Unnamed (on Weather Ridge)

The Unnamed (on Weather Ridge) is a lead, zinc, 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: Unnamed (on Weather Ridge)

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Alaska
District: Fairhaven

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Quartz and tourmaline?

Rocks

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Tourmaline

Comments

Comment (Geology): Age = Mid-Cretaceous or younger.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Commodity): Ore Material = argentiferous galena

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Sulfides in altered andesite.

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = This site is one of numerous occurrences of argentiferous galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and arsenopyrite in an 18-mile-long, 2- to 5-mile-wide altered zone in andesite surrounding the hook-shaped Quartz Creek quartz monzonite pluton. The alteration zone extends N 15 W across the drainage basins of Quartz Creek and the Kiwalik River.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The area was first identified and mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey in the late 1960's (Miller and Elliott, 1969). It subsequently has been examined by various exploration companies. In the mid 1970's an exploration program including some drilling was completed by Greatland Exploration, Anchorage, Alaska.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Miller and Elliott, 1969

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = This occurrence is located adjacent to the mid-Cretaceous Quartz Creek pluton, a hook-shaped, quartz monzonite body. The pluton is surrounded by a N 15 W-trending alteration zone about 18 miles long and 2 to 5 miles wide. The alteration zone is in Jurassic-Cretaceous andesitic volcanic rocks and is marked by quartz veins and possibly tourmaline. Fine-grained dikes of varying composition cut the andesites near the pluton. Dikes near the Quartz Creek pluton are locally mineralized. At this occurrence, galena, sphalerite, and pyrite are disseminated in quartz veins cutting altered andesite. A sample of a sulfide-bearing quartz vein (Miller and Elliott, 1969, location 34) contained: 150 ppm Ag (4.35 ounces Ag per ton), greater than 2% Pb, greater than 1% Zn, trace Au, and 500 ppm Cu.

References

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Candle Quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-389, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Miller, T.P., and Elliott, R.L., 1969, Metalliferous deposits near Granite Mountain, eastern Seward Peninsula, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 614, 19 p.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Candle, Holy Cross, Norton Bay, Nulato, and Unalakleet quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-866, 102 p.

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