John Livermore*

John Livermore graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Geology in 1940. Since, then he has enjoyed a long and successful career in mining and exploration. In 1960-1961, as an exploration geologist for Newmont he designed and carried out the exploration program that discovered the multi-million Carlin gold deposit. This discovery of disseminated gold mineralization in carbonate rocks lead to the recognition of a new class of gold deposits now known as “Carlin-type gold deposits.”

During the 1940’s, he worked for the U.S. Geological Survey in the Strategic Minerals program and spent three years as an officer for the U.S. Navy during World War II.

From 1946 through 1947, his mining career continued as an underground miner and mine geologist at the Cripple Creek gold mines in Colorado. After Colorado, he spent the years from 1948 to 1952 as a prospector and geologist in Nevada. Those years as a prospector paid off latter in his career.

Newmont hired John in 1948 as an exploration geologist. He had a very productive 18-year career with Newmont. After attending a presentation by Ralph Roberts in Ely, Nevada, “Alignment of Mining Districts in North-Central Nevada” (USGS Professional Paper 400-B), he placed the concepts into practice in the Carlin area. John and other Newmont geologists, including Alan Coope, in 1961 staked the claims that were to become the Carlin mine for Newmont. Their discovery of the Carlin deposit has been followed by discovery of numerous other gold deposits along the Carlin Trend. This initial discovery has lead to the production of more than 50 million ounces of gold from the Trend.

Livermore and others were intrigued by the potential of the Great Basin for Carlin-type gold deposits. In 1970, he and Peter Galli formed the Cordilleran Exploration Project also called the Cordex Syndicates. Andy Wallace joined the Cordex Syndicate and together they continue to explore Nevada for gold mines. Several discoveries are among Cordex’s successes: Pinson, Preble, Dee and the Florida Canyon mines. Livermore’s application of basic prospecting along with geology in Nevada reaped great rewards.

John remains active and is a strong supporter of geology, public service and academia.

Among the numerous awards John Livermore has received are:
Life member of SME
Trustee of the California Academy of Sciences
Medal of Merit from the American Mining Hall of Fame of the Southwest
Endower of the Arthur Brant Chair of geophysics at MacKay School of Mines
Founder of the Public Resources Associates
Honorary member of GSN

The GSN is privileged to have John as a long standing member.

*Deceased