Miner Deposita (2006) 41: 527–547
DOI 10.1007/s00126-006-0080-8
ARTICLE
Ozcan Yigit . Albert H. Hofstra . Murray W. Hitzman .
Eric P. Nelson
Geology and geochemistry of jasperoids from the Gold Bar
district, Nevada
Received: 17 May 2005 / Accepted: 11 June 2006 / Published online: 8 August 2006
# Springer-Verlag 2006
Abstract Gold Bar is one of several Carlin-type gold
mining districts located in the Battle Mountain–Eureka
trend, Nevada. It is composed of one main deposit, Gold
Bar; five satellite deposits; and four resources that contain
1.6 Moz (50 t) of gold. All of the deposits and resources
occur at the intersection of north-northwest- and northeast-
trending high-angle faults in slope facies limestones of the
Devonian Nevada Group exposed in windows through
Ordovician basin facies siliciclastic rocks of the Roberts
Mountains allochthon. Igneous intrusions and magnetic
anomalies are notably absent. The Gold Bar district
contains a variety of discordant and stratabound jasperoid
bodies, especially along the Wall Fault zone, that were
mapped and studied in some detail to identify the attributes
of those most closely associated with gold ore and to
constrain genetic models. Four types of jasperoids, J0, J1,
J2, and J3, were distinguished on the basis of their geologic
and structural settings and appearance. Field relations
suggest that J0 formed during an early event. Petrographic
observations, geochemistry, and δ18O values of quartz
suggest it was overprinted by the hydrothermal event that
produced ore-related J1, J2, and J3 jasperoids and associated
gold deposits. The greater amount of siliciclastic detritus
present in J0 jasperoids caused them to have higher δ18O
values than J1,2,3 jasperoids hosted in underlying lime-
stones. Ore-related jasperoids are composed of main-ore-
Editorial Handling: N. White
O. Yigit (*)
Department of Geological Engineering,
Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University,
Canakkale 17020, Turkey
e-mail: ozcanyigit@hotmail.com
A. H. Hofstra
US Geological Survey,
Box 25046, MS-973,
Denver, CO 80225, USA
M. W. Hitzman . E. P. Nelson
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering,
Colorado School of Mines,
Golden, CO 80401, USA
stage replacements and late-ore-stage open-space filling
quartz with variable geochemistry and an enormous range
of δ18O values (24.5 and −3.7‰). Jasperoids hosted in
limestones with the most anomalous Au, Ag, Hg, ±(As, Sb,
Tl) concentrations and the highest δ18O values are
associated with the largest deposits. The 28‰ range of
jasperoid δ18O values is best explained by mixing between
an 18O-enriched fluid and an 18O-depleted fluid. The
positive correlation between the sizes of gold deposits and
the δ18O composition of jasperoids indicates that gold was
introduced by the 18O-enriched fluid. The lowest calculated
δ18O value for water in equilibrium with late-ore-stage
quartz at 200°C (−15‰) and the measured δD value of
fluid inclusion water extracted from late-ore-stage orpi-
ment and realgar (−116‰) indicate that the 18O-depleted
fluid was composed of relatively unexchanged meteoric
water. The source of the 18O-enriched ore fluid is not
constrained. The δ34S values of late-ore-stage realgar,
orpiment, and stibnite (5.7–15.5‰) and barite (31.5–
40.9‰) suggest that H2S and sulfate were derived from
sedimentary sources. Likewise, the δ13C and δ18O values
of late-stage calcite (−4.8 to 1.5‰ and 11.5 to 17.4‰,
respectively) suggest that CO2 was derived from marine
limestones. Based on these data and the apparent absence
of any Eocene intrusions in the district, Gold Bar may be
the product of a nonmagmatic hydrothermal system.
Keywords Jasperoids . Stable isotope . Geochemistry .
Carlin-type deposits . Gold mineralization . Nevada
Introduction
The Gold Bar district is located in the southern Roberts
Mountains in Eureka County, Nevada (Fig. 1a). It is
composed of five Carlin-type gold deposits (Gold Bar,
Gold Pick, Gold Ridge, Goldstone, and Gold Canyon) and
four resources (Mill Site, Pot Canyon, Cabin Creek, and
Hunter; Fig. 1b). From a total district resource of 1.6 Moz
(50 t), 485,000 oz (15.1 t) of gold at an average grade of
0.074 oz/t Au (2.5 g/t) was produced between 1987 and
528
Fig. 1 a Shaded relief map
showing the location of the Gold a 0 500 1000
kilometers

Bar district in the state of Nevada

Nevada, relative to other Carlin- Jerritt

type gold districts in the region. Getchell Canyon
Trend
The inset shows the position of
Carlin
Carlin-type gold deposits in the
Trend
Gold Bar and Eureka districts U T A H
including those at Tonkin N E V A D A EUREKA
County
Springs. b Regional geology of Gold Bar - Eureka Districts
Gold Bar Tonkin Springs
the Gold Bar district from this LANDER District
Gold Canyon S278
Goldstone
study with data from Murphy et County Alligator Gold Ridge
Ridge Gold Pick
al. (1978), Atlas Precious Met- Battle Mountain -
Gold Bar
als (unpublished data, 1983– Eureaka Trend Afgan
Eureka
1996), Cordex Exploration, District
Eureka County

(unpublished data, 1995–1996), US50

West Archimedes
and Barrick Gold Exploration East Archimedes
Glister Rustler
0 50 100 Windfall
(unpublished data, 1997–1998) Lookout Mountain
0 5 10 km Pinnacle Peak
kilometers Geddes-Bertrand

b
1 860 000
1 850 000

4
1 840 000

7 2
3 5 8

Range
1 840 000

Front Fault
9

6
1 840 000

Wall Fault
1 Gold Bar 0 1 2
Deposit kilometers

260 000 270 000 280 000 290 000 290 000

EXPLANATIONS Gold Deposits

Garden Valley Formation 1 Gold Bar
Alluvium, colluvium, 2 Gold Canyon
moraines and older gravels Vinini Formation 3 Gold Ridge
Roberts Mountains Thrust 4 Goldstone
Jasperoids Pz Webb and Woodruff
Cz 5 Gold Pick
TR Formations Gold Resources
Volcanic rocks;
andesite, basalt, rhyolite Devil's Gate, Denay, McColley 6 Mill Site
Canyon Formations 7 Pot Canyon
Tuffs
Lone Mountain and Roberts 8 Cabin Creek
Mountains Formations 9 Hunter

