The Kiruktagiak River is a phosphorus-phosphates 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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Kiruktagiak River MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Kiruktagiak River
Commodity
Primary: Phosphorus-Phosphates
Secondary: Vanadium
Secondary: Uranium
Location
State: Alaska
District: Colville
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: Phosphate, upwelling type
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Fluorapatite
Ore: Vanadinite
Gangue: Dolomite
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Commodity): Gangue = All samples contained calcite
Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Bedded phosphorite
Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive
Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Phosphate deposits are restricted to 40 ft. black shale and chert horizon of the Alapha Limestone of late Mississippian age. Rocks of phosphitic zone are chiefly a mixture of phosphatic material, Ca CO3, silt, and clay; in some places secondary purple fluorite is on bedding surfaces and in veinlets. Phosphatic material occurs as pellets (oolites) as much as 10 mm long and are composed of carbonate-fluorapatite. There are marked lateral variations in lithologic character and phosphate content. On the Kiraktagiak River and Monotis Creek, measured sections indicate that the phosphatic units are either lenticular or displaced by small folds and faults.
Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = A 38 ft. thick zone of chert and shale unit in the Mississippian Alapha limestone contains an average of 12% P2O5; the upper 19 ft. averages 19% P2O5. A 27 inch thick sequence contains 27% P2O5. Samples analyzed for vanadium contained 0.07%-0.49% V2O5. Highest uranium content was 0.21% U. Samples collected by the USBM contained up to 20.6% phosphate.
Comment (Geology): Age = Mississippian
References
Reference (Deposit): Wedow, Helmuth, Jr., White, M.G. and Moxham, R.M., 1952, Interim report on an appraisal of the uranium possibilities of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 51, 123 p.
Reference (Deposit): Wedow, Helmuth, Jr., White, M.G. and Moxham, R.M., 1952, Interim report on an appraisal of the uranium possibilities of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 51.
Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1975, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in northern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 75-628, 106 p.
Reference (Deposit): Kurtak, J.M., Hicks, R.W., Werdon, M.B., Meyer, M.P., and Mull, C.G., 1995, Mineral investigations in the Colville mining district and southern National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 8-95, 217 p.
Reference (Deposit): Meyer, M.P., 1994, Analytical results from U.S. Bureau of Mines investigations in the Colville Mining District, Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 34-94, 137 p.
Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., and Tailleur, I.L., 1964, Geology of the upper Killik-Itkillik region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 303-G, p. 409-499.
Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., and Matzko, J.J., 1959, Phosphate deposits in northern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 302-A, p. 1-17.
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