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Nickel Mountain

Producer in Douglas county in Oregon, United States with commodities Nickel, Cobalt, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium
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Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10067833
MRDS ID W000690
Record type Site
Current site name Nickel Mountain
Alternate or previous names Hanna Nickel Mine
Related records 10043117, 10201067

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -123.44005, 42.96093 (WGS84)
Elevation 885
Relative position 8 MI WEST OF CANYONVILLE, 4-5 MI NORTHWEST OF RIDDLE
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Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Oregon Douglas

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Willamette 030S 006W 08,09,16,17,18,20,21,28,29 Oregon

Comments on the location information

  • DEPOSIT COVERS UPPER PART OF NICKEL MOUNTAIN

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Nickel Primary
Cobalt Secondary
Platinum Secondary
Palladium Secondary
Rhodium Tertiary
Iridium Tertiary
Ruthenium Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • MINE LAMOTTE AND OTHER MINES OF SE MISSOURI LEAD DISTRICT HAVE SIMILAR ORE. A 1949 ESTIMATE INDICATED THAT ABOUT 600,000 LBS. OF CO IS CONTAINED IN THE LEAD ORE MINED ANNUALLY 2N THE DISTRICT BUT NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO SAVE IT. RECOVERY OF SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE IF THE PROCESS USED BY NATIONAL LEAD COULD BE APPLIED TO THESE ORES.
  • ORES ARE CLASSIFIED IN GROUPS: SOIL (RED AND YELLOW), SAPROLITE (SOFT, HARD SAPROLIZED PERIDOTITE), AND BOXWORK. SOILS ACCOUNT FOR 20% OF ORE RESERVE AVERAGING 10 FT THICK (0-40 FT). SAPROLITE ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF RESERVES. BOXWORK GROUP ACCOUNTS FOR REST OF RESERVE WITH AVERAGE GRADE OF 1.78% NI IN UPPER DEPOSIT AND 1.49% IN LOWER DEPOSIT.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chlorite Ore
Chromite Ore
Garnierite Ore
Ilmenite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Sepiolite Ore
Spinel Ore
Chalcedony Gangue

Analytical data

Result PARENT ROCKS RANGE FROM 0.52 TO 0.29% NI. AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS (PPB) FOR 19 PGM SAMPLES: PT=18.78, PD=22.19, RH=11.53, IR=48.78, RU=156.22
Result PRESUMED TO BE UNPUB. DATA OF N.J PAGE

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 110
USGS model code 38a
BC deposit profile B02
Deposit model name Lateritic Ni

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Riddle Formation;Riddle Formation;Riddle Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;;;
    Rock description Riddle Formation;Riddle Formation;Riddle Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;Dothan Formation;;;
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene

Nearby scientific data

(1) -123.44005, 42.96093
ListMap

Geologic structures

Type Description Terms
Regional See Comments
Local Rock Fault And Sring Fault Related To Saprolite Formation; Joints Related To Depth Of Saprolite; Former Water Table Related To Boxwork Ore.

Ore body information

  • General form STRATIFIED BLANKET
    Thickness 67.06M
    Depth to top 0.91M
    Width 914.4M
    Length 1828.8M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Laterite Occurs In Two Areas, The First And Largest Coverstop Of Mountain And Has Been Mined; A Second Deposit, Considerably Smaller, Occurs In A Bench On Southeast Slope Of Mountain. Both Deposits Overlie Fresh Peridotite And Have A Well Developed Quartz-Garnierite Boxwork Zone.

Comments on the geologic information

  • SURFACE BLANKET DEPOSIT, FORMED BY TWO-STAGE LATERITIC WEATHERING OF PERIDOTITE ON FLATTER UPPER SURFACES OF MOUNTAIN. THE NI (AND CO?) ORIGINALLY IN OLIVINE. AMOUNT OF CO IN OLIVINE AND ORE NOT REPORTED
  • INTERBEDDED SANDSTONE SHALE AND DOLOMITE ; GEOL.DESC: PRECAMBRIAN GRANITE AND RHYOLITE PORPHIRY CROP OUT AS PEAKS AND RIDGES PROTRUDING THROUGH UPPER CAMBRIAN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED UNCONFORMABLY AROUND THEM.

