The Whalen is a gold, copper, and silver 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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Whalen MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Whalen
Secondary: Whalen and Griffin
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Bismuth
Secondary: Tungsten
Secondary: Uranium
Secondary: Thorium
Location
State: Alaska
District: McGrath
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:
Physiography
Not available
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Skarn Cu
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation.
Rocks
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Scheelite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Bismuth
Gangue: Malachite
Gangue: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Production): Production Notes = Production was lumped with Nixon Fork figures (MD062), and has not produced ore during current activities from1995 to 1998.
Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive
Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The Whalen mine extended to a depth of 200 ft (61 m) through an inclined shaft and several drifts. The upper part of the workings caved in 1924, and formed a distinctive 200 foot by 100 foot (61 m by 30 m) glory hole (labeled 'glory hole' on USGS topographic maps). The ore that was mined was estimated to contain up to 3.38 ounces/ton (115 grams/tonne) gold.
Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Copper-gold skarn (Cox and Singer, 1986; model no. 18b)
Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = See also: Nixon Fork Mine (MD062).
Comment (Commodity): Gangue = Carbonate
Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Herreid, 1966
Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Whalen mine is part of the Nixon Fork mine complex and descriptions closely follow those of the Nixon Fork mine (MD062). Highly oxidized ore consists of limonite, malachite, Cu-oxides, free gold with minor unoxidized pyrite and chalcopyrite; also minor amounts of scheelite, native bismuth and radioactive minerals are present. Oxidation is pervasive; deposit is in limestone inlier associated with a roof pendant, surrounded by quartz monzonite. Copper content was estimated at between 1 and 2 percent (Brown, 1926). Gold fineness was 812 gold and 171 silver (Smith, 1931). Age is Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic age of monzonite (Moll and others, 1981).
Comment (Commodity): Ore Material = radioactive minerals
Comment (Geology): Age = Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic age of monzonite (Moll and others, 1981).
References
Reference (Deposit): Brown, J.S., 1926, The Nixon Fork country: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 783. p. 97-144.
Reference (Deposit): Herreid, G.H., 1966, Geology and geochemistry of the Nixon Fork area, Medfra quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Mines and Minerals Geologic Report 22, 34 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:40,000.
Reference (Deposit): Martin, G.C., 1922, Gold lodes in the Upper Kuskokwim region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864D, p. 149-161.
Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1936, Mineral deposits of the Ruby-Kuskokwim region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864-C, 115-245.
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