Mining Activity in Nevada, By Lorre A. Moyer Open-File Report 04-xxx Digital Movie, Version U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Introduction This digital movie was created in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 to visually describe historical factors that have influenced patterns of Nevada mining including, transportation routes, major historical events, significant mineral deposits, mining districts, mineral production, and precious metal booms. The movie includes shorter animated subsets that the viewer can select from a set of menu buttons.

Mining Activity in Nevada, Precious metal mines and mining camps dominated Nevada’s early history until WWI. Base metal surpassed precious metal production during the war and post- war years to the early 1960’s. Due to new technologies and high gold prices, precious metal production reached new highs during early 1990’s.

Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, Low prices and environmental regulation brought about the decline in precious metal production by More recently Nevada’s fast growing population and urban infrastructure has created an increasing demand for industrial minerals. Nevada’s three major boom periods were known as: the Comstock, the Tonopah- Goldfield, and the Carlin.

Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, This digital movie depicts the significant activity cycles in Nevada during the period 1851 – 1995 for: Precious metals (silver and gold) Base metals (copper, lead, zinc and tungsten) Industrial minerals (such as sand, clay, gypsum and barite) The relationships between transportation routes, mineral exploration and production, active mining districts, and population growth or decline are shown by decade.

Pre-production

Production

Pre-production Production

No Production Production

No Production Production

No Production Production

Movie Menu Options The movie menu that follows allows navigation to shorter subsets of the main movie including animations of major mines, major mining districts, mineral production, and links to decade time periods. Each subset will loop unless the return to the main menu button is selected. Exit the movie at any time by right clicking the mouse. Settings for the length of time taken by each frame can be adjusted in PowerPoint.

Mining activity in Nevada full length movie Movie Menu Click button to view action animations or full length movie. Major mines animation Major mining districts animation Mineral production chart Links to decade time periods

Pre-1850Early Trails and Westward Migration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Pre-1850Early Trails and Westward Migration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Pre-1850Early Trails and Westward Migration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Comstock Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Comstock Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Return to time linksReturn to time links Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Goldfield Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Goldfield Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Carlin Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Carlin Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Carlin Trend

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Carlin Trend Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Carlin Trend

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

Comstock boom

Comstock boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom Carlin boom

Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom Carlin boom

Mining Activity in Nevada, SUMMARY The 1859 silver discovery near Virginia City began the Comstock Boom. Most of Nevada’s mining districts were discovered during the Comstock Boom and the Tonopah-Goldfield Boom aided by the development of the railroads. A period of decline from due to a drop in silver prices and depletion of mines caused a population decrease. WWI stimulated mining by raising the price of silver and base metals.

Mining Activity in Nevada, SUMMARY In 1933 a minor “depression”era boom was set off by an increase in the price of gold contributing to early discoveries of “invisible gold” later to be called Carlin- type deposits. WWII increased the demand for all metals; however, the War Production Board forced most of the gold mines to close to stimulate base metal production. Base metal production peaked during the 1950’s – copper was at its highest. The 1962 Carlin gold discovery began “the Carlin Boom”.

Mining Activity in Nevada, SUMMARY The demand for base metal remained high and increased for industrial minerals during the 1970’s Vietnam War. In 1972 the price of gold was released from government control, and Nevada led the nation in gold production in the 1980’s. In the 1990’s lower prices and environmental regulation brought a decline in precious metal production, and by 1992 the changing market conditions practically eliminated Nevada’s base metal industry.

Mining Activity in Nevada, SUMMARY The demand for industrial minerals has steadily increased with Nevada’s growing population and will most likely continue a steady upward trend.

Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, Data sources for this animation include the U.S. Geological Survey’s Digital Data Series DDS-52 and Open-File Report A, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Report 47 and unpublished production tables, and the State of Nevada Census. Thanks to Joe Tingley of the NBMG for access to his unpublished production tables and to Gary Raines of the USGS for constructive input on design.

Link to Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Link to Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Link to Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Link to Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Link to Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Link to Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Link to WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Link to Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Link to Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Link to WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Link to The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Link to Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Link to Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Link to Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Link to Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases

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