628.6 B-P Orpiment 4.8
GB39-1372.A Meikle Barite 48.7 RM97-2C-53 B-P Realgar 6.1
GB39-1372.B Meikle Barite 45.1 RM-97-2C-64 B-P Realgar 6.0
GB39-1372.C Meikle Barite 51.0 RM-97-3C-424.5 B-P Realgar 6.6
MV1-1375.5A Meikle Barite 48.6 22.5 RM97-3C-468.4 B-P Realgar 5.6
BR2C-1341 Ren Barite 44.8 22.6 RM97-3C B-P Realgar 5.5
BR2C-1341A Ren Barite 52.0 RM-97-2C-58 B-P Orpiment 5.2
BR2C-1309 Ren Barite 43.3 22.9 RM-3C-424.5 B-P Orpiment 5.2
1175 LSL Meikle Barite 36.6 RM97-3C-421.1 B-P Realgar 5.5
RM97-3C-485.0 B-P Orpiment 5.3
Late Jurassic polymetallic mineralization RM97-3C-420-440 B-P Realgar 5.7
EX92-904CR Meikle Pyrite 14.8 RM97-3C-613.4 B-P Orpiment 5.2
EX92-896.5 Meikle Pyrite 15.3 RM97-3C-45 B-P Orpiment 5.1
EX91-754 Meikle Pyrite 15.5 RM97-2C-53 B-P Realgar 5.7
Basep B-P Pyrite 15.6 RM97-2C-51 B-P Realgar 5.2
Baseg B-P Galena 8.8 RM97-2C-58 B-P Realgar 5.9
Bases B-P Sph 10.5 RM97-BZ-1 B-P Realgar 5.2
RM97-2C-65 B-P Realgar 3.8
Ore stage RM97-2C-64 B-P Orpiment 5.0
EX92-904V Meikle Pyrite 10.4 RM97-3C-450.5 B-P Orpiment 4.3
1154-M Meikle Pyrite 12.0 RM97-2C-53 B-P Orpiment 3.8
BX-3475 Meikle Pyrite 10.6 RM97-2C-51 B-P Orpiment 4.9
EX53-1501 Meikle Pyrite 3.0 97-BZ-9 B-P Stibnite –19.0
1300-75C Meikle Pyrite 9.9 97-BZ-9 B-P Stibnite –32.0
BX-8 Meikle Pyrite 8.7 97-BZ-13 LATE B-P Pyrite 3.5
M-358 Meikle Pyrite 10.5

Abbreviations: B-P = Betze-Post, GA = Golden April, Sph = sphalerite

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 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND 1095

2. Brecciation occurred during subsequent tectonic activity

A CAMBRIAN TO MISS. SULFUR SOURCES due to rheological differences between the monzonite and its
dolomitic host rocks.
Cambrian - Miss. Marine Sulfate 3. The chemically unreactive monzonite was an aquitard,
confining fluid flow to the dike margin.
Bact erial Sulfate Reduct ion, T~30°-110°C 4. The monzonite provided a competent hanging wall that
Open to SO4 Closed to SO4 Closed to SO4
during ore-stage dissolution and brecciation of surrounding
dolomite allowed open space to form.
Sedimentary Sulfide Sedimentary Sulfate
Minerals Minerals
The enhanced permeability at the dike contact focused flow
Organosulfur Compounds of acidic, Au- and H2S-rich ore fluids into Fe-rich dolomite.
Gold-rich pyrite formed by sulfidation of the Fe. The sulfida-
B GENERATED H 2S tion reaction (Fe2+ + 2H2S = 2H++ FeS2 + H2) produces two
protons (2H+) for every Fe atom that is sulfidized and this
Thermochemical ∆ = -20 to -10 ‰
SO4 Reduct ion avg. = -15 ‰
T~ 100°-200°C most likely promoted further dissolution of dolomite. Contin-
ual removal of reactive host rock by the acidic fluids with lit-
Inorganic ∆ = -20 ‰ T~ 200°-300°C
SO4 Reduct ion
tle quartz deposition contributed to the concentration of
Hydration residual ore-stage pyrite and the high gold grades of the ores.
of pyrite ∆= 0 ‰ These insoluble minerals locally accumulated in breccia cavi-
Alteration of organic matter ∆= 0 ‰ ties to form exceptionally high grade cave-fill gold ore.
Several lines of evidence suggest that late ore-stage and ore-
C GOLDSTRIKE stage sulfide minerals were deposited in an evolving hydrother-
mal system. The highest δ34S values of late ore-stage stibnite
and pyrite are consistent with their deposition from the same
Sedimentary Sulfide Sedimentary Sulfate fluid that deposited ore-stage pyrite. The temperatures of for-
Minerals Minerals
mation and highest δ18O values of quartz associated with stib-
Organosulfur Compounds nite are consistent with those of ore-stage clay, quartz, and cal-
cite minerals. A sample of ore-stage pyrite has a δ34S value of
D
–21.6 per mil, similar to that of late ore-stage pyrite. The anom-
ORE FLUID H2S
alous Au content and geochemical variations of late ore-stage
pyrite and associated native gold also suggest a relationship.
Petrographic and geochemical evidence indicates that little
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 quartz precipitated during ore-stage mineralization; this sug-
δ 34S ‰ (CDT) gests that ore fluids did not cool significantly during deposi-
FIG. 20. Schematic diagram summarizing the δ34S ranges in Goldstrike sul- tion of gold. The narrow range of fluid inclusion homogeniza-
fides compared to (A) sedimentary sulfate (white) and sulfide (black) in re- tion temperatures from ore-stage to late ore stage
gional Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (Claypool et al., 1980; Ohmoto, 1986) and (210°–220°C) and the lack of evidence for precipitation of
(B) ranges for H2S (gray) generated from sedimentary sources by a variety of amorphous silica both suggest that the fluids were not super-
mechanisms (Ohmoto, 1986; Kiyosu and Krouse, 1990; Machel et al., 1995;
Ohmoto and Goldhaber, 1997). C. Data for Goldstrike including those from saturated with quartz. Otherwise, at these temperatures, even
sedimentary barite, sulfide, and organosulfur compounds from associated De- slight cooling would have been accompanied by significant
vonian host rocks (Table 7). H2S in ore fluid (D) calculated from ore-stage sul- precipitation of quartz (Rimstidt, 1997) and generation of
fide minerals indicating H2S can be generated from all these S sources and in- high-grade ore would have been inhibited by dilution. Quartz
corporated into a hydrothermal fluid through several mechanisms.
precipitation also would have caused replacement and ce-
mentation rather that formation of breccia cavities, prevent-
Discussion ing accumulation of ore pyrite in cave-fill ore. The progres-
sively lower δ18O values of the late ore-stage minerals indicate
Formation of the Meikle deposit mixing of the ore fluid with less exchanged meteoric water.
Several geologic events converged at Meikle to create ideal Mixing also is indicated by salinities of fluid inclusions in ore-
conditions for Carlin-type gold mineralization. In particular stage quartz that decrease from a mean of 4.5 to <1 wt per-
a Devonian sedimentary exhalative hydrothermal system al- cent NaCl equiv (Lamb, 1995). The progression from small
tered the Bootstrap limestone to Fe-rich dolomite, and amounts of nonluminescent ore-stage quartz through increas-
north-northwest-striking faults parallel to the Post fault pro- ing luminescence in later ore stages, to highly luminescent
vided conduits for intrusion of Jurassic dikes and late Eocene quartz, also may reflect increasing contributions from a sec-
Au-bearing fluids (Volk et al., 1996). The concentration of ond fluid with a component that causes quartz to lumines-
high-grade ore along the footwall of the monzonite dike may cence. Decreasing Au and As and proportional increases in
reflect one or more of the following: Sb in late ore-stage pyrite also suggest mixing with a second
fluid. This second fluid may have supplied base metals, U,
1. Intrusion of the Jurassic monzonite and associated hy- and perhaps Te, all of which show slightly elevated amounts
drothermal activity brecciated the host rocks along the dike in late ore-stage pyrite; it may also have supplied the Fe that
contact. allowed pyrite precipitation in open spaces.