1994 by open pit mining and cyanide heap leach methods
(French et al. 1996). Mining ceased due to increasing
production costs and the carbonaceous nature of the
remaining ore.
The Gold Bar district is one of several mining districts
that occur along the northwest-striking Battle Mountain–
Eureka trend (Roberts 1966). The deposits in the district
are located in windows through siliciclastic rocks of the
Roberts Mountains allochthon at the intersection of north-
northwest- and northeast-trending high-angle faults in
slope facies limestones of the Devonian Nevada Group
(French et al. 1996; Cope and Arbonies 1998; Yigit and
Nelson 2000; Yigit 2001; Yigit et al. 2003). While
silicification is common in, or near, the deposits, decalci-
fication is most closely associated with ore (Broili et al.
1988; Yigit and Hofstra 2003).
The exploration for Carlin-type gold deposits involves
routine sampling and chemical analysis of pervasively
silicified sedimentary rocks, called jasperoid, for Au and
other trace elements because they provide evidence of
hydrothermal activity, are a common alteration type in
most districts, and are resistant to erosion (e.g., Hofstra and
Cline 2000). The term “jasperoid” was first used by Spurr
(1898) for a rock consisting essentially of cryptocrystalline,
chalcedonic, or phenocrystalline silica, formed by the
replacement of mainly calcite or dolomite. Lindgren (1901)
used the term without any connotation to its origin.
Lovering (1972) returned to Spurr’s original definition of
jasperoid as an epigenetic replacement and excluded
syngenetic and diagenetic forms of silica, such as primary
chert and novaculite. Holland et al. (1988) restricted the
term to hydrothermally altered sedimentary rocks with
more than 70% SiO2 and less than 10% Al2O3. Lovering
(1981) showed that jasperoids are associated with a variety
of deposit types and that jasperoid cobbles can be used as
an exploration tool for base and precious metal deposits in
Nevada. He, and later, Dong et al. (1995), defined
terminology for quartz textures in jasperoid. Fournier
(1985) and Rimstidt (1997) described the physico-chem-
ical conditions required for calcite replacement by quartz
and amorphous silica. Holland et al. (1988), Nelson (1990),
and Van Moort et al. (1995) attempted to differentiate
barren and auriferous jasperoids from Carlin-type deposits
using a variety of statistical analyses of multielement data.
Hofstra (1994) utilized gold content, textures, catholumi-
nescence, fluid inclusions, and oxygen isotopes to differ-
entiate chert, preore, and ore-stage jasperoids in the Jerritt
Canyon district. In the Carlin trend, Emsbo (1999) used
these techniques in concert with multielement geochemis-
try to distinguish jasperoid related to Carlin-type miner-
alization from jasperoid that formed in the footwall of a
Devonian sedex hydrothermal system. Hofstra and Cline
(2000) described the distribution and characteristics of
jasperoids in Carlin-type hydrothermal systems and their
processes of formation. Ilchik (1990) and Nutt and Hofstra
(2003) described the distribution, textures, and oxygen
isotope characteristics of jasperoids in the Alligator Ridge
district that formed in a shallow Carlin-type hydrothermal
system.
529
The Gold Bar district is an excellent place to study
jasperoids because they are exposed at the surface, in open
pits, and in neighboring exploration areas. They are
particularly well developed along a major northwest-
striking structure known as the Wall Fault that transects
the Gold Bar district (Fig. 1b) and extends into the Tonkin
Springs district, 14 km to the north, where it is associated
with Eocene intrusions and Carlin-type gold deposits
(Cope 1997, personal communication; Yigit et al. 2003). In
the Gold Bar district, it served to localize the Pot Canyon
resource (Fig. 1b). Hence, the Wall Fault zone was selected
for detailed mapping, sampling, and jasperoid character-
ization. For comparison, jasperoids exposed in the Gold
Bar and Gold Canyon deposits were mapped and sampled,
and additional samples of jasperoid were collected from
exposures in the Gold Pick and Goldstone deposits.
A number of jasperoid types were distinguished and
mapped along the Wall Fault. This paper describes the
physical, geochemical, and isotopic characteristics of each
jasperoid type recognized in this area and compares them to
the jasperoids in the deposits to identify the attributes of
those that are most closely associated with economic gold
mineralization. An interesting finding of this study is the
fact that the oxygen isotopic composition of jasperoid
varies with deposit size. Together, the geologic, geochem-
ical, and isotopic information collected in the Gold Bar
district place important constraints on exploration and
genetic models for Carlin-type deposits.
This report is part of a larger effort to develop an
exploration model for the Gold Bar district that is
applicable to other areas with similar geologic settings
(Yigit 2001). The nature of the structures associated with
gold mineralization, from deposit to district scale, and their
possible origins are discussed by Yigit and Nelson (2000)
and Yigit et al. (2003). Lithogeochemical studies presented
by Yigit and Hofstra (2003) identify multiple events with
different signatures and characterize element depletions
and additions associated with Carlin-type alteration and
mineralization. Gold is clearly associated with the deple-
tion of CaO, LOI (decalcification), and the introduction of
S, As, Sb, and Hg. Iron is relatively immobile, suggesting
that gold and pyrite precipitated due to sulfidation of
ferroan minerals in the host rocks.
Setting and district geology
Gold Bar lies along the Battle Mountain–Eureka trend,
defined by the weak alignment of mining districts, which is
currently thought to be controlled by a basement fault that
was reactivated repeatedly over Phanerozoic time (Cline et
al. 2005). It is one of two major northwest-striking
basement faults recognized in Nevada (Fig. 1a), the other
being the Carlin trend, that influenced patterns of sedi-
mentation and deformation and served to localize intru-
sions and ore deposits of different types and ages. Most
importantly, it localized Eocene Carlin-type gold deposits
in the Cortez, Tonkin Springs, Gold Bar, and Eureka
districts. Although Gold Bar has not been dated isotopi-
530

cally, field relations between Carlin-type mineralization,
dated volcanic rocks, and an ore-controlling fault described
by Yigit et al. (2003) permit an Eocene age. Unlike many
other Carlin-type districts in north-central Nevada that are
associated with magnetic anomalies and Eocene dikes
(Hofstra et al. 1999; Cline et al. 2005), there is no such
evidence in the Gold Bar district to suggest the presence of
an underlying Eocene magmatic center.
The stratigraphy of the Gold Bar district (Fig. 2) is
composed primarily of two contrasting sedimentary
assemblages of the Paleozoic passive margin that were
juxtaposed along the Roberts Mountains thrust during the
Late Devonian to Early Mississippian Antler orogeny
(Roberts et al. 1958; Stewart 1980). Basin facies rocks
were thrust 75–200 km eastward onto the adjacent slope
and shelf (Finney et al. 1993). Rocks deposited in the
associated foredeep were also involved in thrusting. The
allochthon consists of Ordovician siliciclastic rocks and
minor carbonate rocks of the deep marine Vinini Formation
(Finney and Perry 1991). The autochthon consists of a
thick section of Silurian and Devonian slope to platform
margin facies carbonate rocks (Cook and Corboy 2004)
that include, from oldest to youngest, the Roberts
Mountains Formation, Lone Mountain Formation, Nevada
Group, and Devils Gate Formation. The Nevada Group is
represented by the Denay and McColley Canyon Forma-
tions. The Denay Formation consists of the Lower and the
Upper Members, and the Upper Member consists of, from
oldest to youngest, unit 1, unit 2, and unit 3. In between
these two assemblages are parautochthonous Mississippian
foredeep rocks composed of interbedded silty arenite,
wacke, and chert-quartz arenites of the Webb Formation
(Smith and Ketner 1968). Later contraction and extension
in Pennsylvanian and Permian time produced unconfor-
mities and basins into which coarse clastic rocks, such as
the Permian Garden Valley Formation (Fig. 1b), were
deposited (Roberts 1949, 1951; Roberts et al. 1967).
Mesozoic contractional orogenies reactivated preexisting
faults and produced additional faults and folds in the
district (Yigit and Nelson 2000; Yigit et al. 2003).
Eventually, an erosion surface was generated, upon
which Eocene to Oligocene calc-alkaline volcanic rocks
were erupted (Fig. 1b). In Neogene time, the district was
disrupted by north-northeast-trending extensional struc-
tures of the Basin and Range province and locally overlain
by bimodal volcanic rocks and alluvium. Detailed descrip-

Fig. 2 Stratigraphic column Gold Jasperoids

showing the position of gold Vinini Formation Mineralization J0 J1 J2 J3
mineralization and jasperoid Upper Member Ouv
types in the Gold Bar district.
Vertical and horizontal bars
indicate the relative extent of
structurally controlled minerali- Olv
zation and jasperoids, gray fill Lower Member
shows known host rocks.
Lower-plate stratigraphy is Roberts Mountains thrust
RMT
modified from French et al.
(1996) Webb Formation Mw
Faulted unconformity

Devils Gate Formation Ddg

Gold Bar, Goldstone,
Denay Formation Gold Canyon Deposits,
Dud3 Pot Canyon, Mill Site
Unit 3 Resources

N
Upper Member Unit 2 Dud2
E
Unit 1 Dud1
V
A
D
A
Lower Member Dld
G
R
O Gold Pick, Gold Ridge
U McColley Canyon Formation Deposits, Cabin Creek,
Dmc
P Coils Creek Member Hunter Resources

Bartine Member Dmb

Kobeh Member Dmk

Lone Moutain Formation Slm

Roberts Moutains Srm

Formation

tions of the structure, stratigraphy, and petrography of these
rocks are provided by Yigit (2001), Yigit and Hofstra
(2003), and Yigit et al. (2003).
The geologic map of the district (Fig. 1b) shows that it is
broken into three domains by two major northwest-striking
normal faults that transect the district. On the west side of
the Range Front fault, Paleozoic sedimentary and Tertiary
volcanic rocks are largely concealed below alluvium. The
east side of the Range Front fault is dominated by
exposures of the Ordovician Vinini and Permian Garden
Valley Formations. On the east side of the Wall Fault zone,
Devonian limestones, Mississippian Webb Formation,
Ordovician Vinini Formation, and Tertiary volcanic rocks
are exposed. A number of shorter northeast-striking faults
have been mapped near the deposits.
With the exception of Gold Bar, most deposits occur
along the crest of a large open west-northwest-trending
antiform (French et al. 1996). All of the deposits occur at
the intersection of northwest- and northeast-striking Ter-
tiary normal faults or reactivated reverse faults with similar
Fig. 3 Geologic map of the
Gold Canyon pit showing the
distribution of jasperoid, gold
ore, and pods of late-stage
1 841 500
calcite
1 841 000
280 500
Calcite pods
Jasperoids
Unit 3 of Upper Member
Denay Formation
Unit 2 of Upper Member
Denay Formation
57 Fault, dashed where probable
57
Fault with breccia zone
Thrust fault
531
orientations (Yigit et al. 2003). Gold Canyon is a prime
example that was localized along reactivated reverse faults
and related fault propagation folds of Mesozoic or
Paleozoic age. Most of the ore is hosted in two favorable
beds (Fig. 2). Gold Bar, Goldstone, Gold Canyon, Pot
Canyon, and Mill Site are hosted in laminated, thin bedded,
locally carbonaceous, lime mudstone, wackestone, and
local packstone of unit 2 of the Upper Member of the
Denay Formation. Gold Pick, Gold Ridge, Cabin Creek,
and Hunter are hosted in thin- to medium-bedded,
fossiliferous, wackestone, and packstone of the Bartine
Member of the McColley Canyon Formation.
Alteration and mineralization
In places, there is a preore stage of dolomitization and zinc
mineralization along high-angle faults that is locally
overprinted by gold mineralization (Yigit and Hofstra
2003). One dolomitized sample has as much as 1.4% zinc.
0 25 m
281 000 0 100 ft N
EXPLANATION
Outline of gold ore > 0.05 oz/t [1.7 g/t]
79
Shear zone
46 Overturned bed
30
Bedding
81 62
Slickenlines on the fault plane
Hinge line of anticline
Unit boundary
Topographic contours
532

