Weasel Mountain

The Weasel Mountain is a copper and molybdenum 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: Weasel Mountain

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Alaska
District: Alaska Peninsula

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: Porphyry Cu-Mo
Model Name: Porphyry Cu

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Alteration consists of a broad sericitic zone within the area of higher sulfide content and a peripheral, patchy propylitic zone.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Tourmaline

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Model Number = 17, 21a

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = This site is partially on land selected by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Age = Tertiary.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Porphyry copper; porphyry copper-molybdenum (Cox and Singer, 1986; models 17, 21a)

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Fields, 1977

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Bear Creek Mining Company mapped and sampled this occurrence in 1975-1976, and Resource Associates of Alaska explored it in 1979 and 1981.? Copper values of 500 to 2100 ppm occur in an area of 700 by 1500 feet. Molybdenum values of 22 to 160 ppm occur in an area of 1000 by 2000 feet. Gold values are up to 0.18 ppm.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The area of this site is underlain by strata of the Cretaceous Chignik Formation and by the interbedded sediments, volcaniclastics, and andesite of the Oligocene-Pliocene Meshik Formation.? Fields (1977) describes two major intrusive systems, a diorite porphyry dike or sill and a younger quartz porphyry mass. The diorite is approximately 1/2 mile in width and extends in a northeast direction for more than a mile. The quartz porphyry intrudes the the diorite, extends in a northeast direction, and measures approximately 700 by 3000 feet in outcrop. Butherus (1981) reports these intrusive phases as occupying approximately two square miles. Large areas of hornfels have resulted from thermal metamorphism of the nearby sedimentary rock.? the site is marked by a color anomaly which contains 1 to 6 percent sulfides over an area 2 miles in long by 1 mile wide. Fields (1977) describes the sulfides as mostly fracture controlled, primarily along certain marginal zones of the diorite and quartz porphyry and in the metasediments to the west. Chalcopyrite and sparse molybdenite occur in the marginal areas of the diorite, mostly along northeast-trending fracture zones. The resulting copper anomaly is approximately 700 by 1500 feet and contains 500 to 2100 ppm copper. The molybdenum anomaly coincides in part with the copper but has a more easterly trend. This anomaly is approximately 1000 by 2000 feet and contains 22 to 160 ppm molybdenum. Low gold values (0.04 to 0.18 ppm) coincide with the molybdenum. Diffuse peripheral lead-zinc values are present.? Alteration is diffuse with no strong focus on a core. A broad sericitic zone exists within the area of higher sulfide content. Sericite occurs pervasively and along fractures. Propylitic alteration in the sediments is patchy and consists of chlorite and epidote clots.? Butherus (1981) reports intrusive breccia near the head of a valley in the NW1/4 sec. 2, T. 43 S., R. 57 W., of the Seward Meridian. The breccia, approximately 800 feet in diameter, contains traces of chalcopyrite and sphalerite in a quartz-tourmaline matrix. Other minerals present include pyrite, calcite, and barite. One sample contained >10,000 ppm copper, 0.06 ppm gold, 13 ppm lead, 28 ppm silver, and 1800 ppm zinc. Three other samples contained up to 750 ppm copper, 0.02 to 0.04 ppm gold, and 1.2 to 11.4 ppm silver.

References

Reference (Deposit): Detterman, R.L., Miller, T.P., Yount, M.E., and Wilson, F.H.,1981, Geologic map the Chignik and Sutwik Island quadrangles Alaska: U.S. Geologic Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I- 1229, 1 map sheet, scale 1:250,000.

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): Anderson, G.D., Fitch, G.M., Lappie, D.W., Lindberg, P.A., and Fankhauser, R.E., 1979, Exploration and evaluation of Bristol Bay Native Corporation Lands, Vol. II, Book 1: prepared for Houston Oil and Minerals Company by Resource Associates of Alaska, 78 p. (Report held by Alaska Earth Science, Anchorage, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Young, L.E., St. George, P., and Bouley, B., 1997, Porphyry copper deposits in relation to the magmatic history and palinspastic restoration of Alaska, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., (eds.), Mineral deposits of Alaska: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 306-333.

Reference (Deposit): Butherus, D.L., White, D.C., Smith, W.H., Radford, G., Sandberg, R.J., and Pray, J.C., 1981, Exploration and evaluation of precious metal potential of Bristol Bay Native Corporation Lands, southwest Alaska, 1981, Vol. 1: Prepared for Nerco by Resource Associates of Alaska, 90 p. (Report held by Alaska Earth Science, Anchorage, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Cox, D.P., Detra, D.E., and Detterman, R.L., 1981, Mineral resource maps of the Chignik and Sutwik Island quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF- 1053-K, 2 map sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Fields, E.D., 1977, 1976 Annual report: Alaska search, Chignik area-Bristol Bay region: Bear Creek Mining Company, 44 p., 22 map sheets. (Report held by the Aleut Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska.)

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