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1096 EMSBO ET AL.
In contrast, cooling was important during the late ore stage.
The progression from regularly shaped fluid inclusions in
quartz to highly irregular, necked inclusions containing vari-
able liquid/vapor in late quartz can be interpreted in terms of
decreasing temperatures of deposition (Bodnar et al., 1985).
This is consistent with homogenization temperatures that
range from a mean of 220° to a low of 175°C (Lamb, 1995).
The occurrence of crystalline quartz throughout the parage-
netic sequence (Fig. 14B) supports temperatures above 150°
to 200°C, as mainly amorphous silica precipitates at lower
temperatures (Rimstidt, 1997). Cooling also is indicated by
precipitation of quartz, stibnite, and rare Au, Hg, Ag telluride
minerals since their solubility decreases substantially during
cooling (Rytuba, 1985; Zhang and Spry, 1994).
Simple cooling, however, cannot account for the deposition
of native gold in late ore-stage quartz because the decrease in
its solubility between 175° and 220°C is insufficient (Shen-
berger and Barnes, 1989); however, oxidation of the ore fluid
could have caused the deposition of significant gold
(Romberger, 1986), which is consistent with mixing of a sec-
ond, more oxidized fluid that introduced Fe, base metals, and
U. The very low δ34S values of some late ore-stage sulfide
minerals also are consistent with oxidation. Together, the evi-
dence indicates that the ore fluid progressively mixed with a
cooler, low-salinity, slightly oxidized, unexchanged meteoric
fluid during the waning stages of the hydrothermal system.
Comparison of Meikle with Betze-Post
The mineralogy and geochemistry of ore in intrusive rocks
from Betze-Post and Meikle are indistinguishable and indi-
cate interaction with fluids similar to those that produced
high-grade ore hosted in sedimentary rocks. The isotopic sig-
natures of the deposits are also indistinguishable, and the
fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures and salinities
reported by Lamb (1995) are very similar, except perhaps for
a slightly higher mean temperature at Meikle. The dominant
ore depositional mechanism in both deposits was sulfidation
of reactive Fe to form the disseminated, auriferous, As-rich
pyrite.
Collectively, the data provide strong evidence that the hy-
drothermal fluids which formed Betze-Post and Meikle were
part of the same hydrothermal system. Differing sites of ore
deposition, host-rock compositions, evolving fluid composi-
tions, and the relative importance of different depositional
processes can explain their differences. Betze-Post is much
larger than Meikle and is hosted predominantly in calcareous
rocks of the Popovich Formation, with smaller amounts of ore
in the Goldstrike stock and adjacent calc-silicate rock and
hornfels. Meikle, on the other hand, is hosted primarily in
dolomitic breccias with some ore in lamprophyre and mon-
zonite dikes. The presence of marcasite in Betze-Post may re-
flect lower temperatures. Alternatively, the stock and some of
the more siliciclastic strata at Betze-Post were less efficient
buffers of pH than were the dolomites at Meikle, thus allow-
ing the ore fluids to remain acidic and thereby favoring pre-
cipitation of marcasite (Barton and Skinner, 1979). Precipita-
tion of realgar, orpiment, and stibnite are primarily controlled
by cooling of the ore fluid. The absence of late ore-stage or-
piment and realgar and the presence of stibnite at Meikle
may be due to cooling at temperatures above orpiment and
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realgar saturation. Undersaturation in orpiment and realgar
may also be due to the precipitation of large amounts of ore-
stage As-rich pyrite, resulting in removal of As and H2S from
the fluid. This is supported by the As/Sb of Meikle pyrite
which decreases through the paragenetic sequence. Stibnite
precipitated because it is stable at lower activities of H2S
(Barton and Skinner, 1979). The more abundant late ore-
stage quartz at Meikle may result from the extensive porosity
and permeability developed by dissolution and brecciation
during ore-stage mineralization. The increased permeability
may have promoted greater influx of meteoric water, result-
ing in more efficient cooling of the system and more extensive
precipitation of quartz.
Genetic Models for Carlin-Type Mineralization
Hypotheses previously proposed for the formation of Car-
lin-type deposits fall into three general groups advocating
magmatic, metamorphic, or deeply circulated meteoric waters
for their generative hydrothermal fluids. Each of these hy-
potheses is evaluated below by comparing the characteristics
of Au deposits formed in each of these environments with the
geologic observations, data, and interpretations of this study.
Magmatic origin
Radtke et al. (1980), Alvarez and Noble (1988), Arehart et
al. (1993b), Sillitoe and Bonham (1990) and Ressel et al.
(2000) have proposed that magmas provided the fluids, ore
components—including gold, and the thermal energy to drive
fluid flow that transported and deposited gold beyond the
“source” intrusion.
There is no evidence for a large synmineralization, late
Eocene intrusive center underlying Goldstrike. Magnetic
anomalies, the regional pattern of apatite fission-track ages,
and the size and distribution of Eocene dikes all indicate that
the nearest substantial magmatic center is >12 km southeast
of Goldstrike (Ressel et al., 2000; Bettles, 2002; Chakurian et
al., 2003). Despite the extraordinary spatial density of drill
holes to depths of 750 to 1,000 m, there is no evidence of the
styles and zoning of mineralization, alteration, and geochem-
istry observed in intrusion-related hydrothermal systems.
Moreover, fluid inclusion studies and stable isotope studies
have failed to detect variable salinities or evidence of mag-
matic H2O, CO2, or H2S.
Metamorphic origin
The second group of hypotheses involves the generation of
H2O, CO2, and H2S fluids by deep-seated metamorphic de-
volatilization of sedimentary rocks. These fluids are thought
to be generated by prograde metamorphism, with heat pro-
vided by magmatism,and discharge triggered by crustal ex-
tension. The fluids are thought to have scavenged gold from
metasedimentary rocks and flowed upward to shallower lev-
els along major extensional faults where gold deposition may
have occurred (Seedorff, 1991; Groves et al., 1998).
Some characteristics of orogenic gold deposits are shared
by northern Carlin-trend deposits. During mid-Tertiary time
the regional stress regime changed from contraction to exten-
sion, providing favorable conditions for migration of meta-
morphic fluids from the lower or middle crust into the upper
crust (Seedorff, 1991; Hofstra, 1994). Many orogenic deposits
 MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND
lie along transcontinental fault zones (Groves et al., 1998;
Goldfarb et al., 2001) similar to the 60-km-long, deep-pene-
trating structural zone that occurs along the Carlin trend
(Grauch, 1998; Rodriguez, 1998; Wooden et al., 1998). Also,
many geochemical characteristics of orogenic gold deposits,
including the low salinity and high H2S contents of the fluids,
an Au/Ag of ca. 10, and an increase in As, Hg, Te, and low
base metal contents (Groves et al., 1998), are similar to those
of northern Carlin trend deposits. Although carbonate and
sericite alteration in mesothermal deposits differs from the
decalcification and argillic alteration found here, this differ-
ence may result from lower temperatures and pressures and
reaction with carbonate rocks. In addition, the δ34S values
from Carlin-type deposits are the same as those of underlying
Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and are consistent with an oro-
genic model in which H2S is derived from metasedimentary
rocks.
Many inconsistencies, however, exist between the meta-
morphic hypotheses and the results of this study. For exam-
ple, δ18O and δD values of metamorphic fluids typically range
between 10 to 20 per mil and 0 to –70 per mil, respectively
(Taylor, 1987), and are clearly higher than the values reported
here. Most importantly, the δD values that cluster tightly