The main ore stage is characterized by decalcification and
silicification of limestones, recrystallization of diagenetic
smectite group clays to illite group clays, and sulfidation of
reactive Fe-bearing minerals to form disseminated pyrite
(Broili et al. 1988; Masinter 1990; French et al. 1996; Yigit
and Hofstra 2003). Carbon was also mobilized at Gold
Canyon and Gold Pick. The late-ore stage is characterized
by infilling of open fractures and vugs with quartz, calcite,
barite, orpiment, realgar, or stibnite. Supergene oxidation
of sulfides produced goethite, hematite, jarosite, alunite,
and stibiconite. Gold Bar and Gold Ridge are completely
oxidized, but most of the other deposits are only partially
oxidized. The unoxidized carbonaceous ores in the other
deposits typically have higher grades than the oxide ore.
The most intensely decalcified zones contain illite group
clays, are strongly sulfidized, and generally have the
highest gold grades. Decalcification is usually incomplete
such that the ore will effervesce in dilute HCl. Decalcified
zones such as this are best developed along high-angle
faults and bedding plane shears. Volume loss was

Fig. 4 Geologic map of the 23

32
Wall Fault zone showing the Mw
distribution of J0, J1, J2, and J3 -+ -+
jasperoids and the Pot Canyon
Ov
35 Ddg JASPEROIDS
gold resource
Dud3 J0 jasperoids
60
J1 jasperoids
- + +Dud2
-
Dud1

J2 jasperoids
+- J3 jasperoids
1840000
Dud3
26
- OREBODY
47
+
- + +- Pot Canyon
25 resource outline
+
-
Ov

Dud1 Dld
1836000 - +
-+ N
42
-+
Ddg
31 0 250 500 m
STRATIGRAPHY Mw
26
0 1000 2000 ft
Ov
Qa Alluvium
27
Ov Vinini Fm.
Ddg
74
1832000 Mw Webb Fm.
29
Ddg Devils Gate Fm.
- +
Dud3 Unit 3 - Upper Member of Denay Fm.
Dud2 Unit 2 - Upper Member of Denay Fm.
Ov +-
Dud1 Unit 1 - Upper Member of Denay Fm.
46 30
Dld Lower Member of Denay Fm.
Mw

STRUCTURES - + 34
1828000 Thrust fault
Anticline showing plunge
teeth on hanging wall
High-angle fault dashed
+-
where approximate Syncline showing plunge 75
+: up, -: down Mw
Bedding - strike and dip
27
Ov
49
276000 280000 284000
 533

associated with decalcification-thinned favorable beds and
locally produced collapse breccias. Unit 2 is more strongly
decalcified than the Bartine Member. Carbonate dissolved
from these zones appears to have been redeposited in
adjacent and overlying rocks as calcite veins and pods, with
or without realgar or orpiment (e.g., Gold Canyon, Fig. 3).
In the Gold Ridge deposit, there is a spatial correlation
between the density of the calcite veins and pods and gold
mineralization. The degree of silicification varies from
partial to complete replacement of limestone to form
jasperoid. Dolomite occurs locally in zones of partial
silicification. Jasperoid is localized along high-angle faults,
the thrust fault contact between the Webb and Devils Gate
Formations, and five sedimentary contacts (Fig. 2).
Jasperoid is best developed at contacts between the Webb
and Devils Gate Formations and between units 1 and 2 of
the Upper Member of the Denay Formation. Stratabound
jasperoids are thickest near high-angle faults and pinch out
away from them. Structural jasperoids occur in every
deposit but usually comprise only a small portion of the ore
(French et al. 1996). Most jasperoids are fractured or
brecciated to some degree and are cemented with late-ore-
stage quartz, with or without stibnite or barite.
Relationships between jasperoid and ore were mapped at
Gold Bar, Gold Canyon (Fig. 3), and Pot Canyon (Figs. 4
and 5; Yigit 2001). In the Gold Bar deposit, bedded
stratabound jasperoids occur at the contact between units 1
and 2 of the Upper Member of the Denay Formation, but
are weakly mineralized (Masinter 1990; French et al. 1996;
Yigit and Hofstra 2003). They are also commonly
brecciated and form the footwall to structurally controlled
decalcified zones in unit 2 that contain the bulk of the ore in
the deposit. In places, these structures are silicified and the
jasperoid present is ore. In the Gold Canyon deposit,
jasperoid is largely surrounded by variably decalcified ore-
grade material (Fig. 3). An elongate southwest-plunging
body of jasperoid breccia occurs at the intersection of two
faults that was an important high-grade portion of the
deposit (Yigit and Nelson 2000; Yigit et al. 2003).
Stratabound jasperoid extends outward at the contact
between units 1 and 2 of the Upper Member of the
Denay Formation and eventually pinches out. In the Pot
Canyon area (Fig. 4) a huge body of jasperoid breccia is
associated with high-angle faults, and stratabound jasper-
oid is exposed further north at the contact of units 1 and 2.
The amount of barite and stibnite (or stibiconite) in
jasperoids along the Wall Fault zone increases in the
vicinity of Pot Canyon.
In thin section, many stages of silicification can be
observed, and as many as six stages of crosscutting quartz
veins are present in some thin sections. Jasperoidal quartz
grains range in size from ∼5 to 250 μm. Jasperoid textures
(Fig. 6), as defined by Lovering (1972) and Dong et al.
(1995) and corresponding temperatures inferred by Nutt
and Hofstra (2003), range from jigsaw mosaic (T=180–
100°C) to reticulate and saccharoidal (T>180°C). Under
catholuminescence, late-ore-stage quartz has both dark and
bright-yellow growth zones (Fig. 7). Some anhedral
stibnite in J3 jasperoid is intergrown with late-ore-stage
drusy quartz that is milky in hand specimens. There is also

Fig. 5 Schematic cross section Wall Fault

of the Wall Fault zone, looking
northwest, showing the distri- Mw
bution of jasperoids and dis-
seminated gold mineralization Ddg
relative to faults and Ov
stratigraphy
Dud3 Dmc

Dmb
Dud2
Dmk
Dud1
Dlm

Dld Approximate scale:

