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Distribution and abundance of cobalt, determined by spectrographic analysis, in the nonmagnetic fraction of heavy-mineral concentrates from stream sediments, Petersburg area, southeast Alaska
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Distribution and abundance of chromium, determined by spectrographic analysis, in the nonmagnetic fraction of heavy-mineral concentrates from stream sediments, Petersburg area, southeast Alaska
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Distribution and abundance of tungsten, determined by spectrographic analysis, in nonmagnetic fraction of heavy-mineral concentrates from stream sediments, Petersburg area, southeast Alaska
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Geochemical data and sample locality maps for stream-sediment and heavy-mineral-concentrate samples, and mineralogical data of nonmagnetic, heavy-mineral-concentrate samples, collected near five cinnabar-stibnite mineral occurrences in the Kuskokwim River region, southwestern Alaska
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Geochemical data and sample locality maps for stream-sediment and heavy-mineral-concentrate samples, and mineralogical data of nonmagnetic, heavy-mineral-concentrate samples, collected near five cinnabar-stibnite mineral occurrences in the Kuskokwim River region, southwestern Alaska
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Geochemical data and sample locality maps for stream water and vegetation samples collected near five cinnabar-stibnite mineral occurrences in the Kuskokwim River region, southwestern Alaska, Part A - Paper copy
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Geochemical data for environmental studies at Nabesna and Kennecott, Alaska; water, leachates, stream-sediments, heavy-mineral-concentrates, and rocks
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Geochemical data for environmental studies at Nabesna and Kennecott, Alaska; water, leachates, stream-sediments, heavy-mineral-concentrates, and rocks
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Mesozoic magmatism and timing of epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization in the western Fortymile mining district, east-central Alaska: Zircon U-Pb geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry, and Pb isotopes
The Mesozoic magmatic history of the North American margin records the evolution from a more segmented assemblage of parautochthonous and allochthonous terranes to the more cohesive northern Cordilleran orogenic belt. We characterize the setting of magmatism, tectonism, and epigenetic mineralization in the western Fortymile mining district, east-central Alaska, where parautochthonous and allochthonous Paleozoic tectonic assemblages are juxtaposed, using sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb zircon geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry, and feldspar Pb isotopes of Mesozoic intrusions and spatially associated mineral prospects. New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages and published U-Pb and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages indicate four episodes of plutonism in the western Fortymile district: Late Triassic (216-208 Ma), Early Jurassic (199-181 Ma), mid-Cretaceous (112-94 Ma), and Late Cretaceous (70-66 Ma). All age groups have calc-alkalic arc compositions that became more evolved through time. Pb isotope compositions of feldspars from Late Triassic, Early Jurassic, and Late Cretaceous igneous rocks similarly became more radiogenic with time and are consistent with the magmas being mantle derived but extensively contaminated by upper crustal components with evolving Pb isotopic compositions. Feldspar Pb isotopes from mid-Cretaceous rocks have isotopic ratios that indicate magma derivation from upper crustal sources, probably thickened mid-Paleozoic basement. The origin of the mantle component in Late Cretaceous granitoids suggested by Pb isotopic ratios is uncertain, but we propose that it reflects asthenospheric upwelling following slab breakoff and sinking of an inactive inner subduction zone that delivered the previously accreted Wrangellia composite terrane to the North American continental margin, after the outer Farallon subduction zone was established. Epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag ± Cu prospects in the western Fortymile district are spatially associated with splays of the northeast-trending Kechumstuk sinistral-normal fault zone and with ca. 68-66 Ma felsic intrusions and dikes. The similarity between Pb isotope compositions of feldspars from the Late Cretaceous igneous bodies and sulfides from the epithermal prospects suggests a Late Cretaceous age for most of the mineralization. Fluid flow along the faults undoubtedly played a major role in mineralization. We interpret displacement on the northeast-trending faults to be a far-field effect of dextral translation along Late Cretaceous plate-scale boundaries and faults that were roughly parallel to the subsequently developed Denali and Tintina fault systems, which currently bound the region.
Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in five quadrangles in West-Central Alaska (Hughes, Kotzebue, Melozitna, Selawik, Shungnak)
These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in 5 quadrangles in west-central Alaska. All references to published and open-filed reports of the Geological Survey, to most published and open-filed reports of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and to most published reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before January 1, 1975, are summarized. Occasionally reports from other sources have been included; in such instances references have been summarized in greater detail than those to the kinds of reports listed above. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically first by quadrangle and second by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section.