around –135 per mil preclude deeply sourced metamorphic
water. Metamorphic hydrothermal systems at shallow crustal
levels, even in districts with significant mixing with meteoric
water, typically show higher δD values, characteristic of the
metamorphic component (Groves et al., 1998). In addition,
δ13C values of carbonate minerals in metamorphic gold de-
posits range between –22 to –0.5 per mil and average ca. –3
per mil (Ohmoto and Rye, 1979), very different from the pos-
itive values observed in Carlin-type deposits. The huge vol-
umes of water that would have been required to transport the
gold in these deposits make it unlikely that isotopic evidence
of a metamorphic ore fluid could be completely obscured. Fi-
nally, the lack of quartz in Carlin-type ores is inconsistent with
derivation of the ore fluid from depth because metamorphic
fluids have high concentrations of SiO2 and cooling of these
fluids would cause widespread precipitation of quartz (Hol-
land and Malinin, 1979).
Deep circulation of meteoric water origin
The third hypothesis invokes deep circulation of meteoric
water during crustal fracturing and thinning that accompa-
nied mid-Tertiary extension (Hofstra, 1994; Ilchik and Bar-
ton, 1997). In this model meteoric waters are thought to have
circulated to depths of >10 km where they leached gold and
other ore components. Carlin-type gold deposition then
formed in zones of upwelling where fluids reacted with rocks
at shallow levels. The meteoric water hypothesis is supported
by isotopic and geochronologic evidence for circulation of
Tertiary meteoric waters to below the brittle-ductile transi-
tion in metamorphic core complexes (Wickham et al., 1993).
This hypothesis is similar in many ways to the metamorphic
gold model, the major difference being that ore fluids have
low δD values, thus reflecting their meteoric origin. The nar-
row range and low δ18OH2O values from Goldstrike, however,
indicate that the fluid was relatively unexchanged (W/R = ca.
1), which is inconsistent with deep circulation. At the ca. 10-
km depths of the brittle-ductile transition, ambient tempera-
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1097
tures (= 300°C) would cause extensive exchange between the
fluid and sedimentary rocks, resulting in δ18O values signifi-
cantly higher than those obtained.
As noted above, deep circulation of meteoric water would
also result in high concentrations of SiO2 and widespread pre-
cipitation of quartz which is not found in the ore-stage Car-
lin-type mineralization. Mass balance calculations on the
basis of solubility estimates for gold and silica in such an ore
fluid demonstrate the magnitude of this problem. Using the
most conservative values modeled by Ilchik and Barton
(1997), namely the highest gold and lowest quartz solubilities,
the fluid fluxes at the site of ore deposition would have
required that rocks containing 100 g/t Au be completely
silicified. This is clearly at odds with the fact that virtually no
silica precipitated during formation of high-grade ore. A low
W/R (ca. 1) is also problematic because the average crust con-
tains 3 ppb Au, and even assuming 100 percent extraction, at
this W/R the fluid could not have contained more than 3 ppb
Au. Formation of these spectacular deposits from an ore fluid
with such a low gold content is difficult to envision.
A new genetic model for Carlin-type deposits at Goldstrike
None of the prior hypotheses for formation of Carlin-type
deposits is completely consistent with the data and observa-
tions of this study. The occurrence of both Devonian aurifer-
ous sedimentary exhalative and mid-Tertiary Carlin-type min-
eralization in the same rocks is intriguing. It raises the
possibility that the rocks underlying the Carlin trend influ-
enced the generative fluids of two unrelated hydrothermal
systems, separated in time by 300 m.y., to conditions favor-
able for gold transport (Emsbo et al., 1999).
We have previously suggested that the sedimentary exhala-
tive occurrences provided a preenriched source of gold and of
many of the associated trace elements (As, Sb, Ag, Hg, Tl) for
Carlin-type deposits (Emsbo et al., 1999). The presence of an
original gold enrichment in these rocks might explain the oc-
currence of multiple Au-rich hydrothermal events of differ-
ent ages and types in the Carlin trend (Table 1); however, the
W and Te may have been derived from preexisting poly-
metallic mineralization associated with Jurassic intrusions.
Remobilization of gold from sedimentary exhalative accumu-
lations during mid-Tertiary time can explain many enigmatic
characteristics of Carlin-type deposits. The strata hosting the
gold-rich sedimentary exhalative mineralization are pyritic,
carbonaceous, and baritic, thus capable of generating H2S by
thermochemical sulfate reduction, breakdown of organic sul-
fur compounds, and/or dissolution of pyrite during subse-
quent heating, all of which would have resulted in δ34S values
similar to those measured in ore-stage sulfide minerals of
Carlin-type ores (Fig. 20). Interaction of heated meteoric wa-
ters with these preenriched sedimentary rocks could have
generated an H2S-rich fluid, suppressing the solubility of base
metals and scavenging gold and other trace elements. Upon
migration into rocks containing reactive Fe, auriferous pyrite
would be deposited by sulfidation, thus forming the epige-
netic Carlin-type deposits.
This sequence of events resolves many previously problem-
atic characteristics of the Carlin-type ore fluid. Relatively
shallow circulation of meteoric water would explain the δ18O
and δD values that are inconsistent with other hypotheses
1098 EMSBO ET AL.
and would indicate that the generative hydrothermal fluids
were moderately evolved meteoric waters. A preenriched
source also would enable these waters to become Au satu-
rated at much higher W/R ratios, accounting for the low δ18O
values exhibited by ore-stage minerals. It also solves the prob-
lem of the low quartz content, because the Au-enriched
source rocks are present at the same stratigraphic level as the
epigenetic Carlin-type ores, facilitating near-isothermal trans-
port and deposition of gold. Preenriched rocks also resolve
other mass balance problems in that they require a smaller
volume of source rock to supply the gold required to form a
Carlin-type deposit.
Although this model explains many characteristics of the
deposits, it does not account for the complete dissolution of
carbonate and pervasive argillic alteration observed in high-
grade ores. Sulfidation of host-rock Fe may produce appre-
ciable acid, but mass balance calculations indicate that it is
not sufficient to explain the intensity of alteration in high-
grade ores. Further work is needed to investigate this prob-
lem. Additional work is also needed to determine whether
sufficient gold was introduced by the sedimentary exhalative
hydrothermal system to account for that present in Carlin-
type deposits. Documentation of the spatial distribution of
sedimentary exhalative enrichments relative to Carlin-type
deposits is necessary to assess whether it is hydrologically fea-
sible to transport gold from the Au-enriched rocks into the
deposits. Finally, detailed petrographic, geochemical, and iso-
topic studies of the deposits are needed to determine if gold
was remobilized. This is the direction of our current research
in the district.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc., for
supporting this research. Many discussions and help from
the Barrick staff, including Keith Bettles, Al Lander, Jane
Zimmerman, Jan Lamb, David Park, Terry Collins, and Jeff
Volk, were critical to this study. We would also like to thank
Bob Rye and Craig Johnson for their help with isotopic
analyses and Fred Lichte and Greg Meeker for their help
with the microanalytical analyses at the USGS; in addition,
a thank you to Freda Hubler for providing the groundwork
that made this study possible. Craig Johnson, François
Robert, and Ted Theodore are thanked for greatly improv-
ing the manuscript through their thoughtful and thorough
reviews.
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 APPENDIX
Geochemical Data of Representative and Variably Mineralized Rocks of the Northern Carlin Trend

