Mike

The Mike is a molybdenum 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: Mike

Commodity

Primary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Alaska
District: Alaska Peninsula

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Deposit Type: molybdenum porphyry
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Mo, low-F

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: The silica-flooded zone in the rhyolite stock is in part surrounded and overlapped by intense sericitic and phyllic alteration. Beyond this zone the rocks have been propylized.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Tourmaline

Comments

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Church and others, 1989 (B-1858)

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Porphyry Mo (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 21b)

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Age = Pliocene or younger.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = This prospect was originally identified in 1975 by Resource Associates of Alaska on the basis of the color anomaly and a stream-sediment survey (Hedderly-Smith, 1977). In 1977 Bear Creek Mining Company did detailed mapping and sampling and drilled 3 short holes at this prospect. Average molybdenum values for the holes ranged from 10 to 125 ppm with the lower 7 feet of one hole containing 253 ppm. An average value of the surface of the main mineralized zone is stated at 130 ppm molybdenum (Church and others, 1989: B-1858). Grades of up to 0.21 percent molybdenum have been reported (Eakins and others, 1984). In the 1980's the U.S. Geological Survey did geochemical sampling of the prospect and of the surrounding area (Church and others, 1989: B-1858).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Mike prospect is marked by a large color anomaly and by a large copper-molybdenum anomaly shown by stream sediment analyses (Church and others, 1989: MF-1539I). The area of this site consists of dikes, sills, and stocks which have intruded sandstones and siltstones of the Jurassic Naknek Formation (Detterman and others, 1987). The main area of mineralization occurs in a zone of silica flooding around and within a rhyolite porphyry stock. The stock is bordered to the north and west by numerous dacitic dikes. A small quartz monzonite stock has intruded the rhyolite stock on its east side and another cuts sedimentary rocks approximately 1 mile north-northeast of the rhyolite. A breccia pipe measuring 400 by 700 feet occurs near the latter quartz monzonite stock. Late-stage quartz veins trending northeast and northwest cut the rhyolite stock. Some if these are traceable for up to 10,000 feet. Potassium-argon dating of the intrusives indicates they are of Pliocene age (Wilson and Shew, 1992).? Sulfides (mostly pyrite) are present in amounts of 5 to 10 percent over an area of 1 square mile. Sulfide content grades outward to 1 to 2 percent over an area of 3 square miles. Northwest of the porphyry stock magnetite is present in veins, breccias, and as disseminations in quartzite and siltstone (Hedderly-Smith, 1977).? Within the rhyolite porphyry, fine-grained molybdenite occurs within a stockwork of small quartz-filled fractures. The mineralized area measures approximately 3600 by 4300 feet as defined by values of greater than 40 ppm molybdenum. Locally, molybdenite may occur in larger, coarsely crystalline quartz veins. Lesser amounts of it are present sporadically in the hornfelsed sedimentary rocks surrounding the stock. The average molybdenum content of surface rock samples from the main mineralized area averaged 130 ppm (Church and others, 1989: B-1858). Grades of up to 0.21 percent molybdenum have been reported (Eakins and others, 1984). Within the mineralized zone copper (10-50 ppm), lead, zinc, and silver values are generally low. This zone also contains some tin and tungsten anomalies and has a fluorine content averaging 710 ppm with values up to 2100 ppm. Fluorine and molybdenum values show a strong correlation. ? In 1977 Bear Creek Mining Company drilled 3 holes for a total of 258 feet. The drill cut silicified rhyolite stock, rhyolitic sill, and silicified sedimentary rock. Average molybdenum values for the holes ranged from 10 to 125 ppm (Church and others, 1989: B-1858). The bottom 7 feet of hole 77-3 averaged 253 ppm molybdenum.? A second stockwork occurs on the east side of the rhyolite porphyry, apparently in the quartz monzonite (Hedderly-Smith, 1977). Chalcopyrite is present as disseminations and fracture fillings. Samples of mineralized quartz monzonite are reported to contain 500 to 1000 ppm copper and 10 to 20 ppm molybdenum (Church and others, 1989: B1858). A sample of skarn adjacent to a dacite dike contained 3450 ppm copper and a grab sample of the breccia pipe contained 160 ppm molybdenum.? the molybdenum stockwork and area of silica flooding is surrounded in part and overlapped by intense sericitic and phyllic alteration. Beyond this zone the rocks have been propylized. The alteration has been dated as Pliocene (Wilson and Shew, 1992).

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = This prospect is located on land selected by the Koniag Native Corporation.

References

Reference (Deposit): MacKevett, E.M., Jr., and Holloway, C.D., 1977, Map showing metalliferous mineral deposits in the western part of southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-169-F, 38 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1980, Summaries of data and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in fifteen quadrangles in southwestern and west-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-909, 103 p.

Reference (Deposit): Church, S.E., Frisken J.G., Wilson, F.H., 1989, Interpretation of exploration geochemical data from Ugashik, Bristol Bay, and western Karluk quadrangles, Alaska: U.S Geological Survey Bulletin 1858, 45 p.

Reference (Deposit): Church, S.E., Detterman, R.L., and Wilson, F.H., 1989, Mineral and energy resource assessment maps of the Ugashik, Bristol Bay, and western Karluk quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF 1539-I, 2 map sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Wilson, F.H., and Shew, N., 1992, Map and tables showing geochronology and whole rock geochemistry of selected samples from Ugashik, Bristol Bay, and part of Karluk quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Map MF-1539-E, 34 p., 1 map sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Berg, H.C., Brew, D.A., Grybeck, D.J., Robinson, M.S., Smith, T.E., and Yeend, W., 1987, Significant metalliferous lode deposits and placer districts of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1786, 104 p.

Reference (Deposit): Hedderly-Smith, D.A., 1977, 1977 Annual report, Alaska search, Koniag Inc. region: Bear Creek Mining Company, Spokane Office, 23 p. (Report held by Kennecott Alaska, Anchorage).

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