H=V
0 60 m

EXPLANATION
Vinini Fm. [Ov] J0 Jasperoid
[Webb Fm.]
Webb Fm. [Mw]
J1 Jasperoid
Devils Gate Fm. [Ddg] J2 Jasperoid
Unit 3 - Upper Member of Denay Fm. [Dud3] J3 Jasperoid
Unit 2 - Upper Member of Denay Fm. [Dud2]
Disseminated gold
Unit 1 - Upper Member of Denay Fm. [Dud1] mineralization
Lower Member of Denay Fm. [Dld] Breccia
Decalcification
Coils Creek Member of McColley Canyon Fm. [Dmc]
Calcite veins
Bartine Member of McColley Canyon Fm. [Dmb]
Kobeh Member of McColley Canyon Fm. [Dmk] Thrust fault
Lone Mountain Fm. [Dlm] High-angle fault
534
Fig. 6 Jasperoid textures under crossed polars in samples of the
Denay Formation from the Gold Bar deposit. The opaque mineral in
each photo is goethite after pyrite. a Pervasively silicified unit 1
limestone with a fine-grained jigsaw mosaic texture. b Pervasively
silicified unit 2 limestone with a coarse-grained reticulate saccha-
roidal texture and inclusions of carbonate
Fig. 7 J2 breccia (bx) under catholuminescence showing bright-
yellow luminescent late-stage drusy quartz crystals (xl) that line
open spaces between nonluminescent jasperoid clasts
a later stage of euhedral stibnite on top of drusy quartz.
Barite is present in all jasperoid types except J2 and occurs
late in the paragenesis. Supergene alunite is associated with
J0 jasperoid and commonly occurs with jarosite.
Jasperoids along the Wall Fault zone
An increased understanding of the key attributes of
mineralized and barren jasperoids would aid exploration
for Carlin-type gold deposits. For that reason, the distri-
bution, stratigraphic, and structural controls and textures of
the jasperoid bodies present along the Wall Fault zone were
documented. These observations led to the recognition of
four different types of jasperoid (J0, J1, J2, and J3) that were
mapped (Figs. 4 and 5) and are described below (Figs. 8, 9,
10 and 11). The chemical and stable isotopic compositions
of each jasperoid type were subsequently characterized.
The isotopic values (δ34S and δ18O) of jasperoids along the
Wall Fault zone were then compared to the jasperoids in the
gold deposits. Most of the jasperoids in the gold deposits
can be classified as either J1 structural jasperoids or J3
bedded jasperoids, although J2 jasperoids are also present.
J0 jasperoids
J0 jasperoids are stratabound in the Mississippian Webb
Formation (Fig. 4). Although this siliciclastic formation is
commonly dolomitic or calcareous elsewhere in Nevada
(Vikre and Maher 1996), at Gold Bar there is no evidence
that carbonate was removed. The Webb Formation is most
resistant to erosion where silicification is most intense,
such as in the prominent exposures mapped along the Wall
Fault (Fig. 4). J0 jasperoids are typically white to cream in
color due to oxidation and display liesegang banding in
outcrop (Fig. 8a,b). They are fine-grained with a jigsaw
mosaic to saccharoidal texture that, in most places,
preserves primary sedimentary features as well as detrital
chert and quartz grains. Thin-section observations show
that these rocks contained less than 1% disseminated pyrite
that was oxidized to goethite. Breccias contain angular
clasts of silicified siltstone and sandstone, and locally chert
and conglomerate. In most places, clasts are supported by
late-ore-stage drusy quartz (Fig. 8c), but matrix support is
locally present. Crystalline barite is present in fractures and
is locally abundant. Supergene iron oxides, mostly
hematite and goethite with minor jarosite, and alunite
locally form a matrix in the breccia (Fig. 8b). In thin
sections, supergene alunite veins crosscut drusy quartz
(Fig. 8d). X-ray diffraction analyses indicate potassium-
rich alunite with only a small offset in the peaks from those
of the pure alunite end-member.
J1 jasperoids
J1 jasperoids cut across and overprint J0 jasperoids along
high-angle faults (Fig. 5). J1 jasperoids also replace lower-

Fig. 8 a Bleached and oxidized J0 jasperoid in the Webb Formation.
b Liesegang-banded jasperoid breccia with late-stage quartz and
supergene alunite and jarosite in the matrix. c Drusy quartz (Q)
plate carbonate rocks on the footwall side of the Wall Fault
(Fig. 4). Sedimentary textures are generally obliterated and
remnant carbonate is virtually nonexistent in this jasperoid
type. In outcrops, it is white or gray to maroon in color, and
commonly brecciated. J1 jasperoid is pervasively silicified,
is fine-grained, and has conchoidal fractures with a glassy
appearance (Fig. 9a). Most of the disseminated pyrite is
oxidized to hematite, which gives J1 jasperoid a red to
maroon color (Fig. 9b). Coarser-grained silica replaces
clasts and fine-grained silica replaces matrix in some
samples (Fig. 9c). Silica replacement of fossils is observed
in some J1 jasperoids hosted in limestone. Late-ore-stage
quartz with a well-developed comb texture is locally
abundant in the matrix of J1 jasperoid breccias. Earlier
translucent quartz is cut by later milky quartz. Barite
locally fills the matrix in breccia and euhedral barite
crystals crosscut drusy quartz (Fig. 9d). Barite is also
brecciated and cemented by iron oxides, mostly hematite.
J2 jasperoids
J2 jasperoids are restricted to lower-plate limestones of the
Denay and Devils Gate Formations. Their distribution is
limited to high-angle structures or the thrust contact
between the Devils Gate Formation and parautochthonous
535
coating a fragment of silicified siltstone with opaque goethite after
pyrite, crossed polars. d Supergene alunite veins and late-stage
drusy quartz, crossed polars
Webb Formation distal to J1-type jasperoid (Fig. 4). J2
jasperoids are generally less intensely silicified than the
other types and occur within discordant zones of decalci-
fication or preore dolomitization. Calcite is commonly
present in the matrix or in remnant clasts (Fig. 10a) and
silicified fossils are common in some outcrops. Relatively
well silicified samples show fine-grained saccharoidal
texture (Fig. 10b). The bright catholuminscence of late-
stage drusy quartz aids the recognition of breccia textures
in intensively silicified samples (Fig. 7). In places where
preore dolomite is brecciated, it is cemented by a calcite
matrix that is partly silicified (Fig. 10c,d). Staining (alizarin
red S with potassium ferricyanide; Hitzman 1999) indicates
that the dolomite and calcite present in these breccias have
low iron contents.
J3 jasperoids
J3 jasperoids occur as stratabound bedding replacements at
the contact between units 2 and 1 of the Upper Member of
the Denay Formation (Fig. 4). J3 jasperoid also occurs
along the unconformable contact between the Upper and
Lower Members of the Denay Formation. This type of
jasperoid has been traced across the district and can be used
as a marker in lower plate stratigraphy. Although it is
536
Fig. 9 a J1 jasperoid breccia (jsp bx) cemented by drusy quartz at
the thrust contact between the Devils Gate and Webb Formations.
b Iron-oxide-rich breccia with elongate jasperoid fragments and late-
stage drusy quartz at the thrust contact. c Fine-grained jigsaw mosaic
brecciated in most places, preserved bedding features in
silicified clasts make it easy to recognize in the field and
drill cuttings (Fig. 11a,b). J3 jasperoid is gray to maroon in
color with high iron oxide content. The base of the
jasperoid is intercalated with unit 1 limestones of the Upper
Member of the Denay Formation in some outcrops
(Fig. 11a). In some samples, at least six stages of
silicification can be present, and the latest stage is usually
characterized by open-space-filling drusy quartz that
mantles corroded barite crystals (Fig. 11c). Early-stage
silicification is usually fine grained with a jigsaw mosaic
texture, and later silicification is coarse grained with a
reticulate saccharoidal texture. Where fractured or brec-
ciated, it is cut by late-stage yellow catholuminescent drusy
quartz. Barite and stibnite (with stibiconite) crystals are
abundant in J3 jasperoid near the Pot Canyon deposit.
Stibnite crystals are either intergrown or overgrown on
late-stage drusy quartz (Fig. 11d). In some breccia clasts,
silicified fossils and patches of organic carbon are observed
in thin sections. While relict calcite is very minor in most J3
jasperoids, late-stage calcite veins that cut across fractured
jasperoid are very common in some outcrops.
(FGJM) and plumose chalcedonic quartz (Ch) surrounded by
saccharoidal jasperoid, crossed polars. d Dark jasperoid fragment
(bottom) coated by late-stage drusy quartz and barite (Ba), crossed
polars
Jasperoid lithogeochemistry
Twenty-seven J0, 34 J1, 28 J2, and 16 J3 jasperoid samples
were collected from the Wall Fault zone and analyzed for
11 major oxides and 35 elements (Yigit 2001). StatSoft
(1995) was used to identify components with insufficient
variance and duplicate components (such as an element and
its oxide) that were extracted. Basic statistics, interelement
correlations, and scatter plots were then used to look for
geochemical differences between each jasperoid type (see
“Appendix C” of Yigit 2001). Box and whisker plots were
prepared to compare the range of the data for each jasperoid
type; Fig. 12 shows plots of selected elements and oxides.
R-mode factor analysis of the entire data set (Table 1) was
used to identify element associations irrespective of
jasperoid type.
In J0 jasperoid, Au has positive correlations with Ag and
SiO2. In J1 jasperoid, Au correlates fairly well with SiO2,
Ag, Sb, Hg, and Tl, and to a lesser degree with As and Ba.
In J2 jasperoid, Au has a positive correlation with Ag, Sb,
As, Fe, and SiO2, and a negative correlation with CaO. In
J3 jasperoid, Au shows positive correlation with Ag and Sb.
In general, J1 jasperoid has the highest average Au, Ag, and
Ba content and second highest As among the jasperoid