Sample MP-1 EL50602 GA32-1746 GB588C-894 GB598-906 GB605-930 GB539-1464 EX90C-951 GA3412303 BR-1C-1374 BRIC-1375 P384-432.5 FBP
Deposit Meikle Betze-Post Golden April Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Golden April Ren Ren Betze-Post Betze-Post
Type LampM LampH LampP LampH LampH LampH LampH LampH LampP LampP LampP LampH LampM
Method 1 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1,2 2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2
Major elements (wt %)
SiO2 42.02 50.19 48.20 47.91 53.70 56.60 58.90 n.a. 46.60 56.34 54.70 50.42 39.90
Al2O3 8.01 13.26 12.40 13.08 16.20 16.10 16.20 15.53 10.70 14.10 14.40 13.68 11.40

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
Fe2O3 8.54 8.08 7.52 7.32 8.46 10.00 7.31 10.19 6.47 10.34 10.80 7.93 9.42
MgO 12.00 8.72 7.13 6.24 1.76 0.67 0.61 0.15 8.42 0.63 0.73 4.78 5.27
CaO 7.22 6.72 6.30 6.87 2.64 0.82 0.72 0.66 7.05 1.52 1.35 6.69 10.10
Na2O 1.72 2.26 0.70 2.18 0.06 0.03 0.04 0.04 1.35 0.30 0.04 2.35 0.03
K2O 1.14 2.84 2.82 2.93 3.73 4.21 4.33 0.58 4.04 3.63 3.74 3.39 0.31
TiO2 0.80 1.13 1.36 1.05 1.29 1.25 0.99 1.35 1.03 1.75 1.72 1.09 1.06
P2O5 0.36 0.37 0.42 0.35 0.46 0.55 0.48 0.41 0.66 0.88 0.97 0.43 0.55
LOI 16.75 5.35 11.67 10.10 9.77 8.91 8.66 n.a. 10.98 10.44 10.20 7.57 13.80
S 0.55 0.51 0.20 0.22 6.13 7.68 5.78 n.a. 0.18 7.98 8.21 0.06 3.47
Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb)
Ag <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 34.7 5.1 0.8 <0.4 <0.4 0.4 <0.4 <0.4
As 40 61 10 40 590 560 1,100 3,700 4 2,300 2,100 13 18,000
Au 2 <2 7 150 674 5,550 17,900 14,300 18 47,200 58,700 18 <6
Ba 2,000 1,200 1,500 1,600 770 <50 3,000 2,600 4,900 290 340 2,200 2,500
Bi <5 <5 <0.2 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 -0.2 <5 <5 <5 <5
Cd <0.5 <0.5 n.a. <0.5 1.4 1.9 0.5 <0.5 n.a. <0.5 1.2 <0.5 1.9
Ce 87 170 110 140 170 160 170 140 199.1 210 200 140 140
Co 49 44 32 28 41 32 22 55 31.8 47 41 26 79

