It's Silver City's Fault EarthCache
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The Virginia City – Gold Hill – Silver City areas were the sites of the famous “Comstock Lode” of the 1800’s. This Earthcache will get you up close and personal with a pit dug in this area, and show you a fault that has been exposed.
HISTORY –
In 1849 placer gold was found in Gold Canyon, near the present town of Dayton, and thus began the search for gold in this area. By 1859, separate groups had found gold in Gold Canyon, Six-Mile Canyon, and at Gold Hill, as well as the silver ore located throughout the area. News of the finds brought 20,000 people to the area hoping to “strike it rich.” By 1862 eighty mills were working, producing $7,000,000 in bullion, which continued until 1880, where more than 192 million ounces of silver and 8.2 million ounces of gold were dug, valued at more than 405 million dollars at the time of production.
Open pit mining has been done in the Silver City area off and on since the 1880’s. The Lucerne Cut (Donovan’s Pit) is along the base of Hartford Hill. It is a site of an open pit, though before it was mined as such, there was underground mining done. Evidence of this are a few underground tunnels that have been exposed. (Look for round openings on the back of the walls.)
GEOLOGY –
The Lucerne Cut at the base of Hartford Hill has exposed the Silver City Fault. Look on the back wall for exposed faces that are shiny or look polished. These mark the footwall of the fault. At the south side of the pit you can find a narrow zone of light colored rock, which is what remains of the veined ore that was mined here. Just behind the highway sign is a large boulder of some of this veined ore. Examine it and you will see it is crushed, altered andesite that has been cemented together by vuggy vein quartz (quartz with lots of open cavities, sometimes lined with crystals.)
DIRECTIONS –
This site is best accessed via State Route 342 from Virginia City, south towards Hwy 50 intersection. Before Devil’s Gate, entering into Lyon County and Silver City there will be a turn. Pull off onto the side of the road to the right, just before a 25mph curve left sign. If coming from Silver City, you will see a wooden sign advertising the 4th Ward School. Pull to the left just after it.
SAFETY –
The edges and rocks around open pit mines can be very unstable. Please stay out of the pit and behind any fences.
QUESTIONS -
To log this EarthCache, go to the specified coordinates and answer the following questions: If you are looking directly at the fault faces, what direction are you facing? On the far right side of the pit how many steps have been made into the face of the hill?
Directly across the road is recently exposed rock. How does its color compare to the rocks in the pit?
REFERENCES-
Tingley, J.V. et al. 2005 Geologic and Natural History Tours in the Reno Area. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 19.
Tingley, J.V. et al. 1993 Outline of Nevada Mining History. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 15. (visit link)
BASIC VISITOR-USE AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN NEVADA:
All visitors need to plan ahead and prepare for outings in Nevada’s public lands by:
• Knowing the regulations and special concerns for the area you are planning to visit (obeying laws that prohibit collection or destruction of artifacts);
• Carrying a map and a GPS unit and/or compass (Maps are available for purchase at all BLM offices and from the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, www.nbmg.unr.edu.);
• Staying on existing roads and trails;
• Staying away from all mine shafts and adits;
• Planning for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies;
• Carrying a full-size spare tire, extra food, water, and warm clothing;
• Being aware that cell phones DO NOT usually work in the rural areas away from the major highways;
• Leaving your travel plans with a responsible party, including the date and time of your return;
• Linking to “Tread Lightly and Leave No Trace” websites (www.treadlightly.org and www.lnt.org).
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)