Fig. 10 a J2 jasperoid breccia in unit 2 of the Upper Member of the
Denay Formation, with late-stage drusy quartz and white calcite.
b Fine-grained saccharoidal texture jasperoid. c Breccia composed
of angular fragments of preore dolomite (Dol) in a partially silicified
types. J3 jasperoid has the highest average Sb content. J2 is
most decalcified with the greatest loss of Ca and Sr.
Some of the differences between each jasperoid type
reflect the composition of the host rocks. For example, J0
jasperoid hosted in siliciclastic Webb Formation has the
lowest CaO and the highest Al2O3, K2O, Fe2O3, V, Sr, and
P contents. Likewise, J2 jasperoid, which locally overprints
preore dolomitization, has the highest Zn, Mn, and Mg
contents. Other differences are gradational and may be due
to the position in the hydrothermal system or the relative
amount of main- and late-ore-stage minerals. For example,
J0 jasperoid at the top of the system has the highest As and
the lowest Ag. Although J3 jasperoid with abundant late-
ore-stage stibnite has the highest Sb concentration, the
median Sb content of each jasperoid type is similar. Silica
concentrations are highest in pervasively silicified J1
jasperoid and lowest in incompletely silicified J2 jasperoid,
which contains relict preore dolomite and late calcite.
Nine major-element oxides and 22 elements were used
for factor analysis (Table 1). A nine-factor model, which
accounts for 79.8% of the data variability, was deemed the
most appropriate solution because it has the most
geologically meaningful element assemblages. Factor 1,
with high loadings for K2O, Al2O3, TiO2, Ga, W, Sr, and
Cu, is interpreted to represent the detrital component in the
537
matrix composed of dolomite, calcite, quartz (Q), and iron-oxide
(Fe-ox). d Close-up of breccia matrix in c composed of angular
dolomite fragments and euhedral quartz, crossed polars
host rocks and is highest in J0 jasperoid. Factor 2, with high
loadings for SiO2, −CaO, and −LOI (loss on ignition),
represents silicification. Factor 3, with high loadings for Zn
and Na2O, may reflect sodic alteration associated with
early zinc mineralization and is highest in J2 jasperoid.
Factor 4, with high loadings for As, Tl, and Fe2O3, is
associated with all jasperoid types and is likely a reflection
of the presence of arsenian pyrite. Factor 5, with high Sb
and Bi, is mainly due to one sample with abundant late-ore-
stage stibnite (11,000 ppm Sb and 1 ppm Bi). Factor 6, with
high loadings for P and U, may reflect the presence of
diagenetic phosphate in the host rocks of J0 and J2
jasperoids. Factor 7, with high loadings for Au, Ag, and
Hg, represents the main gold event in the Wall Fault zone.
Strongly mineralized jasperoids with more than 250 ppb
Au have Au/Ag ratios between 0.2 and 3.3 with a mean of
1.0 (Yigit 2001), which is at the low end of the scale for
Carlin-type deposits (Cline et al. 2005). The highest factor
7 loadings are concentrated in the most intensely silicified
jasperoid types, such as J1 jasperoid and, to a lesser degree,
J3 and J2 jasperoids. Factor 8, with high loadings for Ba,
may account for late barite in all jasperoid types. Factor 9,
with high loadings for Co, Mn, and Ni, may be associated
with carbonaceous shales (Nelson 1990).
538
Fig. 11 a Stratabound J3 jasperoid at the contact between units 1
and 2 of the Upper Member of the Denay Formation. b Unoxidized
dark and oxidized light-colored jasperoid fragments cemented by
late-stage drusy quartz. c Dark jasperoid fragments coated by a thin
The field relationships between the different jasperoid
types along the Wall Fault zone suggest they were
deposited during as many as three events (Yigit et al.
2003); however, the presence of anomalous Au and the
typical Carlin-type suite of trace elements (Ag, As, Sb, Hg,
Tl; e.g., Hofstra and Cline 2000) in each type (J0, J1, J2, and
J3) suggests that all were deposited from, or at least
overprinted by, the hydrothermal system that produced the
Pot Canyon gold resource. This interpretation is supported
by the presence of late-ore-stage drusy quartz in each type.
Spatial relationships (Fig. 5) and interelement correlation
patterns also suggest that discordant J1 and J2 jasperoids
along high-angle structures and stratabound J3 jasperoids
distal to them are related. J0 jasperoids are somewhat
puzzling because they are the most widespread and appear
to be cross cut by discordant J1 jasperoids. The anomalous
Au and trace elements present in them may be due to a
Carlin-type overprint on preore silicification.
Stable isotopes
The stable isotopic compositions of replacement and open-
space-filling quartz, calcite, dolomite, barite, stibnite,
orpiment, and realgar were determined (Table 2) to
crust of drusy quartz followed by coarse barite and later drusy
quartz, crossed polars. d Opaque stibnite (St) crystals on late-stage
drusy quartz, crossed polars
constrain the source(s) of ore fluid components. The
hydrogen isotopic composition of fluid inclusion water in
orpiment and realgar from Gold Pick (−116‰) suggests
that these late-stage minerals precipitated from fluids
comprised largely of meteoric water (Hofstra et al. 1999).
δ18O of quartz in jasperoids
The δ18O data for jasperoids from the Wall Fault zone and
the Gold Bar, Gold Canyon, Gold Ridge, and Goldstone
deposits are displayed in Fig. 13a. In the Wall Fault zone,
jasperoids have a wide range of δ18O values, from −3.7 to
23.8‰, and the ranges for each jasperoid type are as
follows: J0 18 to 23.8‰, J1 3.4 to 14.4‰, J2 5.8 to 6.4‰,
and J3 −3.7 to 11.8‰. A typical sample of bedding parallel
J3 jasperoid without brecciation or late-ore-stage quartz has
a δ18O value of 7.4‰. The δ18O values of late drusy quartz
are lower than those of replacement quartz (Fig. 13b).
Jasperoids in the gold deposits have higher δ18O values
between 9.6 and 24.5‰ and late drusy quartz has δ18O
values similar to replacement quartz (Fig. 13b).
Figure 13b shows that J0 jasperoid has distinctly higher
δ18O values than J1,2,3 jasperoids along the Wall Fault
zone. It also shows that J1,2,3 jasperoids in this area have
 539
Fig. 12 Box and whisker plots J0
of lithogeochemical data show- Au J1
J2
ing range of the Au, Ag, Sb, As, J3
Hg, Ba, Cr, Mn, P, Sr, V, Zn, and J0
major oxides in J0, J1, J2, and J3 Ag J1
J2
jasperoid types in the Wall Fault J3
area. Samples with concentra- J0
tions that were less than the Sb J1
J2
analytical detection limit were J3
assigned a value one half of the J0
analytical detection limit. Sam- As J1
J2
ples with concentrations more J3
than the upper detection limit J0
Hg J1
were assigned a value 10% J2
J3
greater than the upper detection
limit J0
Ba J1
J2
J3
J0
Cr J1
J2
J3
J0
Mn J1
J2
J3
J0
P J1
J2
J3
J0
Sr J1
J2
J3
J0
V J1
J2
J3
J0
Zn J1
J2
J3
J0
Al2O3 J1
J2
J3
J0
CaO J1
J2
J3
J0
Fe2O3 JJ12
J3
J0
K2O J1
J2
J3
J0
MgO J1
J2
J3 Min-Max
25 % - 75 %
J0
SiO2 J1 Median value
J2
J3

0.01 ppm 0.1 ppm 1 ppm 10 ppm 100 ppm 1000 ppm 1% 10 % 100 %

similar median δ18O values that are significantly lower
than the median value of J1,2,3 jasperoids in the gold
deposits. Overall, there is a weak log-linear correlation
(R2=0.38) between the gold concentration and δ18O
composition of J1,2,3 jasperoids (Fig. 13c). There is also a
striking positive correlation between the gold endowment
of the deposits and the median δ18O composition of
jasperoid present in them (Fig. 13d). Together, these broad
positive correlations suggest that gold was introduced by
the most δ18O-enriched hydrothermal fluid in the system.
The enormous 28‰ range of δ18O values requires
explanation. Fluid inclusion studies show that most Carlin-
type gold deposits form from 240–180°C fluids that cool as
they react with host rocks at epizonal levels in the crust
(Hofstra and Cline 2000; Cline et al. 2005). Cooling of an
ore fluid from a peak temperature of 240–100°C can only
account for 12‰ of this range. Thus, other factors or
processes are required to explain the wide range of values.
The high δ18O values of J0 jasperoid (18–23.8‰) in the
Webb Formation may be due to the presence of hydro-
thermal silicification together with a large component of
siliciclastic detritus composed largely of chert and quartz
plus or minus diagenetic silica [such as that described by
Smith and Ketner (1975) in sandstones of the type section]
with high δ18O values (e.g., 20–30‰; Hofstra and Cline
2000). In contrast, detrital chert and quartz grains are
generally insignificant in J1,2,3 jasperoids hosted in under-
lying limestones such that δ18O values are more repre-
540
Table 1 Element associations determined by nine-factor model for jasperoid data from the Gold Bar district
Element Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 Factor 6 Factor 7 Factor 8 Factor 9 Communalities

