Homestake

Site Name

Primary: Homestake

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Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Silver

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Location

State: Alaska
District: Fairbanks

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Land Status

Not available

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Holdings

Not available

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Workings

Not available

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Ownership

Not available

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

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

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Physiography

Not available

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Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

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Orebody

Not available

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Structure

Not available

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Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Quartz and sericite; throughout the vein, vugs and veinlets contain limonite and oxidation products of vein minerals.

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Rocks

Not available

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Stibnite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Gold
Ore: Pyrite

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Comments

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = in character to previously encountered shoots in the Homestake workings and strikes N 68 E and dips 40 SW. The horizontal fault which truncates the upper ore shoot in the adjacent raise was also encountered in the new raise where it had a strike of N 60 E with a dip of 30 NW. Gold mineralization was restricted to the quartz-rich portion of the shear zone and was associated with stibnite and minor pyrite and chalcocite.? Metallurgical work conducted on material from the Nordale shear zone revealed the presence of variable amounts of scheelite commonly associated with stibnite and high silver values (Hall, 1940). The high gold and silver content of the Nordale shear zone was investigated with a series of tests which indicated most of the gold was contained in quartz rather than sulfides, and sulfides were liberated at approximately 100 mesh. The highest gold and silver values were found in the -200 mesh size fraction. The silver-bearing mineral is argentiferous tetrahedrite (Metz, 1987). ? Plans to continue development and produce antimony from discrete stibnite pods in the mine were abandoned when assays indicated unacceptably high lead contents in the ore (Joesting, 1943). Analytical results from a dump sample of stibnite taken in 1942 returned a grade of 45.64% antimony (Killeen and Mertie, 1951).? A ten foot thick sequence of massive sulfide known as the Truck system was intersected in drilling beneath the Nordale adit. This mineralization was 10 feet thick and graded 0.04 ounces of gold per ton, 12 ounces of silver per ton, 6.24% lead and 7.31% zinc (Porterfield and Croff, 1986). Mineralization was hosted by chloritic and manganiferous quartzite, graphitic schist and exhalite of the middle Cleary Sequence.? Samples from the Nordale adit dump contained highly anomalous gold, silver, arsenic and antimony hosted by chloritic and manganiferous quartzite, graphitic schist and exhalite of the middle Cleary Sequence (Fairbanks Exploration Inc., unpublished report, 1986). Samples from the dump averaged 0.030 ounces of gold per ton and 0.25 ounces of silver per ton, with anomalous arsenic and antimony; visible galena, sphalerite and rare chalcopyrite are also present.? In early May, 1911, 1,300 tons of ore from the Homestake adit returned average grades of $470 per ton in gold (22.7 ounces of gold per ton). Smith (1913) reported that this bulk sample contained $308 per ton in free gold (14.9 ounces of gold per ton) with the remainder of the values being in gold and high silver in concentrates not recoverable by amalgamation. Work at the Homestake adit continued in 1914, and 30 to 50 tons of ore were mined that contained approximately $100 of gold per ton (4.8 ounces of gold per ton) (Brooks, 1915; Stewart, 1915). Approximately 50 tons of ore was mined from the Homestake mine in 1915 and returned an average value of $100 per ton in gold (4.8 ounces of gold per ton) (Smith, 1917; BMB 142). A total of 80 tons of ore of unknown grade was mined from the Homestake adit in 1916 (Mertie, 1918). ? Gold production from the Homestake adit was estimated at $60,000 (about 2,900 ounces) through 1931 (Hill, 1933). A total of 54 tons of ore from the Nordale shear were milled at the McCarty mill and returned an average grade of $52 of gold per ton (1.5 ounces of gold per ton) (Reed, 1939).

Comment (Production): Production Notes = In early May, 1911, 1,300 tons of ore from the Homestake adit returned average grades of $470 per ton in gold (22.7 ounces of gold per ton). Smith (1913, B 525) reported that this bulk sample contained $308 per ton in free gold (14.9 ounces of gold per ton) with the remainder of the values being in gold and high silver in concentrates not recoverable by amalgamation. Work at the Homestake adit continued in 1914, and 30 to 50 tons of ore were produced that contained approximately $100 per ton in gold (4.8 ounces of gold per ton) (Brooks, 1915; Stewart, 1915). Approximately 50 tons of ore was mined from the Homestake mine in 1915 and returned an average value of $100 per ton in gold (4.8 ounces of gold per ton) (Smith, 1917; BMB 142). A total of 80 tons of ore of unknown grade was mined from the Homestake adit in 1916 (Mertie, 1918). Gold production from the Homestake adit was estimated at $60,000 (2,900 ounces) through 1931 (Hill, 1933). A total of 54 tons of ore from the Nordale shear were milled at the McCarty mill and returned an average grade of $52 per ton (1.5 ounces of gold per ton) (Reed, 1939).

