From the Archives: Carlin made mining majors 

Among the Southwest United States’ many claims to mining fame is the discovery of Carlin-type gold deposits, characterized by microscopic gold in arsenic-rich pyrite and named after the town of Carlin in northeast Nevada.  

Evidence of what were later recognized as Carlin deposits were observed as early as 1939. Then, in 1954, American geologist Ralph Roberts mapped out ore deposits in north-central Nevada. He published his observations in a six-page report in 1960 that later served as a reference for Newmont and Barrick Mining as they searched the Carlin trend for gold.  

Newmont accelerated staking and drilling in the early 1960s, leading to an initial reserve in 1963 and culminating in first production at the Carlin mine in May 1965.  

Landmark

“Newmont has begun production at the largest gold mine opened in the United States in half a century,” The Northern Miner reported at the time, outlining open-pit production of 2,000 tons per day and 200,000 oz. annually over a life of more than a decade.  

“Plato Malozemoff, Newmont president, says the Carlin will be the second largest in the U.S., second to Homestake, and the fourth largest in North America.” 

Carlin produced 3.8 million oz. of gold until it was idled in 1987.  

Through the 1980s and into the 1990s, more high-grade discoveries along the trend led to more mines, such as Gold Quarry, Rain, Genesis and Eureka, laying the foundation for Newmont’s growth into the world’s largest gold producer.  

But the Carlin trend also helped transform Barrick, which acquired the Goldstrike project in 1987. It later developed the Betze, Screamer and Rodeo deposits, eventually producing 44.4 million oz. until 2018, when it became the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture with Newmont. Don’t miss an update on page page 14.