Au ppb −0.023 0.174 −0.116 −0.063 0.073 −0.187 −0.739 −0.187 0.020 0.670
Ag ppm −0.317 0.254 −0.099 −0.037 0.211 0.018 −0.712 0.027 0.142 0.749
Sb ppm −0.084 0.047 −0.016 −0.007 0.979 −0.039 −0.032 −0.073 −0.008 0.977
As ppm 0.346 0.008 0.014 0.850 0.009 0.011 −0.080 0.026 0.044 0.852
Hg ppm −0.150 0.090 0.063 0.249 −0.030 −0.081 −0.819 0.048 −0.101 0.787
Ba ppm −0.080 0.177 0.050 −0.082 −0.026 −0.128 −0.070 −0.817 −0.031 0.738
Bi ppm 0.099 0.059 0.076 0.045 0.968 −0.002 −0.040 −0.048 −0.016 0.962
Cd ppm 0.332 −0.398 0.512 0.096 0.034 0.032 −0.089 −0.004 0.304 0.643
Cr ppm −0.302 0.844 −0.077 0.028 0.110 −0.020 −0.036 −0.059 −0.092 0.835
Co ppm −0.104 0.108 0.257 0.042 −0.012 0.103 0.010 −0.009 0.865 0.849
Cu ppm 0.594 0.225 0.164 0.378 0.033 0.247 −0.101 0.027 0.164 0.674
Ga ppm 0.677 0.124 0.199 0.424 −0.054 0.301 −0.075 0.079 −0.167 0.827
Pb ppm −0.175 −0.135 0.546 −0.090 −0.110 0.114 −0.529 0.070 −0.136 0.683
Mn ppm −0.298 −0.354 0.083 −0.043 −0.064 0.125 0.017 0.163 0.737 0.813
Mo ppm 0.092 0.010 0.019 0.689 0.115 0.251 −0.003 −0.154 −0.086 0.590
Ni ppm 0.051 −0.020 0.730 0.137 0.043 0.015 0.016 −0.015 0.589 0.905
P ppm 0.176 0.083 0.034 0.092 −0.053 0.878 0.050 0.024 0.051 0.826
Sr ppm 0.608 −0.069 −0.010 0.000 0.057 0.555 0.131 −0.155 −0.101 0.736
Tl ppm −0.129 0.079 −0.016 0.793 −0.023 −0.084 −0.100 0.143 0.115 0.703
W ppm 0.670 −0.208 −0.057 −0.054 0.007 −0.167 0.037 0.023 0.205 0.570
U ppm 0.076 −0.031 −0.083 0.097 −0.020 0.810 0.076 0.044 0.212 0.732
V ppm 0.516 0.044 0.045 0.643 0.038 0.220 0.086 −0.074 −0.048 0.748
Zn ppm −0.064 −0.164 0.925 −0.014 0.006 −0.050 0.005 0.003 0.154 0.912
Al2O3 % 0.917 0.159 0.012 0.104 −0.001 0.076 0.128 0.017 −0.079 0.907
CaO % −0.261 −0.888 −0.020 −0.087 −0.018 0.016 0.060 0.074 0.038 0.876
Fe2O3 % 0.498 0.079 0.006 0.761 0.007 0.077 0.015 −0.045 0.012 0.841
K2O % 0.927 0.107 0.005 0.151 0.000 0.043 0.125 0.025 −0.086 0.919
MgO % −0.228 −0.683 0.233 −0.065 −0.055 −0.120 0.023 0.084 −0.027 0.602
Na2O_% 0.156 −0.049 0.900 0.000 0.065 −0.002 0.067 −0.077 0.008 0.852
SiO2 % 0.098 0.972 −0.079 −0.007 0.004 0.001 −0.089 −0.005 0.001 0.969
TiO2 % 0.889 0.156 0.021 0.190 0.014 0.078 0.127 0.003 −0.116 0.887
LOI % −0.172 −0.959 0.082 −0.049 −0.030 −0.039 0.077 0.071 0.000 0.972
Total % −0.022 −0.095 −0.040 −0.081 −0.285 −0.114 −0.030 0.780 0.068 0.725
% total variance for each factor 22.6 15.4 10.2 7.1 6.7 5.9 4.5 4.1 3.2
Important contributing elements and major element oxides to each factor are in bold. Extraction: principal components; rotation: varimax
raw; N=105. Whole rock analyses were done by Chemex in Elko, Nevada, using fire assay–atomic absorption spectrometry for Au
and Ag; metaborate fusion—X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for 11 major oxides and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
for 32 elements

sentative of ore fluids. Field relationships, textures,
geochemical signatures, and the overlapping range of
δ18O values among J1,2,3 jasperoids suggest they are solely
products of the hydrothermal system that produced the
Carlin-type gold deposits in the district. Even if we exclude
the samples of J0 jasperoid with detrital chert, the other
types still have a wide −3.7 to 24.5‰ range of δ18O values
that cannot be explained by the cooling of a single fluid.
Fluid δ18O compositions calculated using a temperature of
200°C and the quartz–water fractionation factor of Zheng
(1993) range between −15 and 13‰. This range is likely
due to mixing between an 18O-enriched ore fluid and
meteoric ground water with a δ18O of about −16‰
(calculated from the −116‰ δD values of fluid inclusions
in orpiment and realgar and the meteoric water line; Hofstra
et al. 1999). The source of the 18O-enriched ore fluid is
uncertain. It may have been composed of evolved meteoric
water, metamorphic water, or magmatic water.
δ13C and δ18O of dolomite and calcite
Preore dolomite with high Zn concentrations from the Wall
Fault zone that is overprinted by J2 jasperoid has δ13C and
δ18O values of 0.6 and 18.6‰. Late calcite in vugs or
fractures in jasperoids from the Wall Fault zone, Gold Bar,
and Goldstone deposits has δ13C and δ18O values between
−4.8 and 1.5‰ and between 11.5 and 17.4‰, respectively.
The isotopic composition of early dolomite is similar to
diagenetic dolomite in the northern Carlin trend (Emsbo et
al. 2003). Late calcite has δ13C values that are similar to,
and δ18O values that are lower than, normal marine
 541
Table 2 Stable isotope data for the Gold Bar district
Sample ID Sample locations Host rock Mineral/description δ13C δ34S CDT δ18O δ18O Fluid Fractionation
PDB SMOW at 200°C

A Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Alunite 12.03535354

8 Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Barite 31.51947778 17.6
49 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Barite 34.76693696 13.6
13-D Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Barite 35.06364204 9.3
16 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Calcite −4.834 17.375 7.605 2
23 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Dolomitized clast 0.617 18.588 8.568 2
4 Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Drusy quartz 3.446 −8.194 1
4 Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Jasperoid 14.374 2.734 1
16 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Multistage quartz 6.218 −5.422 1
19 Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Vein quartz 3.844 −7.796 1
19 Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Drusy quartz 4.327 −7.313 1
23 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Quartz matrix 6.308 −5.332 1
26 Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Vein quartz 17.959 6.319 1
26 Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Silicified siltstone 19.313 7.673 1
31 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Silicified siltstone 5.767 −5.873 1
31 Wall Fault Zone J2 jasperoid Multistage quartz 6.363 −5.277 1
12324 Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Multistage quartz 8.205 −3.435 1
14A Wall Fault Zone J1 jasperoid Multistage quartz 7.378 −4.262 1
15-A Wall Fault Zone J0 jasperoid Silicified siltstone 23.759 12.119 1
45-B Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Saccharoidal quartz 4.811 −6.829 1
45-B Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Drusy quartz 4.911 −6.729 1
II-13A Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Bedded jasperoid 7.379 −4.261 1
II-31 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Silicified matrix 6.81 −4.83 1
II-31 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Silicified clast 8.904 −2.736 1
II-31 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Silicified clast 17.33 5.69 1
II-33 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Drusy quartz −3.673 −15.313 1
II-33 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Silicified siltstone 11.779 0.139 1
II-8 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Saccharoidal quartz matrix 8.567 −3.073 1
II-8 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Silicified clast 17.29 5.65 1
33 Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Stibnite crystals 8.2371432
33-Duplicate Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Stibnite crystals 8.25144
45-A Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Stibnite crystals 5.7211136
45-B Wall Fault Zone J3 jasperoid Stibnite crystals 8.3419864
II-22 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Barite 30.6324116 3.1
Canyon
II-36 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Barite 40.89754522 2.6
Canyon
II-23 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Silicified matrix 5.81 −5.83 1
Canyon
II-23 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Silicified clast 9.114 −2.526 1
Canyon
II-38 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Silicified clast 6.647 −4.993 1
Canyon
II-38 Wall Fault Zone–Pot J1 jasperoid Silicified matrix 7.649 −3.991 1
Canyon
97-GB-27 Goldstone Deposit Unit 2 Vein calcite 1.509 13.223 3.453 2
97-GB-27 Goldstone Deposit Jasperoid Silicified matrix 11.667 0.027 1
97-GB-29 Goldstone Deposit Unit 2 Late-ore-stage 7.1
realgar
97-GB-11 Gold Ridge Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 12.356 0.716 1
97-GB-11 Gold Ridge Deposit Jasperoid Silicified matrix 16.531 4.891 1
97-GB-12 Gold Ridge Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage realgar 14.4
97-GB-6 Gold Pick Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage orpiment 12.6
542
Table 2 (continued)