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = In 1908, the Homestake tunnel, which currently is known as the Nordale adit, was staked (Times Publishing Company, 1912). Five, gold-bearing quartz-rich shear zones were located on the surface above the intended site of the Homestake adit (Smith, 1913; B 525). Between October, 1908 and May 1911, the adit was driven approximately 315 feet. Work continued in the Homestake adit until November, 1912, when the adit was approximately 680 feet long. Work concentrated on the main stringer zone, now known as the Nordale shear, where two drifts were driven along the 45 degree south-dipping, east-west trend of mineralization. The western drift was 50 feet in length and the eastern drift had been driven 100 feet when mineralization was cut off by a fault (Times Publishing Company, 1912). By mid-1913, the eastern drift on the Nordale shear was 300 feet long and two stopes had been mined out. Approximately 135 feet east of the 315-foot station in the main adit, a 150-foot raise was driven on the Nordale shear which confirmed the presence of the shear zone to the surface.? By mid-1913, the Homestake adit had been extended to 750 feet in length and had intercepted three mineralized shear zones. In 1938, the Homestake adit was re-opened and 200 feet of drift driven on the Nordale shear zone west of the main adit (Reed, 1939). A 50-foot shaft was sunk on this shear and a 65-foot exploration adit driven on the nearby Wolf shear. By 1940, Hall (1940) reported the east drift of the Homestake adit to be 700 feet long with little or no cross-faults along this length. Development efforts at the Homestake adit were terminated by War Production Board Limitation Order L208 in 1942.? In 1982, Placid Oil Company (POC) began rehabilitation of the Homestake adit, now known as the Nordale adit (Porterfield and Croff, 1986). Efforts in 1982 consisted of rehabilitation of 950 feet of old adit and completion of 1,561 feet of new adit and drift. Of this total, 600 feet of drift was driven west of the main adit to access the Christina shear zone and 250 feet of cross-cut was driven to access the shear zone along strike. In 1983, POC drove an additional 163 feet of drift east of the main adit and 103 feet of new drift west of the main adit. POC also completed 700 feet of underground diamond drilling in 7, BQ (1.433 inch) wireline holes (Porterfield and Croff, 1986). Placid Oil did not conduct any work on the Nordale shear zone and the east and west drifts remained caved.? In the spring of 1986, the portal of the Nordale adit caved and the adit has remained inaccessible since that time. The prospect was examined in 1986 by Fairbanks Exploration Inc. and grab samples were collected from a small portion of the Nordale adit dump.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Brooks, 1914

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Sulfide and gold-bearing, quartz shear zones in schist.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = In 1908, the Homestake Tunnel site, which is currently known as the Nordale adit, was staked (Times Publishing Company, 1912). Five gold-bearing, quartz-rich shear zones were located on the surface above the intended site of the Homestake adit (Smith, 1913; B 525). Stibnite, pyrite and chalcopyrite were noted in a bulk sample. This material was extracted from a 3-inch-wide 'stringer' zone encountered in the adit approximately 315 feet from the portal. The shear strikes east-west and dips 45 S (Brooks, 1914). Two drifts were driven along the 45 S, east-west trend of mineralization along this main stringer zone known as the Nordale shear (Times Publishing Company, 1912).? By mid-1913, the eastern drift on the Nordale shear was 300 feet long and two stopes had been mined out. The shear zone in the east drift is discontinuous along strike, and in both dip directions, although the mineralized shear zone appears to have the same orientation as barren portions of the shear zone. An 8-foot-deep winze on the east drift ore shoot indicated that the mineralization pinched out at depth and extended for a distance of 12 feet along the dip slope. The ore shoot extends along the east drift floor for 160 feet from a point 90 feet east of the main adit. The eastern 50 feet of the east drift was barren. Approximately 135 feet east of the 315-foot station in the main adit, a 150-foot raise was driven on the Nordale shear which confirmed the presence of the shear zone to the surface. At a point 30 feet up-dip from the east drift, the raise intersected 10 dip-feet of mineralized shear zone which was stoped out over a 100-foot length. The upper ore shoot has a horizontal pitch and is 3 to 12 inches thick and averages 9 inches thick (Brooks, 1914). The upper portion of the ore shoot is truncated by a horizontal fault of unknown displacement. Barren white quartz veins in the metamorphic country rock commonly increase in abundance near higher grade portions of the shear zone. At least two phases of mineralization are recognized in the east-drift stopes. Early quartz-rich lenses in the country rock are cut by later mineralized quartz veinlets in the shear zone. ? At 600 feet from the Homestake adit portal, another shear zone trends N 60 W and dips 45 S. The quartz-rich portions of the shear average 1 foot in width, but pinch and swell along strike. Mineralization consisted of poly-phase quartz containing free gold, stibnite, pyrite, chalcocite and copper carbonates. Total sulfide content is low. Bladed chalcocite associated with higher gold values is described by Brooks (1914) but probably is jamesonite or boulangerite (Freeman, 1992).? Development of the Nordale shear in the east drift of the Homestake adit in 1916 discovered another ore shoot in a raise approximately 100 feet up-dip from the east drift. The raise was driven approximately 235 feet east of the main Homestake adit (Brooks, 1918; Stewart, 1922). The new ore shoot was similar

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References

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1918, Lode mining in the Fairbanks district, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 662-H, p. 403-424.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, S.S., 1917, The mining industry in the territory of Alaska during the calendar year 1915: U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 142, 66 p.