1101
Cr 1300 660 590 510 710 290 280 870 680 1,000 990 200 2,100
Cs 2 <1 23 15 39 21 13 <1 5 15 16 12 1
Cu 57 68 79 34 131 94 60 68 49 90 60 74 62
Eu 2.3 3.5 2.5 2.8 3.1 2.4 2.8 2.4 4.2 3.4 3.3 3 3.7
Hf 5 6 8 5 7 7 7 5 11 19 19 6 5
Hg <1 1 <1 <1 <1 21 14 50 <1 56 50 <1 <3
La 46 89 61 78 96 85 95 88 110 94 98 76 67
Lu 0.26 0.39 0.28 0.35 0.39 0.61 0.42 0.43 0.27 0.48 0.63 0.33 0.85
Mn 1,013 886 n.a. 792 357 7 17 25 n.a. 24 5 851 1,384
Mo <1 <1 <5 <1 9 4 3 15 7 <3 <3 <1 <1
Nd 35 65 51 53 72 56 56 55 81 94 83 54 49
MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND

Ni 369 239 137 133 295 101 125 266 190 223 314 58 602
Pb 10 5 n.a. 12 <5 9 5 24 16 10 <5 6 5
Rb 47 61 97 120 170 160 170 35 80 170 160 99 <15
Sb 2.2 25 3.1 8.6 25 230 100 280 1.8 87 83 6.8 80
Sc 23 25 28 21 19 13 8.6 24 18 19 23 21 39
Se <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 5 <3 <3 <3 7 <3 <3 <3
Sm 7.2 11 8 9.4 11 9.7 9.2 9 13 14 14 9.6 9.3
Sr 824 911 390 801 78 40 33 58 1,321 46 40 949 277
Te n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. <0.2 9 <0.2 <0.5 8 n.a. 1 n.a. <0.2
Th 12 14 14 13 16 13 18 19 24 36 33 12 17
Tl n.a. n.a. 1.8 n.a. 1.8 87.6 19.7 35.3 0.7 n.a. 126.1 n.a. 15.7
U 3.2 3.4 4 2.8 7.2 7.1 5.5 10 6.8 <0.9 <0.6 3.7 12
V 119 146 189 128 211 276 167 210 116 211 255 142 188
W <1 <1 <4 <1 60 61 82 260 1.2 230 120 <1 150
Y 17 24 20 20 14 20 16 30 24 20 17 22 25
Yb 1.7 2.4 1.9 1.9 2.2 3.9 2.4 3.1 2.1 2.6 2.7 2.2 3.8
Zn 71 476 43 75 76 56 46 145 38 105 79 77 80
1101
 APPENDIX (Cont.)
1102
Sample G18201379 G18201380 R22C-555 P213-1754 R9-884 EX-24C EX 92-896.5 WB4C-1720 BZ-15 EL5040 5040 #1 5040-2H P333C-924
Deposit Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Ren Meikle Meikle Golden April Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post
Type Di Di Di Di Di Monz Monz Monz BFP BFP BFP BFP BFP
Method 1 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2

Major elements (wt %)

SiO2 53.9 53.1 56.54 50.1 52.65 74.07 74.9 66.4 68.6 66.32 68 67 62.07
Al2O3 16.1 16.3 16.92 14.2 15.88 14.19 14.5 16 14.5 16.67 16.7 16.2 16.92
Fe2O3 8.11 8.28 6.43 6.23 5.82 1.72 1.78 2.08 2.22 3.83 2.93 4.04 4.48

