The New Yorker Reporter and Nevada's 1980's Gold Exploration Boom

John Seabrook's article published in 1989 in the New Yorker Magazine is a fascinating read and is worth another visit!  The article is available online at the New Yorker if you are a subscriber.  A link to the article is easy to find using Google.

 

Satellite image of the northern Carlin Trend.  Source:  Google Earth.

I first read the article "A Reporter at Large, Invisible Gold/Gold Mining," in 1989 when it was published. John Seabrook is an easterner.  But in 1989, he visited the northern Nevada gold boom of the 1980's.  The main topics are the mines and towns of Battle Mountain and Carlin along Interstate 80 (I-80).  He spent time with prospectors, geologists, drillers, metallurgists, engineers and others involved in gold mining.

Seabrook had a wonderful adventure and field trips with many of the notables in Nevada gold exploration of the 60's, 70's and 1980's.

Prospectors/claim owners:  Phillip Davis, Andy Hampton, Don Smith, De LaMare.

Geologists:  John Livermore, Alan Coope, Andy Wallace, Peter Galli, Ralph Roberts.

Executives:  Fred Searls (Newmont) Peter Munk (Barrick)

The story starts out at the Owl Club in Battle Mountain. The Owl is a restaurant, bar, casino and hotel.  It was one of the popular establishments in the small town on I-80 and near the railroad tracks.  The main street was formerly US Highway 40.

Roberts and Livermore give Seabrook a first hand summary of the discovery of the Carlin gold deposit in late 1961. Livermore, Coope (both with Newmont) and (Roberts USGS).

I highly recommend this article to all exploration geologists, especially those too young to remember the 1980's.  It is interesting and provides some good insight on successful exploration from some of the best in the business.

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