Soo

The Soo is a gold 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: Soo
Secondary: Spaulding
Secondary: Wild Rose
Secondary: Chief
Secondary: Waterbury
Secondary: Waverly
Secondary: Inspiration
Secondary: Carnation

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Antimony
Secondary: Lead

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: Past Producer
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: Limonite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Stibnite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Mine development consisted of several shafts and extensive underground workings, mainly along the Wild Rose vein on the Soo claim (Chapin, 1914).

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

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Gold, galena and antimony sulfides in quartz veins.

Comment (Production): Production Notes = The mine operated intermittently from 1910 to 1936. Total gold production from 1912 to 1914 and from 1925 to 1931 was between $140,000 and $165,000, or about 7500 ounces (Hill, 1933). Ebbley and Wright (1948, p. 38) reported that antimony ore had been produced.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Gold is found in quartz veins in a shear zone containing stibnite, arsenopyrite, auriferous tetrahedrite, and galena. Two veins, the Wild Rose and the Soo, trend east and dip north. The Chief vein trends N 50 E and dips 50 NW. The veins contain free gold, some of which is smeared on slickenside surfaces (Smith, 1913; B 525). Gold fineness ranges from 823 to 843 (Smith, 1913; B 525). Much of the ore contained $50 to $60 or more per ton, with some of the richest running over $250 per ton (Smith, 1913; B 525). Hill (1933) reported that typical ore from the H-K vein shows two generations of quartz; one with a little gold and the second with pyrite, arsenopyrite, stibnite and free gold.? the Wild Rose vein contains small bunches of stibnite with a little galena, tetrahedrite, and copper sulfides (Chapin, 1914). Specimens of stibnite consist of columnar and fibrous masses, together with fine granular aggregates (Brooks, 1916; B 649). Specimens of curved and bladed crystals of stibnite contain over 60% Sb (Joesting, 1942; ATDM Pamph. 1).? the mine operated intermittently from 1910 to 1936. Total gold production from 1912 to 1914 and from 1925 to 1931 was between $140,000 and $165,000, or about 7500 ounces (Hill, 1933). Ebbley and Wright (1948, p. 38) reported that antimony ore had been produced.

References

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., 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): 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): Smith, P.S., 1933, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1931: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 844-A, p. 1-81.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1934, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1933: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864-A, p. 1-94.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1930, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1928: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 813-A, p. 1-72.

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): Burand, W.M., 1966, A geochemical investigation of stream sediments in the Elliot Highway area, Alaska: Alaska Division of Mines and Minerals Geochemical Report 11, 33 p.

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

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

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): Smith, P.S., 1932, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1929, in Smith, P.S., and others Mineral resources of Alaska, report on progress of investigations in 1929: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 824-A, p. 1-81.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1930, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1928: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 813, p. 1-72.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1930, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1927: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 810-A, p. 1-64.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1929, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1926: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 797, p. 1-50.

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): Ebbley, N., and Wright, W.S., 1948, Antimony deposits in Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 4173, 41 p.

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

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

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): Smith, P.S., 1936, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1934: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 868-A, p. 1-91.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1937, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1935: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 880-A, p. 1-95.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1938, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1936: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 897-A, p. 1-107.

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

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.

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