Sample ID Sample locations Host rock Mineral/description δ13C δ34S CDT δ18O δ18O Fluid Fractionation
PDB SMOW at 200°C

GP-orp Gold Pick Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage orpiment 13.9

97-GB-10 Gold Pick Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage realgar 15.5
97-GB-8 Gold Pick Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage realgar 14.9
Gp-real Gold Pick Deposit Bartine Member Late-ore-stage realgar 15.3
97-GB-15 Gold Canyon Jasperoid Vein quartz 11.346 −0.294 1
Deposit
97-GB-15 Gold Canyon Jasperoid Silicified carbonate 12.507 0.867 1
Deposit
GC-4 Gold Canyon Jasperoid Drusy quartz 13.5 1.86 1
Deposit
GC-4 Gold Canyon Jasperoid Silicified carbonate 11.4 −0.24 1
Deposit
GB-1B Gold Bar Deposit Unit 2 Calcite matrix −2.799 11.516 1.746 2
97-GB-2 Gold Bar Deposit Unit 2 Late-ore-stage orpiment 12.6
97-GB-4 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Drusy quartz 20.717 9.077 1
97-GB-4 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified carbonate 21.29 9.65 1
GB-1B Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 24.5 12.86 1
GB-1B Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 16.9 5.26 1
GB-1B Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 11.8 0.16 1
GB-2 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 15.8 4.16 1
GB-2 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified matrix 15.5 3.86 1
GB-S-5 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Drusy quartz 9.6 −2.04 1
GB-S-5 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Multistage quartz matrix 9.6 −2.04 1
GB-S-5 Gold Bar Deposit Jasperoid Silicified clast 9.7 −1.94 1
97-GB-3 Gold Bar Deposit Unit 2 Late-ore-stage realgar 15.3
Stable isotope studies of sulfur, oxygen and carbon were carried out in the laboratories of R.O. Rye at the US Geological Survey in Denver.
The δ18O analyses were on ∼10-mg separates of quartz that were cut or broken out of each sample of jasperoid. Where possible, an
effort was made to obtain separates of early replacement and late open-space-filling drusy quartz, but in some samples they could not be
separated and were analyzed together. δ18O analyses of quartz were performed using the bromine pentafluoride technique described by
Clayton and Mayeda (1963). Carbonate minerals were analyzed by reaction with 100% phosphoric acid at 25°C based on McCrea
(1950). The acid fractionation factors of Friedman and O’Neil (1977) were used. A continuous flow method similar to that described
by Giesemann et al. (1994) was used for sulfur isotopic analyses. Isotopic compositions are represented in δ (del)-notation relative to
standard mean ocean water for oxygen, Peedee belemnite for carbon, and Canon Diablo meteorite troilite for sulfur. Fractionation 1: Zheng
1993, fractionation 2: Zheng 1999.
SMOW standard mean ocean water, PDB Peedee belemnite, CDT Canon Diablo meteorite troilite

limestones. These data plot at the high end of the range for
ore and late-stage calcites from other Carlin-type deposits
in Nevada (Fig. 14; Hofstra and Cline 2000). The results
suggest the CO2 present in late stage fluids was generated
by the dissolution of normal marine limestones by a
moderately 18O-enriched fluid.
δ34S and δ18O of barite
Late barite in jasperoids from the Wall Fault zone has δ34S
and δ18O values between 30.6 and 40.9‰ and between 2.6
and 17.6‰, respectively (Fig. 15). The δ34S values are
similar to Mississippian and Devonian marine sulfate fixed
in sedex and diagenetic barite deposits and occurrences
(e.g., Vikre and Maher 1996; Emsbo et al. 2003). The δ18O
compositions extend from high values typical of sedex
barite to low values indicative of meteoric water (Fig. 15).
These data may suggest that the sulfate in late barite was
dissolved from older generations of barite in the host rocks
and reprecipitated in jasperoids by variably 18O-enriched
meteoric hydrothermal fluids with different degrees of
oxygen isotope exchange between aqueous sulfate and
water. The high δ34S values indicate that little or no sulfate
was generated by the oxidation of preexisting diagenetic
and ore-stage pyrite in the rocks or H2S in the fluids, which
all have lower δ34S values (Hofstra and Cline 2000). The
isotopic characteristics of late barite at Gold Bar are similar
to late barite in many other Carlin-type deposits in Nevada
(Hofstra and Cline 2000; Nutt and Hofstra 2003) but are
unlike those of late barite in distal disseminated deposits,
such as Lone Tree and Marigold in the Battle Mountain
district, that are interpreted to contain magmatic sulfate
(Fig. 15; Hofstra, unpublished data).
 543
Fig. 13 a Histogram sum- 7
6 J0 jasperoid N=44
marizes oxygen isotope data for
5 J1 jasperoid
different stages of quartz from

Count
4 J2 jasperoid
mineralized and unmineralized J3 jasperoid
jasperoid types. Gold deposits 3
Gold deposits
include Gold Bar, Gold Canyon, 2
Gold Ridge, and Goldstone. 1
b Oxygen isotope values of the 0
main stages of silicification -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
represented by jasperoid in the a Gold Bar Jasperoids δ O ‰ Data 18
Gold Bar district (N=44). Solid
bars show replacement jasper- J0 Jasperoid
oids and blank bars show late-
stage drusy quartz. c Plot of Jasperoid from Gold Deposits
δ18O composition of quartz and
gold concentration in J1, J2, and J1, J2, J3 Jasperoids
J3 jasperoids and jasperoids
from gold deposits listed in a; -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
circles show replacement quartz b Gold Bar Jasperoids δ O ‰ Data 18
and squares show late-stage
drusy quartz. d Plot of gold
deposit size vs δ18O values from

Gold Resources of Deposits (x1000 oz Au)

25 400
quartz in jasperoids in the Gold N=31
Bar district, showing positive 350 Gold Bar n=7
20
correlation. Data for Alligator
Ridge and Jerritt Canyon taken 300
from Hofstra and Cline (2000)
δ18O ‰ SMOW

15
250 Gold Ridge n=2

10 200

Goldstone n=1
5 150
Gold Canyon n=4
100
0 Min-Max
50 25%-75%
-5 Pot Canyon n=4
Median value
0
-3 -2 -1 0 1
Alligator Ridge
C Log Au - ppm barren ore
Jerritt Canyon

0 5 10 15 20 25

D δ O ‰ Values from Quartz in Jasperoids

18

δ34S of realgar, orpiment, stibnite, and alunite
Late-ore-stage realgar and orpiment from Gold Bar, Gold
Pick, and Gold Ridge have δ34S values between 12.6 and
15.5‰. Realgar from Goldstone has a lower δ34S value of
7.1‰ that is similar to values for stibnite in J3 jasperoid
from the Wall Fault zone of 5.7 to 8.2‰. The sulfate in
supergene alunite is generally derived from the oxidation of
preexisting sulfide minerals with little isotopic fraction-
ation (Rye et al. 1992). Hence, the δ34S value of alunite of
12.0‰ may reflect the composition of diagenetic pyrite in
the host Webb Formation and (or) hydrothermal sulfides,
such as late-ore-stage orpiment and realgar, which have
similar values. The bimodal distribution of δ34S values
(Fig. 15) suggests there were two sources of reduced sulfur
in late-stage fluids. Possible sources include a deep and
shallow source, or contrasting strata at the level of the
deposits. All of these δ34S values are within the range of
late-stage sulfides in other Carlin-type deposits where
reduced sulfur is interpreted to be derived primarily from
sedimentary sources (Hofstra and Cline 2000; Cline et al.
2005). The δ34S values are also high enough to exclude a
typical (e.g., near 0‰) magmatic source of sulfur.
Summary and conclusions
Gold mineralization in the Gold Bar district occurs in
structural windows through the Roberts Mountains alloch-
thon along north-northwest- and northeast-trending high-
angle faults (Yigit et al. 2003) in favorable strata, especially
unit 2 of the Upper Member of the Denay Formation and
the Bartine Member of the McColley Canyon Formation
(Yigit and Hofstra 2003). Even though these stratigraphic
units do not have as much reactive Fe (e.g., 0.3 wt.% Fe in
ferroan calcite or dolomite) as some of the host rocks in
other Carlin-type districts (e.g., Northern Carlin trend;
Emsbo et al. 2003), the bedding parallel stylolites and
thinly bedded to laminated nature of these rocks make them
sufficiently permeable and reactive to be receptive hosts for
gold deposition from H2S-rich ore fluids by sulfidation
(Yigit and Hofstra 2003). The greater lateral extent of gold
deposits in unit 2 of the Upper Member of the Denay
544
Fig. 14 Plot of carbon and 5
oxygen isotope data for calcite Jerritt Canyon
Mid-Tertiary
and dolomite associated with Meteoric Water
jasperoid in the Gold Bar district 0 Ore
Me
ikle Gold Limestone
relative to data for other Carlin- Carbonate Bar
type deposits (adapted from Ore Fluid
Hofstra and Cline 2000) -5 Alli
Atmospheric gat
o rR
CO2 idg
Getchell e
-10 Fluid Calcite in
Graphite/Carbonate Carbonaceous
Equilibria Getchell Shale