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
MgO 4.68 4.25 2.83 3.31 2.46 0.34 0.3 0.89 0.69 1.09 1.17 0.56 2.12
CaO 7.12 7.8 5.46 6.58 4.9 0.3 0.18 2.9 2.15 0.76 0.67 0.69 2.34
Na2O 3.2 3.43 3.1 0.05 2.23 0.34 0.05 0.06 1.93 0.39 0.21 0.05 0.3
K2O 2.4 2.13 2.31 3.47 3.16 3.72 4.05 3.24 3.86 3.69 4.02 2.5 2.08
TiO2 1.4 1.39 1.16 1.18 0.87 0.28 0.27 0.54 0.27 0.49 0.48 0.46 0.49
P2O5 0.37 0.48 0.29 0.42 0.29 0.1 0.11 0.23 0.18 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.27
LOI 1.58 1.46 3.27 7.72 10.9 3.5 2.98 6.78 4.8 6.23 4.73 6.37 8.85
S 0.01 0.56 0.03 3.27 0.15 0.89 1.11 0.12 <0.005 <0.005 0.01 2.52 0.24

Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb)

Ag <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 0.8 0.5 <0.4 <0.4 0.5 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4
As 4 5 4 1,700 2 1,100 610 15 n.a. 9 8 8,300 210
Au 11 9 3 24,100 4 6,330 4,120 <2 33 <2 2 798 90
Ba 960 700 870 310 1,700 640 540 430 1,100 810 1,300 290 450
Bi <0.2 <0.2 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <0.2 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Cd n.a. n.a. <0.5 0.8 <0.5 <0.5 0.5 n.a. <0.5 <0.5 0.5 0.8 <0.5
Ce 99 110 89 100 140 49 45 130 70 89 79 82 100
Co 22 21 16 16 7 3 4 8 2 5 4 7 5
Cr 95 51 26 11 21 16 14 <5 1 9 <5 <5 5

1102
Cs <2 <2 4 12 5 6 4 3 n.a. 16 15 11 10
EMSBO ET AL.

Cu 19 9 10 19 6 5 3 <5 1 5 6 5 7
Eu 2.6 2.6 2 2.2 2.4 0.6 0.6 1.9 n.a. 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.8
Hf 6 5 6 5 7 4 4 9 n.a. 7 7 5 7
Hg <1 <1 <1 27 <1 13 5 <1 n.a. <1 <1 7 2
La 53 52 46 57 79 32 27 69 43 47 47 46 54
Lu 0.44 0.44 0.46 0.38 0.52 0.22 0.19 0.44 n.a. 0.37 0.35 0.33 0.42
Mn n.a. n.a. 566 840 702 17 6 n.a. 380 691 243 136 654
Mo <5 <5 <1 <2 <1 12 7 7 3 <1 3 <1 5
Nd 43 49 31 34 49 12 15 43 30 32 30 21 34
Ni 22 27 12 6 5 7 3 3 3 22 16 21 4
Pb n.a. n.a. <5 <5 <5 10 11 n.a. 30 15 22 28 8
Rb 79 54 87 140 120 160 110 100 n.a. 170 180 110 87
Sb 1.5 0.6 1.1 19 0.5 50 25 9.1 n.a. 4.7 2.8 14 10
Sc 22 19 19 17 11 3.5 3.1 5.2 4 4.4 4.4 3.7 5
Se <3 <3 <3 3 <3 <3 4 <3 n.a. <3 <3 <3 <3
Sm 7.3 8.3 6.2 7 8.6 2.6 2.4 5.2 n.a. 5.6 5.2 5.2 6.5
Sr 776 927 706 146 452 15 11 182 490 59 47 42 35
Te 8 <0.5 n.a. <0.2 n.a. n.a. 1 <0.5 n.a. n.a. 0 2 n.a.
Th 13 9.3 9.8 15 18 12 12 16 13 11 12 11 13
Tl 0.4 0.3 n.a. 13.9 n.a. n.a. 9.7 1.4 n.a. n.a. <0.2 6.8 n.a.
U 1.6 3.6 2.2 6.2 3.7 5.4 4.2 3.9 n.a. 3.7 4.5 4.9 4.8
V 165 158 138 179 66 51 21 38 18 38 37 36 36
W <4 <4 <1 20 <1 5 4 <4 n.a. 2 <1 11 4 3
Y 27 30 18 16 20 10 8 21 14 13 11 10 12 10
Yb 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 3.4 1.2 1.1 2.9 n.a. 2.2 2.2 2 2.4
Zn 32 22 75 29 73 46 40 72 54 143 121 163 66
 APPENDIX (Cont.)
Sample P213 P333 P333-920H P213-1783 EX21-1146 EX21-1085.5 EX21-1290 GB598 1175 LSL 156M-04 GB732-1219 76C 1475 BASE
Deposit Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Betze-Post Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Rodeo Rodeo Rodeo B/P
Type BFP BFP BFP BFP Zebra Dol D ore D ore Dsedex Dsedex Ssedex Ssedex Ssedex Jvein
Method 1 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Major elements (wt %)

SiO2 61.4 66.7 67 61.15 2.99 23.53 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Al2O3 15.8 16.75 17 15.97 0.11 0.36 0.3 0.06 0.09 3.06 4.23 0.96 2.08
Fe2O3 2.93 3.42 3.44 3.31 3.57 6.29 9.52 1.46 1.04 1.99 1.93 0.83 12.21

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
MgO 1.46 0.73 1.75 1.31 18.24 13.93 4.01 12.05 5.67 4.51 2.67 0.07 0.99
CaO 3.87 0.57 0.83 3.26 29.38 22.39 6.34 17.56 9.65 7.89 5.6 2.8 0
Na2O 0.37 0.08 0.05 0.58 <.02 0.27 0.09 0.18 0.01 0.03 0.03 <0.01 0.01
K2O 3.07 2.53 2.21 2.96 <.04 0.1 0.01 0.01 0.04 1.19 1.3 0.19 0.61
TiO2 0.45 0.46 0.46 0.45 <.02 <.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.22 0.23 0.06 0
P2O5 0.23 0.25 0.25 0.27 <.02 0.11 0.14 0.03 0.03 0.27 0.18 0.6 0.03
LOI 8.79 6.55 6.1 9.45 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
S 0.16 1.8 0.31 0.09 0.23 2.38 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb)

