minerals and mining 4

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


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, 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 postwar 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 Activity
Mining 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 TonopahGoldfield, and the Carlin.


Patterns of Nevada Mineral Activity
Mining 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.



Pre-production


Production
Pre-production


Production
Production
Pre-production

Production
Production
Production
No Production


Production
Production
Production
No Production


Production
Production
Production
No 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.


Movie Menu

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


Pre-1850

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Early Trails and Westward Migration


Pre-1850

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Early Trails and Westward Migration


Pre-1850

Historic Trails
Major Railroads

Major Highways

Early Trails and Westward Migration


1851-1860

Comstock

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery


1851-1860

Comstock

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery


1851-1860

Historic Trails

Major Railroads
Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery


1851-1860

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery


1851-1860

Civil War – The Comstock Gold and Silver Discovery

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Return to time links


1861-1870

Historic Trails
Major Railroads

Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration


1861-1870

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration


1861-1870

Historic Trails
Major Railroads
Major Highways

Comstock Boom - Railroads Help Mineral Exploration