ADVENTURE PLACER GOLD MINING CLAIM
The Adventure #24-22 claim consists of one (1) unpatented placer mining claim, covering 20 acres, on federal land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The claim covers historical placer workings in the Majuba Hills area of the Antelope District in Pershing County, Nevada.
The Majuba Hills placers were discovered in the 1930’s and have since produced over a thousand ounces of gold (probably more).
Directions: From Winnemucca, Nevada drive south on I-80 for 33.5 miles. Take exit 145 – turn right toward the Frontage Rd then take a left on the Frontage Rd. Continue on Old Idaho Stage Rd, and then veer left when road becomes Lake Road. Drive 13 miles west to the turnoff (shown on my directions map). Head south four about 8 miles to the claim.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: 40.628343°, Long: -118.439603° (Central Wash)
Mining and Exploration Potential: The gold placers south of Majuba Mountain in the Antelope District were discovered very late in the history of the District (63 years after initial production).
Most of the focus was on the copper and silver deposits around Majuba Mountain. These types of copper porphyry deposits often have a gold halo which can be profitable.
The Adventure #24-22 claim has a main wash of 670 feet with steep sides that should be ideal for the development of placer gold deposits.
Additionally there is another 800 feet of shallow gullies which should be prospected for placer gold as well.
The Adventure #24-22 claim is in the foothills where the supposed source of the gold bearing veins are located. There is the potential to discover some of these gold veins in the exposed outcrop.
There is some amazing looking quartz vein float found throughout the claim (see pictures). Following this float to the source is a possibility.
The slate country rocks have limestone and quartzite lenses which can carry mineralization and should be prospected.
The Adventure #24-22 claim has potential for placer gold on the hillsides, in the shallow gullies, and in the narrow wash in the center of the claim. And as a bonus – there is some good outcrop which can be prospected for hardrock veins.
The Antelope District covers the central part of the Antelope Range, which is a north-south trending mountain range that runs 22 miles long and 10 miles wide. It is located in Pershing County, Nevada.
The principal mines of the Antelope District are located around Majuba Mountain (north of this claim).
The Antelope District was originally named the Cedar District and included parts of the Scossa District and the mines in the north Trinity Range.
The District was discovered in 1875 by Poker Brown, who worked some silver-lead bearing limestones (probably around Majuba Mountain).
In 1883, oxidized silver ore was discovered around Majuba Mountain and several new mines were located including the Noble Mine.
The District’s largest producer was the Nevada Superior Mine which began operations in 1905. The ore deposits of the Nevada Superior were developed by a 350 foot shaft. The ore was in a northwest trending shear zone that ran 2-20 feet wide and carried values of $24-55 per ton (approx. $1000-$2000 per ton in today’s values).
In 1907, the Majuba Copper Deposit was located and several other small copper mines were also discovered. Some of these shipped 12% copper ore in the 1910’s.
Interestingly, there was a tin deposit discovered at Majuba Mountain in 1917. The US has no domestic supply of tin so there has always been intense interest in finding tin deposits. Most of the tin was in uneconomic stringers or float. But there was a stope of 2-4% tin ore (cassiterite) that was shipped during WWII.
Also, the De Soto Antimony mine was active between 1910 and 1930. It developed a small high grade vein of antimony in two shallow shafts. The De Soto mine is located on the northwest flank of Majuba Mountain. Antimony is a pathfinder element for gold and can sit on top of large gold deposits. Also – there is currently an antimony boom due to higher prices.
The placer gold deposits were the last deposits found in the Antelope District. They were discovered in 1938 by local prospector CE Dice. The placer gold deposits are very rich and were worked successfully for several years until WWII. They have been only active for small prospectors and metal detectors since then. This area is well known for gold nuggets and dry washing.
Regional Geology: The Adventure #24-22 mining claim is located within the Basin and Range physiographic province. The Basin and Range province covers most of Nevada and consists of narrow NE trending mountain ranges between flat, arid valleys and basins.