Ag <0.4 <0.4 0.5 <0.4 0.35 3.4 27.9 34.3 145.9 3.5 50.2 16 1500
As 47 12,000 220 21 140 1,400 3,500 510 370 343 570 150 3,100
Au 11 62 1,550 7 0 20 103,000 589 393 46,200 71,900 3,550 5,990
Ba 1,200 350 590 1,300 260 28 <59 12,000 370,000 180 150 110,000 200
Bi <5 <5 <5 <5 <0.6 <0.6 <0.2 <5 <5 <2 <5 <2 204
Cd <0.5 0.5 0.5 <0.5 0.09 0.55 0.9 1340.1 293.3 83.9 51 0.4 251.3
Ce 82 78 81 93 30 <20 <8 <8 <3 29 43 7 30
Co 5 5 10 4 <4 4 7 8 <1 5 5 2 <10
Cr 6 <5 <5 <5 <4 5 <13 <16 <5 300 170 213 <25

1103
Cs 11 14 12 12 n.a. n.a. <1 <2 <1 4 <1 <1 <4
Cu 7 3 6 6 20 30 112 901 917 158 142 16 14028
Eu 1.5 1 1.7 1.6 <8 <8 <0.3 <0.3 <0.2 1.8 1.4 0.5 <2
Hf 6 6 7 7 n.a. n.a. <1 <2 <1 4 7 <1 <3
Hg 1 29 <1 <1 0.5 15 82 310 120 73 200 6 <8
La 42 45 48 50 <8 <8 <1 6 4.4 34.3 39 11.7 16
Lu 0.31 0.51 0.39 0.37 n.a. n.a. <0.14 <0.15 <0.05 0.9 0.92 0.08 <0.35
Mn 537 36 251 495 2,400 1,700 553 827 530 95 98 35 586
Mo 4 <3 4 <1 0.99 0.75 8 <3 <2 229 220 41 <1
Nd 32 28 33 31 <20 <20 42 <11 <5 15 33 <5 <15
MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND

Ni 2 2 3 2 <8 <8 5 2 2 622 600 32 5

Pb 24 19 56 11 1.8 2.1 14 7427 59 9 13 <3 41,576
Rb 120 70 82 110 n.a. n.a. <15 <22 <15 58 62 <15 <60
Sb 10 120 8 10 3.2 130 470 2,900 850 48.3 68 726 1,200
Sc 4.4 5.1 4.7 4.6 <8 <8 4.3 1.6 0.6 3.8 3.4 0.6 5.6
Se 3 3 <3 <3 0.2 0.8 <12 <12 <3 31 49 <3 <30
Sm 5 5.1 5.6 5.8 n.a. n.a. <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 6.2 5.5 1 1.6
Sr 69 26 23 74 140 120 22 63 98 40 19 100 <0.05
Te <0.2 3 <0.2 n.a. <0.05 0.9 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. 3 n.a. 75.2
Th 11 12 12 12 <20 <20 <1.3 <1.7 <0.2 4.4 5.8 <0.2 <3.6
Tl <0.2 4.8 <0.2 n.a. 0.25 30 73.1 6.9 2.8 n.a. 35.3 n.a. <0.5
U 3.6 4 5.3 4.4 <400 <400 <2.9 <3.7 <0.5 31.2 45 <0.5 <7.4
V 34 35 35 30 8 12 6 11 4 5,230 4,762 52 18
W 3 17 4 3 <1 2 <2 <5 <4 <9 7 <1 <10
Y 10 11 11 11 <8 <8 5 5 2 57 55 18 8
Yb 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.4 <4 <4 <0.5 <0.8 <0.2 5.7 6.1 0.5 <2
Zn 58 59 60 72 14 24 32 175,000 27,500 5,070 4,572 64 13,000
1103
 APPENDIX (Cont.)
1104
Sample 1300-3475 EX21-1100 EX53-1501 S8210 270 365011 220 365011 225 365011 230 365011 235 MC11387 MC11388 MC11389 MC11390 MC11391
Deposit Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle
Type Cave Cave Cave Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia
Method 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Major elements (wt %)

SiO2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Al2O3 1.13 2.82 0.72 8.01 1.53 1.42 1.28 0.76 0.89 0.98 1.51 1.21 0.94
Fe2O3 15.01 25.02 13.73 6.31 8.96 7.41 7.51 6.38 20.02 17.73 17.01 11.62 6.82

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
MgO 0.13 0.76 0.07 0.36 4.97 10.26 9.72 11.14 0.13 0.17 0.15 0.08 0.17
CaO 2.85 2.74 0.81 0.67 16.78 21.66 19.84 21.56 6.86 4.42 2.43 1.34 3.19
Na2O 0.07 0.13 0.05 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.07 0.03 0.03 0.01
K2O 0.18 0.75 0.11 1.9 0.39 0.37 0.34 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.23 0.23 0.16
TiO2 0.03 0.07 0.02 0.67 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.07 0.03 0.03
P2O5 0.38 0.95 0.36 0.33 1.69 2.03 2.06 0.93 0.3 0.38 0.52 0.54 0.39
LOI n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
S n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb)

Ag 69.4 208.7 85 2.8 8 4.7 0.5 0.4 42.3 50 19.9 65.7 37.7
As 5,000 12,000 4,100 5,400 3,000 2,600 2,500 2,200 7,800 7,800 4,100 4,600 3,000
Au 301,000 390,000 138,000 20,600 33,800 25,500 21,800 21,100 200,000 222,000 67,000 93,000 76,500
Ba 1,400 1,800 <100 700 100 81 88 73 100 2,400 24,000 4,000 2,300
Bi <5 <5 <5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Cd 1.5 15.4 8.4 3.7 2.2 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.8 1.8 8.5 2 1.2
Ce <3 <19 <8 80 29 25 27 21 12 14 20 5 8
Co 5 <1 4 16 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 2
Cr 25 <20 59 360 6 27 6 5 350 340 310 440 550

