Mt. Fairplay

The Mt. Fairplay is a copper 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: Mt. Fairplay
Secondary: Fairplay

Commodity

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

Location

State: Alaska
District: Fortymile

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu-Mo

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Hydrothermal alteration (Singer and others, 1976).

Rocks

Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age in Years: 70.000000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Material Analyzed: Syenite
Age Young: Tertiary

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

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

Comments

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Fairplay prospects consist of disseminated chalcopyrite, galena, molybdenite, pyrite, and sphalerite that occur in hydrothermally altered Tertiary hypabyssal syenite and associated felsic volcanic rocks (Singer and others, 1976). Syenite that intrudes the felsic volcanic rocks at Mt. Fairplay has a K/Ar age of 67 +/- 2 Ma and contains minor gold-bearing quartz veins (Kerin, 1976; Wilson and others, 1985; Newberry and others, 1996). The Fairplay prospect area was staked in the early 1970's, and there are other similar prospects nearby (Singer and others, 1976). The syenite complex at Mt. Fairplay is similar to others in the Carmacks metallogenic belt of the Mount Nansen-Cash area in the Yukon Territory (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1989).

Comment (Geology): Age = Host rock is Tertiary.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Porphyry Cu-Mo deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 21a)

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Singer and others, 1976

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Surface exploration was conducted and silt and soil samples were taken by WGM Inc. in 1975-76. More recent activity is very probable.

Comment (Geology): Age = The syenite at Mt. Fairplay is about 70 Ma, based on K-Ar ages (Kerin, 1976). The felsic intrusive and extrusive rocks that host the syenite are Tertiary.

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = Part of the Mt. Fairplay region lies on Doyon Ltd. selected lands. For more information, contact Doyon Ltd.

References

Reference (Deposit): Wilson, F.H., Smith, J.G., and Shew, Nora, 1985, Review of radiometric data from the Yukon crystalline terrane, Alaska and Yukon Territory: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 22, p. 525-537.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1984, Mt. Fairplay report: U.S. Bureau of Mines, Fairbanks, Alaska, unpublished data on file at Geologic Materials Center, Box 13, Eagle River, Alaska, 17 p.

Reference (Deposit): Eberlein, G.D., Chapman, R.M., Foster, H.L., and Gassaway, J.S., 1977, Map and table describing known metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral deposits in central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-168-D, 132 p., 1 map, scale 1:1,000,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., and Eberlein, G.D., 1980, Summaries of data on and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in the Big Delta and Tanacross quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-1086, 77 p.

Reference (Deposit): Singer, D.A., Csejtey, Bela, Jr., and Miller, R.J., 1978, Map and discussion of the metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral resources of the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 78-588-Q, 33 p., 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Kerin, L.J., 1976, The reconnaissance petrology of the Mount Fairplay igneous complex: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, M.Sc. thesis, 95 p.

Reference (Deposit): Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada, 1987, Yukon Exploration 1988: Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 304 p.

Reference (Deposit): Newberry, R.J., Layer, P.W., Burleigh, R.E., and Solie, D.N., 1996, New 40Ar/39Ar dates for intrusions and mineral prospects in the eastern Yukon-Tanana terrane, Alaska - Regional patterns and significance, in Gray, J.E., and Riehle, J.R., eds., Geological Studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1595, p. 131-159.

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.