John Livermore
Encyclopedia
John Sealy Livermore is an American geologist
who has discovered or helped to discover four major gold deposits
in northern Nevada
. The Carlin deposit, from which the current Nevada gold-mining industry grew, was his first discovery. In 1961, after reading an article by Ralph J. Roberts
, Alignment of Mining Districts in North-Central Nevada, and then hearing a talk by Roberts, Livermore, then a Newmont Mining
geologist, pursued Roberts' theory to track down the 4 million ounce gold ore body now known as the Carlin Mine. The entire Carlin Trend has now produced well over 50 million ounces of gold.
Carlin–type gold deposit
s are characterized by extremely fine-grained gold — gold that cannot be seen by the naked eye, nor concentrated by panning. Nevertheless, several small Carlin-type deposits were discovered in northern Nevada and worked as mines prior to the discovery of the Carlin orebody. John Livermore examined one such deposit at the Standard Mine near Lovelock, Nevada
in the late 1940s and believed that other, possibly richer, "invisible gold" deposits remained to be found.
Guided by Ralph Roberts’ ideas, John Livermore and Alan Coope, a fellow Newmont geologist who had a strong background in geochemistry, began an intensive search for “invisible gold.” Success came quickly. In October 1961, they staked the claims that became the Carlin Mine.
Livermore then headed Newmont’s exploration effort in Canada in the 1960s. He returned to Nevada in 1971 to form Cordex Exploration. By 1970, only one other new gold mine, the Cortez mine near Crescent Valley, Nevada
, had been discovered and developed in northern Nevada. Exploration had all but stopped. Livermore felt that a return to basic prospecting might lead to further discoveries.
Livermore hired Whit “Dee” DeLaMare, a mining engineer of long experience, to prospect on behalf of Cordex. DeLaMare’s work led to the discovery of the Pinson, Preble, Sterling, and Dee mines and development of the Getchell Trend, second only to the Carlin Trend in Nevada gold production. These successes and higher gold prices fueled a Nevada gold exploration boom during the 1980s. New gold mines were found and developed. Nevada gold production continues to expand.
Livermore has remained active in geology, mineral exploration, and public service. He endowed a chair in Geophysics
at the Mackay School of Mines, and supports major programs at Stanford University
and the University of Nevada, Reno
, usually anonymously.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
who has discovered or helped to discover four major gold deposits
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
in northern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The Carlin deposit, from which the current Nevada gold-mining industry grew, was his first discovery. In 1961, after reading an article by Ralph J. Roberts
Ralph J. Roberts (geologist)
Ralph J. Roberts was an American geologist and research scientist with the USGS. He is credited with the discovery of the Carlin and Battle Mountain Gold Belts, which make up the richest gold-mining region in Nevada as well as the United States....
, Alignment of Mining Districts in North-Central Nevada, and then hearing a talk by Roberts, Livermore, then a Newmont Mining
Newmont Mining
Newmont Mining Corporation , based in Denver, Colorado, USA, is one of the world's largest producers of gold, with active mines in Nevada, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana and Peru. Holdings include Santa Fe Gold, Battle Mountain Gold, Normandy Mining, Franco-Nevada Corp and Fronteer Gold...
geologist, pursued Roberts' theory to track down the 4 million ounce gold ore body now known as the Carlin Mine. The entire Carlin Trend has now produced well over 50 million ounces of gold.
Carlin–type gold deposit
Carlin–type gold deposit
Carlin–type gold deposits are sediment-hosted disseminated gold deposits. These deposits are characterized by invisible gold in pyrite and arsenopyrite...
s are characterized by extremely fine-grained gold — gold that cannot be seen by the naked eye, nor concentrated by panning. Nevertheless, several small Carlin-type deposits were discovered in northern Nevada and worked as mines prior to the discovery of the Carlin orebody. John Livermore examined one such deposit at the Standard Mine near Lovelock, Nevada
Lovelock, Nevada
Lovelock is a city in western Nevada that is the county seat of Pershing County, the location of a prison, and the namesake of the area's Cold War gunnery range...
in the late 1940s and believed that other, possibly richer, "invisible gold" deposits remained to be found.
Guided by Ralph Roberts’ ideas, John Livermore and Alan Coope, a fellow Newmont geologist who had a strong background in geochemistry, began an intensive search for “invisible gold.” Success came quickly. In October 1961, they staked the claims that became the Carlin Mine.
Livermore then headed Newmont’s exploration effort in Canada in the 1960s. He returned to Nevada in 1971 to form Cordex Exploration. By 1970, only one other new gold mine, the Cortez mine near Crescent Valley, Nevada
Crescent Valley, Nevada
Crescent Valley is an unincorporated community in Eureka County, Nevada, United States. It is the site of Crescent Valley Elementary School, Crescent Valley Fair Grounds, and Crescent Valley Community Park....
, had been discovered and developed in northern Nevada. Exploration had all but stopped. Livermore felt that a return to basic prospecting might lead to further discoveries.
Livermore hired Whit “Dee” DeLaMare, a mining engineer of long experience, to prospect on behalf of Cordex. DeLaMare’s work led to the discovery of the Pinson, Preble, Sterling, and Dee mines and development of the Getchell Trend, second only to the Carlin Trend in Nevada gold production. These successes and higher gold prices fueled a Nevada gold exploration boom during the 1980s. New gold mines were found and developed. Nevada gold production continues to expand.
Livermore has remained active in geology, mineral exploration, and public service. He endowed a chair in Geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
at the Mackay School of Mines, and supports major programs at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, usually anonymously.