1104
Cs <1 <1 2 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
EMSBO ET AL.

Cu 69 1054 400 55 10 11 6 3 210 228 92 306 165

Eu 2.1 <0.9 <0.4 2.1 0.2 0.2 1.6 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Hf <1 <1 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Hg 150 180 90 34 79 56 75 46 140 120 120 92 60
La 4 20 14 50 36 32 32 14 9 12 18 12 9.7
Lu <0.15 <0.34 <0.16 0.05 0.43 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.22 0.23 0.11 0.1 0.06
Mn 53 69 40 16 796 1,509 1,422 1,918 143 107 69 46 112
Mo 30 45 24 1 56 59 83 16 83 64 150 89 38
Nd <5 <26 6 41 14 5 18 5 5 5 5 5 5
Ni 21 28 23 106 37 19 21 12 20 22 20 24 23
Pb 10 41 174 12 13 13 11 5 26 24 14 28 23
Rb <15 <31 <15 68 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 26
Sb 910 1,000 810 130 550 270 410 220 1,000 1,000 1,200 520 290
Sc 0.9 2.2 0.3 4.4 1.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.6
Se 75 <15 51 8 5.8 1.3 1.1 0.8 1 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.6
Sm 1.6 2.2 0.9 5.7 3 2.6 2.6 0.9 0.3 0.8 1.3 1.7 1.2
Sr 15 21 8 18 73 131 138 126 11 12 12 11 13
Te n.a. 8.4 1.8 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5
Th <0.5 <1.6 <1.5 7.9 0.2 2.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.8
Tl 357.8 178 61.5 36 48 34 37 22 223 222 105 170 95
U <0.5 <6.6 <3.2 21 37 36 42 17 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
V 31 71 11 177 60 56 44 27 21 22 36 25 19
W <4 <4 <2 30 8 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1
Y 8 34 7 17 79 67 61 25 11 12 18 17 17
Yb <1 <1.2 <0.4 1.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 0.2 0.9 0.9 0.5 2.3 0.2
Zn 140 925 832 328 192 14 253 44 40 55 600 86 47
 APPENDIX (Cont.)
Sample MC11392 540503 260 540503 285 540503 295 540503 305 540503 315 Sample MC11392 540503 260 540503 285 540503 295 540503 305 540503 315
Deposit Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Deposit Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle Meikle
Type Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Type Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia Breccia
Method 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 Method 1 2 2 2 2 2 2

Major elements (wt %) Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb) (cont)

SiO2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Hf 1 6 1 3 4 1
Al2O3 0.94 9.52 0.94 9.66 2.53 1.72 Hg 110 13 220 15 86 61
Fe2O3 10.08 5.48 13.07 8.51 12.34 8.36 La 11 52 21 27 13 8.7

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
MgO 0.08 0.36 0.1 0.43 0.12 0.1 Lu 0.1 0.28 0.22 0.56 0.1 0.05
CaO 1.48 0.56 1.25 0.29 0.85 0.56 Mn 82 23 39 87 32 30
Na2O 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 Mo 42 13 480 57 370 160
K20 0.16 2.28 0.16 2.47 0.57 0.33 Nd 5 31 18 14 8 5
TiO2 0.03 0.68 0.03 0.35 0.1 0.07 Ni 26 116 151 93 106 80
P2O5 0.43 0.3 0.78 0.18 0.57 0.37 Pb 16 25 161 45 16 5
LOI n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Rb 15 77 15 80 15 15
S n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sb 540 160 1,260 92 630 500
Sc 0.4 8.1 0.8 5.5 1.5 1.1
Trace elements (ppm) except Au (ppb) Se 0.5 1.4 0.2 2.9 9.5 22
Ag 62.8 1 23.1 3.4 2.6 2 Sm 1.5 4.9 2 2.3 2.1 1.1
As 4,700 1,600 9,700 1,800 4,000 2,300 Sr 11 40 15 17 13 13
Au 85,600 7,830 337,000 10,900 103,000 30,500 Te 0.8 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.3
Ba 2,600 11,000 25,000 7,300 22,000 25,000 Th 0.2 7.4 0.2 7.5 3.5 0.2
Bi 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.8 2 Tl 210 17 314 27 126 74
Cd 1.9 8 126.2 5.1 2.8 2.9 U 0.5 9.7 0.5 10 0.5 0.5
Ce 33 81 54 39 28 3 V 22 211 93 307 213 138
Co 3 15 5 9 3 2 W 1 12 27 11 20 18
Cr 490 320 270 240 250 230 Y 13 22 22 23 19 12

1105
Cs 1 11 1 3 1 1 Yb 0.4 1.6 0.8 1.9 0.4 0.2
Cu 261 46 121 49 45 68 Zn 73 720 9304 378 266 198
Eu 0.2 1.4 0.5 0.6 0.2 0.2

Abbreviations: BFP = biotite feldspar porphyry, Breccia = breccia-hosted ore, Cave = cave-fill ore, Di = Goldstrike diorite, Dol = dolomite, D ore = dolomite-hosted ore, Dsedex = discordant sedex,
Jvein = Jurassic vein, LampH = hornblende lamprophyre, LampM = mafic lamprophyre, LampP = phlogopite lamprophyre, Monz = monzonite, n.a. = no data, Ssedex = stratiform sedex
1 1 = WDXRF, 2 = INAA+ICP-OES, 3 = ICP-OES
2 40Ar/ 39Ar age of hornblende in sample (157.87 ± 0.24 Ma)
3 40Ar/ 39Ar age of phlogopite in sample (158.88 ± 0.26 Ma)
MEIKLE AND NEIGHBORING DEPOSITS, CARLIN TREND
1105