Ruby Creek

The Ruby Creek is a silver 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

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Ruby Creek
Secondary: Strand

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Uranium
Secondary: Tungsten
Secondary: Tin
Secondary: Bismuth

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: Shoreline placer Ti

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Bismuth
Ore: Cassiterite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Scheelite
Gangue: Sphene
Gangue: Azurite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Ilmenite
Gangue: Magnetite

Comments

Comment (Geology): Age = Quaternary, based on inference with similar deposits in area (Bundtzen and others, 1997).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = No data on size or grade of the Ruby Creek (Strand) deposit has been found in published sources. Ilmenite and magnetite were abundant in concentrates. The Strand part of the Ruby Creek placer is a mature, third order stream with an average gradient of about 150 feet/ mile. The upper end above Crystal Gulch is a second order stream with a higher gradient. In 1929, fineness was estimated to be 807 gold and 107 silver (Mertie, 1936). Age is Quaternary, based on inference with similar deposits in area (Bundtzen and others, 1997).

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Both underground drifting and open cut methods were used prior to 1933 (Mertie, 1936).

Comment (Commodity): Ore Material = uranothorianite

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Placer Au-PGE (Cox and Singer, 1986; model no. 39c)

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = See also Hidden Creek (MD066), Upper Ruby Creek (MD068), Birch Gulch (MD073), and Holmes Gulch (MD072).

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Mertie, 1936

Comment (Production): Production Notes = Ruby Creek was the first to be mined in the Nixon Fork area (1917). From 1917 to 1942, Ruby Creek produced at least 1,522 ounces (47 kg) gold and unknown amounts of silver. Production continued intermittently until about 1961, but the latter year's production levels were believed to be modest.

References

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1974, Synopsis of mineral resources and geology of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1307, 53 pages.

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): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1936, Mineral deposits of the Ruby-Kuskokwim region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864-C, 115-245.

Reference (Deposit): Brown, J.S., 1926, The Nixon Fork country: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 783. p. 97-144.

Reference (Deposit): Martin, G.C., 1922, Gold lodes in the Upper Kuskokwim region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864D, p. 149-161.

The Top Ten Gold Producing States

These ten states contributed the most to the gold production that built the West from 1848 through the 1930s. The Top Ten Gold Producing States.