Local Geology: The country rock in the Antelope District is Triassic slates intruded by rhyolite porphyry. The main intrusive body is centered around Majuba Mountain which is about 2.5 miles NW of the claim.
There are numerous NW-SW trending dikes throughout the District that may be responsible for additional mineralization.
The intrusive rocks and related breccias show signs of intense alteration (silicified, sericitized, and tourmalinized).
The main ore deposits were silver-lead and copper deposits and a famous tin deposit near the Majuba Mountain area.
The silver deposits are found in NW trending shear zones in the slates and in lenses of limestones.
There is also significant antimony in the form of stibnite veins found near the silver and tin deposits.
Along the eastern flanks of Majuba Mountain there are numerous gold-bearing quartz veins that supposedly provide the source of the gold for the placer deposits.
Placer gold is found from the Majuba Hills area all the way down to the valley.
Available Reports:
Bonham, H.F., Antelope District Summary Report, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, 1985.
Johnson, M., Geology and Mineral Deposits of Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 89, 1977.
Lincoln, Francis Church, ‘Mining Districts and Mineral Resources of Nevada’, Originally Published 1923, Republished by Nevada Publications, 1982.
Trites, A.F., Thurston, R.H., ‘Geology of the Majuba Hill, Pershing County, Nevada’, US Geological Survey Bulletin 1046-I.
FAQ
Why Nevada?
Nevada is consistently ranked as one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world for being mining-friendly and continuing to produce major discoveries. If Nevada was a country it would be the 5th largest gold producer in the world (after Australia, Canada, China, and Russia). Nevada is home to the Carlin Trend, the Cortez Trend, the Walker Lane Trend, the Getchell Trend and many other prolific gold producing regions. In addition to gold Nevada also has major mines producing silver, copper, lithium, iron ore, magnesium, gems and many other minerals. Nevada is 85% owned by the federal government and most of this land is available for claim staking. This means some of the best mining ground in the world is open to small prospectors – a very unique situation. There are many mining companies active in Nevada and therefore, multiple potential buyers for any discovery you make. Canadian based junior exploration companies are particularly active in Nevada.
Why Buy a Claim?
Buying a claim is a great way to get started in mining and prospecting. Buying a claim that is professionally staked reduces your upfront work and the risk of making a mistake on your paperwork or in the field. Our claims are in areas with historical mining activity and most have numerous pits, shafts, and adits to explore. Finding these claims takes lots of research that is already done for you. The best place to find gold is where people have already found it!
Why Us?
I have been working in mineral exploration in the southwestern United States and Alaska for 21 years. I have co-founded four junior mining companies and managed numerous drilling and exploration projects. I have worked with large and small mining companies and know what types of projects they are looking for that can be advanced by small prospectors. I have also worked on small hardrock production projects. I usually try to find claims that have known high grade veins that can be produced and that also have some exploration upside. We stand by our claims and fix any problems that come up. We can also help you with your annual filings. We hire the same professional claim staking companies that the large mining companies hire and all the claims have professionally drafted and accurate maps.
How is ownership of the claim transferred?
Ownership of mining claims is transferred with a Quit Claim Deed which we prepare. We pay all claim transfer fees and file the claim transfer paperwork with the BLM and Pershing County. The BLM takes about 2-3 weeks to process the claim transfer (Quit Claim) and register the claim in your name. Once the transfer is complete we will send you all the original documents including the file stamped Quit Claim Deed, the original location notices and claim maps.
How Much are the Annual Claim Fees?
The BLM charges a $200 per claim annual maintenance fee which is due on September 1st each year. The BLM fees can be paid online through their claim management portal. Pershing County requires that a Notice of Intent to Hold form is filed the first year by Nov 1st along with payment of the recording fee of $12 plus $12 per claim.
If you own less than 10 mining claims you can qualify for a waiver of the annual maintenance fee by filing a Small Miner’s Waiver. However, the Small Miner’s Waiver requires that you perform $100 in labor or improvements on the claim each year.
International Buyers
International buyers must either have dual US citizenship and US address or have a US entity or company to own the claim.