Mother Lode

The Mother Lode 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

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Site Name

Primary: Mother Lode
Secondary: Dome Creek

Commodity

Primary: Copper

Location

State: Alaska
District: Fairbanks

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

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite

Comments

Comment (Production): Production Notes = No production reported.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Smith, 1913 (B 525)

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Two shafts were sunk on this prospect (Smith, 1913; B 525, p. 180). The western shaft was 147 feet deep, with a short crosscut at the bottom running eastward. The eastern shaft, 200 paces east of the western shaft, was sunk 215 feet. The first 60 feet was sunk through muck and the rest through rock with no intervening gravel. The two shafts were nearly filled with water in 1912 (Smith, 1913; B 525, p. 180).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Material on dumps is graphitic limestone heavily impregnated with disseminated sulfides, mainly pyrite with some chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite (Smith, 1913; B 525, p. 194). Smith (1913, B 525) also reported post-sulfide faulting.? Two shafts were sunk on this prospect (Smith, 1913; B 525, p. 180). The western shaft was 147 feet deep, with a short crosscut at the bottom running eastward. The eastern shaft, 200 paces east of the western shaft, was sunk 215 feet. The first 60 feet was sunk through muck and the rest through rock with no intervening gravel. No production has been reported.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Polymetallic carbonate replacement.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

References

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Livengood quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-413, 2 sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Livengood quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-819, 241 p.

Reference (Deposit): Prindle, L.M., and Katz, F.J., 1913, Detailed description of the Fairbanks district, in Prindle, L. M., A geologic reconnaissance of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 525, p. 59-152.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1913, Lode mining near Fairbanks: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 542-F, p. 137-202.

Reference (Deposit): Chapman, R.M., and Foster, R.L., 1969, Lode mines and prospects in the Fairbanks district, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 625-D, 25 p., 1 plate.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1913, Lode mining near Fairbanks, in Prindle, L.M., A geologic reconnaissance of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 525, p. 153-216.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Circle quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-633, 72 p.

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