1. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 By Lorre A. Moyer Open-File Report 04-xxx Digital Movie, Version 1.0 2004 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2. 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.

3. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 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.

4. Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 Low prices and environmental regulation brought about the decline in precious metal production by 1995. 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.

5. Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 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.

7. Pre-production

8. Production

9. Pre-production Production

10. No Production Production

11. No Production Production

12. No Production Production

13. 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.

14. Mining activity in Nevada full length movie Movie Menu Click button to view action animations or full length movie. Major mines 1860 - 1995 animation Major mining districts 1860 - 1995 animation Mineral production chart Links to decade time periods

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

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

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

18. 1851-1860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Comstock Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

19. 1851-1860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Comstock Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

20. 1851-1860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

21. 1851-1860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

22. 1851-1860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Return to time linksReturn to time links Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

23. 1861-1870Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

24. 1861-1870Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

25. 1861-1870Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

26. 1861-1870Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

27. 1871-1880Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

28. 1871-1880Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

29. 1871-1880Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

30. 1881-1890Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

31. 1881-1890Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

32. 1881-1890Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

33. 1891-19001893 Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

34. 1891-19001893 Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

35. 1891-19001893 Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

36. 1901-19101907 Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Goldfield Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

37. 1901-19101907 Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Goldfield Tonopah Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

38. 1901-19101907 Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

39. 1911-1920WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

40. 1911-1920WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

41. 1911-1920WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

42. 1921-1930Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

43. 1921-1930Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

44. 1921-1930Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

45. 1931-1940Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

46. 1931-1940Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

47. 1931-1940Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

48. 1941-1950WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

49. 1941-1950WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

50. 1941-1950WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

51. 1951-1960The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

52. 1951-1960The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

53. 1951-1960The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

54. 1961-1970Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Carlin Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

55. 1961-1970Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Carlin Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

56. 1961-1970Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

57. 1971-1980Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

58. 1971-1980Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

59. 1971-1980Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

60. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Carlin Trend

61. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Carlin Trend Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

62. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Carlin Trend

63. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

64. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

65. 1981-1990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

66. 1991-1995Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

67. 1991-1995Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

68. 1991-1995Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways

69. 1991-1995Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases Historic Trails Major Railroads Major Highways Return to time linksReturn to time links

70. Comstock boom

71. Comstock boom

72. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

73. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

74. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

75. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom

76. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom Carlin boom

77. Comstock Boom Tonopah- Goldfield boom Carlin boom

78. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 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 1892-1899 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.

79. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851-1995 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”.

80. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 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.

81. Mining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 SUMMARY The demand for industrial minerals has steadily increased with Nevada’s growing population and will most likely continue a steady upward trend.

82. Patterns of Nevada Mineral ActivityMining Activity in Nevada, 1851 - 1995 Data sources for this animation include the U.S. Geological Survey’s Digital Data Series DDS-52 and Open-File Report 98-206A, 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.

83. Link to 18601860Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery Link to 18701870Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration Link to 18801880Domestic Market Expands – Precious Metals Peak Link to 18901890Depression Begins – Population & Production Decline Link to 190019001893 Financial Collapse – Tonopah Silver Discovery Link to 191019101907 Recession – Tonopah & Goldfield Boom Link to 19201920WWI & Lincoln Highway – Precious & Base Metals Up Link to 19301930Post War Expansion to Depression –Base Metal holds Link to 19401940Great Depression – Slight Increase in Precious Metals Link to 19501950WWII –Base Metal/Industrial Mineral Activity Increases Link to 19601960The Korean War – Base Metal Production Peaks Link to 19701970Economic & Technology Boom –Carlin Gold Discovery Link to 19801980Vietnam War & High Inflation – Industrial Minerals Up Link to 19901990Gold Prices Soar – The Carlin Boom & Decline Link to 19951995Regulation & Low Prices – Mineral Activity Decreases

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