(KOH) – According to the Nevada Division of Minerals, Nevada’s gold production rose slightly last year, increasing by 2.6% over 2015 to almost 5.5 million ounces, with a market value of nearly 6.9 billion dollars. Nevada’s peak production was in 1998 with 8.9 million ounces.  Silver production dropped by 6.4 percent to 8.9 million ounces, worth 151 million dollars – a far cry from the 1996 peak of 25 million ounces.  Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining are the largest gold producers with Barrick producing about 47% of Nevada’s total output, and Newmont contributing 29%.