Maid of Mexico

The Maid of Mexico is a 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: Maid of Mexico
Secondary: Maid of Texas

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Copper

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: Low-sulfide Au-quartz vein

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Rusty Weathering In Argillite

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

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

Comments

Comment (Production): Production Notes = Small test shipments were made as early as 1917 and the property produced ore during the 1930's. The remains of a small mill are still present on the property. Production records not available but discussions with the owners in 1979 by the reporters, the size of the dumps, and the amount of underground work indicate that total production was probably more than the 100 ounces of gold and silver reported in the literature (Buddington, 1923).

Comment (Geology): Age = Triassic or younger based on age of the host rock.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Active?

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Williams, 1954; this description

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Explored by more than 1000 feet of underground workings from several adits prior to World War II. The property was active in 1979 and the owners had cleaned out the drifts in anticipation of production. However, a visit by D. Grybeck in 1996 suggested that little had been done since. Williams(1954) noted that the Alaska Department of Mines had seven confidential maps dating from 1933 to 1935 of the underground workings in their files. He noted 130 feet of crosscut from the portal of the mine and 260 feet of drifting on the vein; also several raises and winzes.

Comment (Commodity): Ore Material = sphalerite in minor amounts.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Gold quartz vein (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 36a)

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Main of Mexico vein is about 2-6 feet thick, averaging about 4 feet. It can be traced for at least 2000 feet but the underground working expose only a small portion of it. The vein consists mainly of white quartz with sparse sphalerite, pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and free gold. The vein is largely in black carbonaceous argillite associated with pyrite-bearing, calcareous felsic metatuff, felsic dikes, and minor limestone and mudstone. The black carbonaceous unit is overlain(?) by greenstone, greenshist, and marble. Several faults are known in the underground workings. Brew (1997 [OF 97-156-J]) correlates the country rock with the Triassic Hyd Group which typically consists of felsic and intermediate flows and breccia, argillite, and minor limestone. ? Nine samples collected by Williams (1954) assayed trace to 0.64 ounces per ton in gold, a trace of silver, 0.20-0.68% lead, and 0.30 to 0.77% Zn. The Maid of Texas vein is parallel to the Maid of Mexico vein and about 100 yards to the southeast (Roehm, 1945 [DGGS IR 195-37]).? the Maid of Mexico vein was explored by more than 1000 feet of underground workings from several adits prior to World War II. Some production resulted, mainly in the 1930's. The property was active in 1979 and the owners had cleaned out the drifts in anticipation of production. However, a visit in 1996 by D. Grybeck suggested that little had been done since. Williams(1954) noted that the Alaska Department of Mines had seven confidential maps dating from 1933 to 1935 of the underground workings in their files. He noted 130 feet of crosscut from the portal of the mine and 260 feet of drifting on the vein; also several raises and winzes.

References

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

Reference (Deposit): Williams, J.A., 1953, Preliminary report on Maid of Mexico property (Woewodski Island): Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Prospect Evaluation 117-6, 4 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:63,360.

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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