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1864
Discoverer Sheepherders
Discovery method Ore-Mineral In Place
Year of first production 1882

Mining district

District name Riddle District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Glenbrook Nickel Co.
    First year 1992

Production statistics

  • Year 1979
    Material NI
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.38% Ni
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Nickel Nickel 1wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION UNKNOWN; LEAD DEPOSITS IN BASE OF BONNETERRE DOLOMITE AND TOP OF LAMOTTE SANDSTONE ARE LOCALIZED AROUND BURIED PRECAMBRIAN HILLS.
  • AVERAGE GRADE OF ORE: 1.4%. ONLY DOMESTIC NICKEL PRODUCTION. SINCE 1957, ANNUAL PRODUCTION HAS BEEN 10-13,000 TONS; 1972 PRODUCTION FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE. CORNWALL (1966) REPORTED "PRODUCTION RECORDS FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF OPERATION, PLUS CONSIDERATION OF PRESENT CAPACITY AND MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFITABLE EXPLORATION OF A METAL DEPOSIT, INDICATE THAT THE DEPOSIT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A PRODUCTION RATE OF 12,000 MET TONS PER YEAR FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 YEARS." 1973 MINE AND SMELTER OUTPUT WAS 11,735 M.T. NI, 1972 OUTPUT WAS 11,900 M.T. NI. MINING JOURNAL INDICATED 26 MILLION LB/YR MINED

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1973
    Total resources 907,000,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Nickel Ni 1.5 wt-pct Nickel Major 1973
    Cobalt Co 0.05 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1973

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ITEM 2 GRADE CONT.: 0.46% NI. ABOVE FIGURES ARE MEASURED RESERVES; INFERRED MARGINAL RESOURCES ARE PROBABLY SEVERAL TIMES LARGER THAN THE MEASURED ESTIMATE. ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER CU,CO, AND NI HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF METALLURGICAL PROBLEMS IN SEPARATING THE METALS.
  • CORNWALL (1966) REPORTED SEVERAL OTHER DEPOSITS IN THE KLAMATH MOUNTAINS, INCLUDING EIGHT DOLLAR MOUNTAIN, WOODCOCK MT., RED FLATS, PINE FLAT MT., AND LITTLE RED MOUNTAIN, CONTAIN AN ESTIMATED 45 MILLION METRIC TONS OF LATERITE MATERIAL, BUT THE NICKEL CONTENT IN ALL THESE DEPOSITS IS LESS THAN 1%.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 319.713HA

Comments on the workings information

  • OPEN PIT, TRAM 250 TPH, SMELTER

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency Database name Acronym Record ID Notes
USGS Mineral Resources Data System MRDS W000690
U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Availability System MAS 0410190001

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    PECORA, W.T., AND HOBBS, S.W., 1942, NICKEL DEPOSITS NEAR RIDDLE, DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 931-I, P. 205-226.

  • Deposit

    BOGERT, J.R., 1960, HOW FERRONICKEL IS PRODUCED FROM LOW GRADE LATERITE BY THE UGINE PROCESS: MINING WORLD, V. 22, NO. 11, P. 33-37.

  • Deposit

    HOTZ, P.E., 1964, NICKELIFEROUS LATERITES IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON AND NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 59, NO. 3, P. 356-396.

  • Deposit

    CORNWALL, H.R., 1966, NICKEL DEPOSITS OF NORTH AMERICA: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1223, P. 51-52.

  • Deposit

    SKINNER, W.R., 1973, HANNA MINING COMPANY: FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON, MINING INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK, P. 306-307.

  • Deposit

    CORNWALL, H.R., 1973, NICKEL, IN BROBST, D.A., AND PRATT, W.P., EDS., UNITED STATES MINERAL RESOURCES: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 820, P.441; SEE ALSO VHAY, P. 148

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL OF LONDON, 1974, HANNA - FERRONICKEL PRICE UP: MINING JOURNAL OF LONDON, V. 282, NO. 7243, P. 489.