Reference (Deposit): Joesting, H.R., 1943, Strategic mineral occurrences in interior Alaska, supplement to pamphlet no. 1: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Pamphlet 2, 26 p.

Reference (Deposit): Chapin, Theodore, 1914, Lode mining near Fairbanks, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 592-J, p. 321-355.

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): Burand, W. M., 1968, Geochemical investigations of selected areas in the Yukon-Tanana region of Alaska, 1965 and 1966: Alaska Division of Mines and Minerals Geochemical Report 13, 51 p.

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

Reference (Deposit): Reed, I.M., 1939, Report on lode mining and development in the year 1938 in the Fairbanks mining district, Alaska: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Internal Report 26 p.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1915, Mineral resources of Alaska in 1914: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 622, 238 p.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1911, The mining industry in 1910, in Brooks, A.K., and others, Mineral resources of Alaska, report on progress of investigations in 1910: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 480-B p. 21-43.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1914, Mineral resources of Alaska in 1913: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 592, p. 340-341.

Reference (Deposit): Times Publishing Company, 1912, Tanana Magazine, Quartz Edition: Fairbanks, Alaska 76 p.

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): Freeman, C.J., 1992, 1991 Golden Summit project final report, volume 2: Historical summary of lode mines and prospects in the Golden Summit project area, Alaska: Avalon Development Corp., 159 p. (Report held by Freegold Recovery Inc. USA, Vancouver, British Columbia.)

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1912, The Alaska mining industry in 1911, in Brooks, A.H., and others, Mineral resources of Alaska, 1911: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 520, p. 17-44.

Reference (Deposit): Metz, P.A., 1987, Ore mineralogy and gold grain size distribution in the gold-silver-arsenic-antimony-tungsten mineralization of the Fairbanks Mining District, Alaska: The Metallurgical Society, Process Mineralogy , vol. 7 , 18 p.

Reference (Deposit): Porterfield, J. and Croff, C., 1986, Summary report for the Cleary Project, Fairbanks district, Alaska - 1985: Placid Oil Company Report, 36 p.

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.

Reference (Deposit): Forbes, R.B., Pilkington, H.D., and Hawkins, D.B., 1968, Gold gradients and anomalies in the Pedro Dome-Cleary Summit area, Fairbanks District, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 324, 43 p.

Reference (Deposit): Pilkington, H.D., Forbes, R. B., Hawkins, D.B., Chapman, R.M., and Swainbank, R.C., 1969, Preliminary investigation of gold mineralization in the Pedro Dome - Cleary Summit area, Fairbanks District, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 69-206, 47 p.

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, L.A. and Johnson, G. R., 1970, Induced polarization and resisitivity surveys on Cleary Summit, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 700-D, p. D125-D128.

Reference (Deposit): Hill, J.M., 1933, Lode deposits of the Fairbanks District, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 849-B, p. 29-163.

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): Hall, D., 1940, Geology and dressing of the gold and silver ore of the Homestake Mine, Wolf Creek, Fairbanks District, Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Bachelor of Science thesis, 43 p.

Reference (Deposit): Eakin, H.M., 1915, Placer mining in Seward Peninsula: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 622-I, p. 366-373.

Reference (Deposit): Killeen, P.L., and Mertie, J.B., 1951, Antimony ore in the Fairbanks District, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 51-46, 43 p.

Reference (Deposit): Saunders, R.H., 1963, Keystone mines exploration: Alaska Division of Mines and Minerals, Report for the year 1963: Juneau, Alaska p. 56-57.

Reference (Deposit): Joesting, H.R., 1942, Strategic mineral occurences in interior Alaska: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Pamphlet 1, 46 p.

Reference (Deposit): Stewart, B.D., 1922, Annual report of the Mine Inspector to the Governor of Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines, p. 102.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1918, Mineral resources of Alaska, 1916: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 662, 469 p.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1916, Antimony deposits of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 649, 67 p.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1917, The mining industry in the territory of Alaska during the calendar year 1915: U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 142, 66 p.

Reference (Deposit): Maloney, W., 1915, Annual report of the Mine Inspector to the Governor of Alaska for 1915: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Annual Report 1915, 35 p.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1916, Antimony deposits of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 649, 67 p.

Reference (Deposit): Warfield, R.S., 1970, Testing of downward vein extensions of gold-silver mineralization in the Wolf Creek-Fairbanks Creek divide area, Fairbanks district, Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 3-70, 20 p.

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