Veleska-South

The Veleska-South is a zinc, lead, copper, 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: Veleska-South

Commodity

Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Bismuth
Secondary: Cadmium

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: Occurrence
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: Metasomatic replacement (Ca).

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Polymetallic vein (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c).

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Only surface sampling has been conducted at the Veleska-South occurrence. Reed and Elliott (1968, C 596) reported that selected samples contained up to 2.00 percent lead, 1.00 percent zinc, and 0.15 percent copper. Bundtzen, Kline, and Clough (1982) reported that a grab sample of nearly massive pyrrhotite contained 0.05 percent copper, 0.47 percent lead, 0.55 percent zinc, and 0.21 ounces/ton silver. Smith and Albanese (1985) reported that a grab sample sulfide-bearing mineralization near the Veleska South occurrence contained 0.06 percent copper, 0.84 percent lead, 1.65 percent zinc, 0.40 ounces/ton silver, and 110 ppm cadmium.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Reed and Elliott, 1968 (C 596)

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = At the Veleska-South occurrence, thin, 0.5 to 1 inch thick seams and stockworks of pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena cut nearly flat lying, subaerial andesite and basalt flows of the Late Cretaceous (65 Ma) Veleska Lake volcanic field (Bundtzen, Kline, and Clough, 1982; Bundtzen, Harris, and Gilbert, 1997). Northwest-trending, porphyro-aphanitic, granodiorite dikes that cut the Late Cretaceous volcanics carry disseminated sulfides and may be genetically related to the stockwork mineralization. Nearby stream cobbles contain pyrrhotite with a trace of chalcopyrite and sphalerite. A major northeast trending, high angle fault that cuts the Dillinger subterrane and younger Veleska Lake volcanic field is juxtaposed against the western edge of the Veleska Lake occurrence; this structure may have developed a tensional environment suitable for sulfide stockwork formation. ? Principle sulfide mineralization consists of massive pyrrhotite and pyrite, and disseminated galena and sphalerite, and a trace of chalcopyrite. Reed and Elliott (1968, C 586) reported that selected samples contained up to 2.00 percent lead, 1.00 percent zinc, and 0.15 percent copper. Bundtzen, Kline, and Clough (1982) reported that a grab sample of nearly massive pyrrhotite contained 0.05 percent copper, 0.47 percent lead, 0.55 percent zinc, and 0.21 ounces/ton silver. Smith and Albanese (1985) reported that a grab sample of sulfide-bearing mineralization near the Veleska-South occurrence contained 0.06 percent copper, 0.84 percent lead, 1.65 percent zinc, 0.40 ounces/ton silver, and 110 ppm cadmium.

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): Smith, T.E., and Albanese, M.D., 1985, Preliminary prospect examinations in the McGrath B-2, A-3, and A-4 quadrangles, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public Data File 85-54, 19 pages.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Harris, E.E., and Gilbert, W.G., 1997, Geologic Map of the eastern McGrath quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigations 97-14, 34 pages, one sheet, scale 1:125,000.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Kline, J.T., and Clough, J.G., 1982, Preliminary geologic map of the McGrath B-2 quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Open-File report 149, 22 pages, one sheet, scale 1:63,360.

Reference (Deposit): Reed, B.L. and Elliott, R.L., 1968, Geochemical anomalies and metalliferous deposits between Windy Fork and Post River, southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 596, 22 pages.

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