  • Deposit

    CUMBERLIDGE, J.T., AND CHACE, F.M., 1968, GEOLOGY OF THE NICKEL MOUNTAIN MINE, RIDDLE, OREGON, IN RIDGE, J.D., ED., ORE DEPOSITS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1933/1967, GRATON-SALES VOLUME: NEW YORK, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERS, P. 1650-1972.

  • Deposit

    RAMP, LEN, 1978, INVESTIGATIONS OF NICKEL IN OREGON: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES MISCELLANEOUS PAPER NO. 20, P. 9-15.

  • Deposit

    HLADKE, F.R., 1993, MINING AND EXPLORATION IN OREGON DURING 1992: OREGON GEOLOGY, V. 55, NO. 2, P. 27-34.

  • Deposit

    PAGE, N.J, JOHNSON, M.G., HAFFTY, JOSEPH, AND RAMP, LEN, 1975, OCCURRENCE OF PLATINUM GROUP METALS IN ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS OF THE MEDFORD-COOS BAY 2 DEGREE QUADRANGLES, SOUTHWESTERN OREGON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES MAP MF-694, SCALE 1:250,000.

  • Production

    CORNWALL, 1966

  • Reserve-Resource

    VHAY AND OTHERS, 1973

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit 500 ACRES OF DISCONTINUOUS MANTLE AVERAGING 50 FT THICK BUT VARYING FROM 5-200 FT. TWO MAIN ORE BODIES, ONE ON TOP OF NICKEL MOUNTAIN CALLED UPPER DEPOSIT, AND ONE ON TERRACE ON SOUTH SIDE OF MOUNTAIN CALLED LOWER DEPOSIT.
Deposit THREE LAYERS IN SOIL: BRICK RED SOIL (MOST CO HERE?), YELLOW LIMONITIC LAYER WITH SOME QUARTZ GARNIERITE BOXWORK, AND BOXWORK OF QUARTZ AND GARNIERITE IN NEARLY FRESH PERIDOTITE. ALL ZONES HAVE SOME NICKEL AND ARE MINED. LAYER (3) HAS HIGHEST GRADE. UPDATE BY GLENN L. SHAFFER-1/75, GEOLOGIC DESCRIPTION, PRODUCTION DATA, RESERVES AND POTENTIAL RESOURCES. SMELTER ANNUAL CAPACITY 11,800 M.T. SEE CUMBERLIDGE AND CHACE FOR GEOLOGIC MAPS AND ASSAY DATA. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT
Deposit SEE ALSO: MRDS M061616.
Deposit THE DEPOSITS (OCCURRING AT OR NEAR FREDERICKTOWN), THAT CONTAIN MOSTLY GALENA AND SPHALERITE HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING MINED AT A PROFIT (THIS AS OF 1966), BUT ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER COPPER, NICKEL, AND COBALT FROM DEPOSITS WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF THOSE METALS, THAT IS, THOSE WITH CHALCOPYRITE AND SIEGENITE, HAVE FAILED DUE TO METALLURGICAL PROBLEMS IN SEPARATING THE METALS (CORNWALL, 1966). SEVERAL DEPOSITS INCLUDING THOSE WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF CU, CO, AND NI MINERALS, OCCUR WHERE THE LAMOTTE SANDSTONE PINCHES OUT AGAINST THE PRECAMBRIAN PEAKS. THESE DEPOSITS ARE SINOUS LENSES, 0-40 FT. THICK, T0-250 FT. WIDE, SEVERAL HUNDRED FT. LONG, AND COMPARATIVELY FLAT AT DEPTHS OF 250-400 FT. BELOW THE SURFACE.
Deposit UPDATE BY GLENN L. SHAFFER-1/75, ADDITIONAL GEOLOGIC DESCRIPTION ADDED. THIS SUBDISTRICT INCLUDES SEVERAL MINES SUCH AS MINE LAMOTTE, MADISON, HICKORY NUT, FLEMING, CATHERINE, RUTH. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-1972 Coury, Anny B. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-FEB-1979 Bradley, Robin (Walker, George W.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-MAY-1989 Peterson, Jocelyn A. U.S. Geological Survey