Waterpump Creek

The Waterpump Creek is a zinc, lead, 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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Site Name

Primary: Waterpump Creek
Secondary: Last Hurrah

Commodity

Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver

Location

State: Alaska
District: Kaiyuh

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: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Calcite and dolomite veining, manganosiderite alteration of wallrock, and replacement of dolostone wallrock by siderite.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Acanthite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Pyrolusite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Stannite
Ore: Scorodite
Ore: Carminite
Ore: Hopeite
Ore: Massicot
Ore: Schultenite
Ore: Argentojarosite
Ore: Plumbojarosite
Ore: Plattnerite
Ore: Mimetite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Beudantite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Boulangerite
Ore: Cerussite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Fraipontite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Limonite
Ore: Hydrozincite
Ore: Hemimorphite
Gangue: Gypsum
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Dolomite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Waterpump Creek deposit is in dolomitic quartzite and metadolostone. There are two ore zones: 1) a body about 200 meters long and 9 by 30 meters in section that consists of oxidized ore (gossan); and 2) a body of sulfide-siderite ore about 120 meters below the gossan that is about 120 meters long and 20 by 15 meters in section (Flanigan, 1998).? Initially, the Waterpump Creek deposit was considered to be syngenetic. However, Flanigan (1998) demonstrates that it probably is a plutonic-related, epigenetic deposit, based on its relationship to the 113 Ma Khotol pluton, the presence of stannite and boulangerite, and a depositional temperature of 300-350 degrees C.? the oxide (gossan) zone and the deeper, unoxidized sulfide-siderite zone strike S40E and dip 30SE. The mineralization pinches, swells, and bifurcates, suggesting that it comprises several different zones. Most of the mineralization is in quartzite with minor dolostone layers. The ore zones cross-cut quartzite-dolostone contacts (Flanigan, 1998).? the gossan consists of soft masses and veins with many voids and masses of loose breccia. Breccia clasts range from clay size to small cobbles, and include rare, unoxidized mineral grains that range up to sand size. The minerals in the gossan zone include anglesite, argentojarosite, beudantite, carminite, cerussite, gypsum, fraipontite, hemimorphite, hopeite, jarosite, massicot, mimetite, platternite, plumbjarosite, pyrolusite, schultenite, and scorodite (Flanigan, 1998). The oxidized zone also contains galena that occurs as remnants rimmed with lead oxide or carbonate minerals, including anglesite or cerussite. Zinc-rich areas of the gossan consist primarily of limonite, along with hemimorphite and hydrozincite (Flanigan, 1998).? In the unoxidized, sulfide-siderite zone, siderite gangue replaces dolostone along irregular contacts. Major sulfide minerals include sphalerite, galena, and pyrite, within manganosiderite gangue. Radiating clusters of acicular calcite crystals coat fracture surfaces and line vugs near mineralization. Calcite and dolomite veins also occur. Sphalerite and galena commonly are intergrown and may form large pods, veins, bands, and rare vug fillings. Minor disseminated galena, pyrite, and manganosiderite occur throughout massive sphalerite. Pyrite commonly is subordinate, but it locally may form as much as 70% of the sulfide body (Flanigan, 1998). Boulangerite occurs as small, wire-like grains in siderite or as inclusions in pyrite. Stannite forms inclusions in pyrite. Teller and Wilson (in Flanigan, 1998) also identified acanthite, bornite, chalcopyrite, diopside, rosenhahnite, and tremolite in the sulfide zones, suggesting a possible skarn affinity (Flanigan, 1998). Alteration consists of calcite and dolomite veining, manganosiderite alteration of wallrock, and replacement of dolostone wallrock by siderite.? Estimated reserves at the Waterpump Creek prospect are 166,000 metric tons of ore averaging 9.5 ounces of silver per ton, 16.1% lead, and 5.5% zinc (Flanigan, 1998).? the Waterpump Creek deposit lies along a lineament that also crosses the Illinois Creek (NL023) and Round Top (NL011) deposits. This lineament is parallel to the Kaltag fault.? the Last Hurrah occurrence is marked by elevated concentrations of lead and zinc along two perpendicular soil lines. Soil-sample assays range up to 525 ppm lead and 903 ppm zinc. This soil anomaly is along an air-photo lineament (fault) that also crosses the Waterpump Creek (NL023) and Illinois Creek (NL023) deposits.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Reserves = the estimated reserves at the Waterpump Creek prospect are 166,000 metric tons of ore averaging 9.5 ounces of silver per ton, 16.1% lead, and 5.5% zinc (Flanigan, 1998).

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Plutonic-related, epigenetic, lode Ag-Pb-Zn; Polymetallic veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c)

Comment (Exploration): Status = Active

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Flanigan, 1998

Comment (Geology): Age = The nearby Khotol pluton has been dated by K/Ar and Ar/Ar methods at 108-112 Ma (Flanigan, 1998). Flanigan (1998) links the mineralization at this deposit to magmatic fluids from this pluton. His interpretation is supported by a K/Ar date of about 113 Ma on sericite from a mineralized vein at the Waterpump Creek prospect (Flanigan, 1998).

Comment (Commodity): Gangue = manganosiderite

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The Waterpump Creek prospect was first located by Anaconda Minerals Company in 1980. Since then, the prospect has been trenched, drilled, geologically mapped, and soil and rock sampled.

References

Reference (Deposit): Flanigan, B., 1998, Genesis and mineralization of ore deposits in the Illinois Creek region, West Central Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, M.Sc. thesis, 125 p., 2 plates.

Reference (Deposit): Gillerman, V.S., Brewer, N.H., Millholland, M.A., and Wyman, W.F., 1986, Oxidized polymetallic gold mineralization, Illinois Creek, Alaska [abs.], in Chater, A.M., ed., Gold '86, an international symposium on the geology of gold deposits; poster paper abstracts: Geological Association of Canada, p. 51-53.

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