Carlin-Type Gold Deposits: Everything You Need to Know
Nevada is one of the world’s most productive gold-mining regions, and it’s the high-grade Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGDs) that put the Silver State on the gold mining map.
Carlin-type gold deposits contain “invisible” or microscopic particles of gold that are deposited within a mineral called pyrite in sedimentary rocks. Needless to say, these deposits are named after the discovery of the Carlin Gold Deposit in 1961, which was the first of its kind.
Today, Carlin-type deposits make up the bulk of Nevada’s gold production. This infographic from our sponsor Nevada Exploration details everything you need to know about CTGDs.
The Building Blocks of Carlin-Type Gold Deposits
Nevada’s CTGDs contain 255 million ounces of gold, representing one of only six gold belts of this size in the world. Furthermore, 84% or 214 million ounces of Nevada’s CTGD gold is concentrated in just three camps:
- Carlin camp: 118 million ounces
- Cortez camp: 50 million ounces
- Getchell camp: 46 million ounces
So, just how are these massive deposits of invisible gold formed?
Building Block #1:
Structures
The rocks that host CTGDs are typically found close to major geological structures in the Earth’s crust. These structures include:
- Faults: A fracture or a zone of fracture between two rocks.
- Thrust faults: A fault across which older rocks are pushed above younger rocks.
- Folds: A wave-like structure that forms when rocks deform by bending.
These fractured zones (Read more...)