Kiruktagiak River

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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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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