Helen S

The Helen S is a copper, zinc, lead, and gold mine located in Alaska.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

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Site Name

Primary: Helen S
Secondary: Olympic Mining

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Barium-Barite

Location

State: Alaska
District: Kupreanof

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Massive sulfide, Sierran kuroko
Model Name: Massive sulfide, kuroko
Model Name: Low-sulfide Au-quartz vein

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Mafic Intrusive Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Devonian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Grybeck, Berg, and Karl, 1984, and this description

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Small production from gold quartz vein(s) prior to WW I was from two shafts that connected to more than 750 feet of underground workings. Property abandoned in 1916. In 1996, the owner of the patented claim, Phillip Brease of Petersburg is actively exploring it with ground geophysics and by diamond drilling.

Comment (Geology): Age = The volcanogenic massive sulfides are Triassic.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Active

Comment (Production): Production Notes = Some gold production prior to about 1915 that was recovered at a small mill near the shoreline.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Located in 1903 or earlier and worked intermittently until at least 1915. A mill was built and at least 650 feet of underground workings were driven on several quartz veins (Buddington, 1923). A small amount of ore with a grade of about 0.177 ounces per ton was milled but total production uncertain and was probably relatively small (from the size of the tailings). Roehm (1945 [IR 195-37]) noted that the ore averaged $3.66 per ton (without specifying in what years). ? There are two distinct type of mineral deposits on the property: auriferous quartz veins and layered massive sulfide mineralization. All the early production was from quartz veins that cut black slate, greenstone, and felsic metavolcanic rocks. At one prospect pit, however, massive sulfides consisting of crudely banded pyrite, pyrrhotite(?), arsenopyrite, sphalerite, and galena are abundant. Berg and Grybeck (1980) interpreted this deposit as part of the Duncan-Zarembo belt of dismembered, upper Triassic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. The quartz veins may be remobilized from the massive sulfide deposits. ? Much of the claim consists of Triassic Hyd Group felsic and intermediate flows and breccia and argillite, which has been intruded by Mesozoic gabbro and Cretaceous diorite (Brew, 1997 [OF 97-156-J]).

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Gold quartz vein ( Cox and Singer, 1986; model 36a); and barite facies of a Kuroko massive-sulfide model (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 28a); or alternatively a barite facies of a Sierran Kuroko model (Bliss, 1992; model 28a1)

References

Reference (Deposit): Grybeck, D.J., Berg, H.C., and Karl, S.M., 1984, Map and description of the mineral deposits in the Petersburg and eastern Port Alexander quadrangles: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-837, 86 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Berg, H. C., and Grybeck, Donald, 1980, Upper Triassic volcanogenic Zn-Pb-Ag (-Cu-Au) mineral deposits near Petersburg, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-527, 11 p., 1 oversize sheet.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Petersburg quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-415, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1978, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Petersburg quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-870, 53 p.

Reference (Deposit): Brew, D.A., 1997, Reconnaissance geologic map of the Petersburg C-4 quadrangle, southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-156-J, 21 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:63,360.

Reference (Deposit): Buddington, A.F., 1923, Mineral deposits of the Wrangell district; U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 739, p. 51-75.

Reference (Deposit): Roehm, J.C., 1945, Preliminary report of investigations and itinerary of J. C. Roehm in the Wrangell and Petersburg precincts, Alaska: Teritory of Alaska, Department of Mines Itinerary Report 195-37, 13 p.

Reference (Deposit): Wright, F.E., and Wright, C.W., 1908, The Ketchikan and Wrangell mining districts, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 347, 210 p.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E. H., 1972, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Petersburg Quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-870, 53 p.

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