Timing of ore-related magmatism in the western Alaska Range, southwestern Alaska
This report presents isotopic age data from mineralized granitic plutons in an area of the Alaska Range located approximately 200 kilometers to the west-northwest of Anchorage in southwestern Alaska. Uranium-lead isotopic data and trace element concentrations of zircons were determined for 12 samples encompassing eight plutonic bodies ranging in age from approximately 76 to 57.4 millions of years ago (Ma). Additionally, a rhenium-osmium age of molybdenite from the Miss Molly molybdenum occurrence is reported (approx. 59 Ma). All of the granitic plutons in this study host gold-, copper-, and (or) molybdenum-rich prospects. These new ages modify previous interpretations regarding the age of magmatic activity and mineralization within the study area. The new ages show that the majority of the gold-quartz vein-hosting plutons examined in this study formed in the Late Cretaceous. Further work is necessary to establish the ages of ore-mineral deposition in these deposits.
Alaska resource data file: Mount Katmai quadrangle
This report gives descriptions of the mineral occurrences in the Mount Katmai 1:250,000-scale quadrangle, Alaska. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.
Chemical analyses of soils and other surficial materials, Alaska
Introduction: The favorable response to the reports on the geochemistry of unconsolidated surficial materials of the conterminous United States (informally called the '50-mile geochemical survey,' Shacklette and others, 1971a, 1971b, 1973, and 1974) led us, in 1975, to initiate a somewhat similar survey of Alaska. The principal objective of studies of this type is to establish estimates of the abundance of elements in soils and other surficial materials. Such information is useful in the evaluation of geochemical data for (1) mineral resources, (2) environmental appraisals, and (3) the definition of broad-scale geochemical patterns. For about six years this effort progressed slowly on a non-funded, time-available basis. During fiscal years 1982 and 1983, however, some funds were made available through the USGS Energy Lands and Alaska Mineral Surveys programs which allowed for the completion of the field-work phase of the project. The sampling plan was kept simple because, as with the 50-mile study, the acquisition of samples depended on the voluntary cooperation of field personnel (only about 40 percent of the total number of samples was obtained by the authors).
Geochemistry of placer gold, Koyukuk-Chandalar mining district, Alaska
The Koyukuk-Chandalar mining district of the Brooks Range mineral belt in north-central Alaska contains numerous placer gold deposits but few known lode gold sources. Gold grains, collected from 46 placer localities and 6 lode gold sites in the district, were analyzed for Ag and 37 trace elements utilizing direct current-arc optical emission spectroscopy. When possible, several measurements were made on each sample and averaged. Gold content was calculated by the summation of the 38 elements determined and subtracting from 100. The objectives of our study were to characterize the deposits by defining the type and number of distinct geochemical characteristics for the Au, to determine relationships of Au in placer deposits to possible lode sources (placer and lode), to identify possible primary sources of placer gold, and to study processes of placer formation. Interpretation of results emphasize that the Au grains are almost invariably ternary (Au-Ag-Cu) alloys. The average Cu content is 0.040% and the average Ag content and fineness [(Au/Au+Ag)×1,000] are 10.5% and 893 parts per thousand, respectively, for the 46 placer localities.
Tin in the United States, exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii
The principal deposits and occurrences of tin minerals in the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii) are shown on the accompanying map. Although some very minor occurrences are included to indicate the extent of distribution, those in which only trace amounts of tin have been found spectrographically or geochemically have been omitted. Unverifiable reported occurrences of tin-bearing minerals have been excluded also. Known tin-bearing deposits in the conterminous United States are small, few in number, and widely scattered; only small amounts of tin concentrates are being recovered at the present time (1964). The total amount of metallic tin produced since 1950, mainly as a by-product of molybdenum ores, is less than 500 tons, and the total production from all sources prior to 1950 is similar. Map locations are shown by symbols, the shapes of which denote different geologic types of occurrence; some areas of scattered occurrences in pegmatites are shown by a stippled pattern. Occurrences are numbered by State on the map and identified by number in the index. The index also gives the geographic coordinates, brief geologic descriptions, and references to the principal published reports. The more important or better known localities are named on the map.