δ C ‰ PDB
-15 Orogenic late-ore calcite
Au Fluid Box

-20
13

-25 Thermal Maturation

Organic Carbon
-30 Calcite
Dolomite - Early Stage
-35
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
18
δ O ‰ SMOW

Formation suggests it was more permeable and reactive
than the Bartine Member of the McColley Canyon
Formation. The relatively small and discontinuous nature
of the gold deposits in the Gold Bar district is probably a
reflection of the structural and stratigraphic controls on
permeability and the smaller flux and/or lower gold content
of hydrothermal fluids that moved through these rocks.
Detailed mapping along the Wall Fault zone shows that
silicification and gold mineralization in this area also occur
at intersections between northwest- and northeast-striking
high-angle faults. High-angle faults provided structural
permeability for hydrothermal solutions. Low-angle faults
and zones of structural weakness between units were
favorable locations for lateral movement of these solutions
(Fig. 5).
At least two hydrothermal events are recognized in the
Gold Bar district. The early episode may be due to regional
brine migration (Emsbo et al. 1999, 2003; Diehl et al.
2005) associated with the initial stages of the Antler
orogeny. Hot basinal brines may have produced the
dolomitized limestones with high Zn and Mn along high-
angle faults, as well as the anomalous Zn associated with
Cd, Ag, P, Ni, and Tl in carbonaceous unit 2 limestones in
the Gold Bar deposit (Yigit and Hofstra 2003). J0
jasperoids also appear to be early and may be related to
the movement of hot fluids along the thrust contact.
Regardless of their true age and origin, they exhibit features
and geochemistry that suggest they were affected by ore-
forming fluids.
J1,2,3 jasperoids are primarily products of the Eocene
hydrothermal system that formed the gold deposits in the
district. As discussed by Nutt and Hofstra (2003), the
coarse-grained reticulate saccharoidal texture of some
jasperoids is consistent with deposition from quartz-
saturated fluids with temperatures in excess of 180–
200°C. The fine-grained jigsaw mosaic texture of other
jasperoids is probably due to recrystallization of an
amorphous silica precursor that was deposited from silica
saturated fluids at temperatures as low as 100°C. Thus,
jasperoids appear to have formed from hot ore fluids that
reacted with cool limestones and indigenous ground waters
at relatively shallow levels in the crust. This inference and
the ore controls described above suggest that they formed
where hot fluids ascending along dilatant high-angle faults
met a less permeable cap rock, such as the Webb and Vinini
Formations, and moved laterally along bedding planes or
along permeable beds in lower plate carbonate rocks.
The close association of Au, Ag, and Hg and the
anomalous concentrations of As, Sb, Tl, or Ba in J1,2,3
jasperoids are fairly typical of jasperoids in other oxidized
Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada (Hofstra and Cline
2000; Cline et al. 2005). Their spatial association with
unsilicified gold ore containing the same trace elements
along the same faults and in the same strata suggests they
are products of the hydrothermal system that produced the
gold deposits. The average gold ore grade of 2.5 g/t is less
than the grade of 7 g/t modeled for a pervasively sulfidized
rock containing 0.25 wt.% iron (Hofstra and Cline 2000)
and suggests that only a portion of the iron present in the
host rocks (median of 0.3 wt.% Fe; Yigit 2001) at Gold Bar
was exposed to ore fluids, or that ore fluids in the district
contained less Au than the model fluid (100 ppb). The low
Au/Ag ratios of jasperoids in the Gold Bar district of about
1 are similar to those of jasperoids in the Alligator Ridge
 545
Fig. 15 Plot of the sulfur and 25
oxygen isotope data from Gold
Bar district (N=19 for δ34S and
N=49 for δ18O). Bacterial sul-
fide reduction (BSR), arrows
showing zone of BSR, sedi- BSR
mentary exhalitive (Sedex), 20
stibnite samples from Wall Fault Barite-J0
zone, realgar and orpiment Early Mississippian
samples from deposits including Seawater Sulfate
Gold Bar, Gold Canyon, Gold Nevada

δ18O ‰ SMOW
Ridge, and Goldstone. Source 15 Sedex
data for sedex barite, magmatic barite
barite, BSR, mid-Tertiary me- Barite-J3
teoric water and Early Missis-
sippian seawater sulfate: Rye et
al. 1974, 1978, and unpublished
data; Papke 1984; Emsbo 1999; 10
Barite-J0
Hofstra 1997; Hofstra and Magmatic
Cline 2000; Holser 1984
barite
@ 400˚C
5
Barite-J1
Barite-J1

0
Jasperoid-Gold Deposits

Supergene alunite
-5 Stibnite - J3 Wall fault
J0 jasperoid
J1 jasperoid
J2 jasperoid
J3 jasperoid

Realgar

Orpiment
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50
Mid-Tertiary Meteoric water
δ O = -23 to -16‰
18 δ34S ‰ CDT

district where Nutt and Hofstra (2003) related low Au/Ag between the meteoric water line, the δD composition of
ratios, gold grades, contained Au, abundance of jasperoid, aqueous inclusions in orpiment and realgar, and the
and textural evidence (e.g., jigsaw mosaic) for deposition calculated δ18O composition of water in equilibrium with
of amorphous silica to a shallow depth of formation drusy quartz indicates the 18O-depleted fluid was com-
(<800 m). Gold Bar has some of these attributes and may posed of relatively unexchanged meteoric ground water.
be another district that was relatively shallow. However, The isotopic composition of late-ore-stage calcite, barite,
somewhat greater depths are likely at Gold Bar because orpiment, realgar, and stibnite suggests the H2S, sulfate,
unit 2 is as much as 600 m below the present surface and and carbonate in late-stage fluids were derived from marine
the Bartine member as much as 1,200 m deep (Yigit et al. sedimentary sources at or below the level of the deposits.
2003). The absence of magnetic anomalies, Eocene intrusions,
The isotopic compositions of ore-stage replacement and geochemical or isotopic evidence of a magmatic fluid
quartz and late-ore-stage open-space-filling quartz in J1,2,3 suggests that the deposits formed from other fluids, such as
jasperoids span a wide range of about 28‰ that is best meteoric water that evolved to become an ore fluid as it
explained by mixing between an 18O-enriched fluid and an convected through sedimentary rocks or metamorphic fluid
18
O-depleted fluid. The positive correlation between the derived from deeper levels in the crust. In the Gold bar
δ18O composition and Au content of jasperoids and/or the district and adjacent areas of the Battle Mountain–Eureka
size of associated gold deposits is evidence that Au was trend, discordant or stratabound jasperoids hosted in lower-
introduced by the 18O-enriched fluid. The source of water plate limestones with the highest Au, Ag, and Hg contents
in the 18O-enriched ore fluid is not constrained. The lower and highest δ18O values are likely to be near the largest
δ18O composition of late-stage drusy quartz and jasperoids gold deposits.
distant from gold mineralization suggests that the 18O-
depleted fluid was barren of gold. The correspondence
546
Acknowledgements Barrick Gold Exploration provided financial
support and made this study possible; in particular, Ed Cope, Dave
Mako, and Dave Arbonies are thanked for help with logistics and for
geological discussions. We thank Bob Rye for access to the stable
isotope lab and Bill Christiansen for conducting many of the
analyses. The Turkish government supplied financial support for
Yigit’s Ph.D. program. Catherine Yigit is gratefully acknowledged
for her detailed editing. Finally, Mike Solomon and Andy Wilde,
along with editorial board of Mineralium Deposita, are thanked for
their thorough reviews.
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